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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Conversion, Somatoform disorders
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Conversion, Somatoform disorders
by goodgal31, May 18, 2000 12:00AM
Hi Dr,
Thank you for taking your time to read this. I have not been diagnosed with these, or my Dr did not specifically say those words, yet I seem to manifest my anxiety physically with numbness and tingling that has lasted for along time, comes and goes, has made my life very scarey with physical testings, mri's blood work etc all normal. Anyhow im gradually accepting the fact that I indeed have this since all testing suggests nothing more. My qeustion to you is:
I hear these disorders tend to follow an extreme trauma or an abusive situation, attack or being abused as a child. I have none of those above, besides being anxiety prone, I have not endured any abuse, mental physical etc. Im not someone in need of alot of attention or looking for sympathy I have a happy marriage, great husband and kids. So I wonder do I really fit this diagnosis? Its actyally a hastle for me and a hurdle, not something that I need nor want.
Secondly I read some upsetting information that the prognosis of somatoform disorders is poor and tend to never go away. I currently am on Paxil which has calmed my nerves abit, yet is this correct, its permanent?
I have had alot of stressfull events such as 5yrs ago the death of a loved one, a diffucult miscariage, then 2 yrs infertility along with getting pregnant and being on bedrest. (yes these are stressfull, but I managed well and now am very happy) Why all these things now? I was under the impression it had to be an extremely emotionally devistaging event to bring this on, like someone who was a war veteran and has seen many killed etc. Ok thank you and im sorry for the length of this note.
Thank you for taking your time to read this. I have not been diagnosed with these, or my Dr did not specifically say those words, yet I seem to manifest my anxiety physically with numbness and tingling that has lasted for along time, comes and goes, has made my life very scarey with physical testings, mri's blood work etc all normal. Anyhow im gradually accepting the fact that I indeed have this since all testing suggests nothing more. My qeustion to you is:
I hear these disorders tend to follow an extreme trauma or an abusive situation, attack or being abused as a child. I have none of those above, besides being anxiety prone, I have not endured any abuse, mental physical etc. Im not someone in need of alot of attention or looking for sympathy I have a happy marriage, great husband and kids. So I wonder do I really fit this diagnosis? Its actyally a hastle for me and a hurdle, not something that I need nor want.
Secondly I read some upsetting information that the prognosis of somatoform disorders is poor and tend to never go away. I currently am on Paxil which has calmed my nerves abit, yet is this correct, its permanent?
I have had alot of stressfull events such as 5yrs ago the death of a loved one, a diffucult miscariage, then 2 yrs infertility along with getting pregnant and being on bedrest. (yes these are stressfull, but I managed well and now am very happy) Why all these things now? I was under the impression it had to be an extremely emotionally devistaging event to bring this on, like someone who was a war veteran and has seen many killed etc. Ok thank you and im sorry for the length of this note.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD-JM, May 19, 2000 12:00AM
GT,
Somatization is the process in which one expresses psychological distress (ie depression, anxiety) through somatic (bodily symptoms) complaints. Also this expression is done subconciously(the person is not aware or intentionally doing this).
Somatization is a universal phenomenon. It is common with many different psychiatric disorders. Somatization can also be the main issue and in this case it is a somataform disorder. The somataform disorders are very treatable and many with this problem do well. I don't know what your diagnosis is but SSRI'S and psychotherapy seem like a reasonable approach. For more information on this interesting topic please search this forums archives using somatization and somataform disorder as keywords.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
Somatization is the process in which one expresses psychological distress (ie depression, anxiety) through somatic (bodily symptoms) complaints. Also this expression is done subconciously(the person is not aware or intentionally doing this).
Somatization is a universal phenomenon. It is common with many different psychiatric disorders. Somatization can also be the main issue and in this case it is a somataform disorder. The somataform disorders are very treatable and many with this problem do well. I don't know what your diagnosis is but SSRI'S and psychotherapy seem like a reasonable approach. For more information on this interesting topic please search this forums archives using somatization and somataform disorder as keywords.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
