Do you know someone who frequently stresses about pain or fatigue? Maybe they're constantly seeking medical help and worrying about what those physical pains mean for their overall health. If so, they may need treatment for somatic symptom disorder.
This unique mental disorder occurs when an individual puts extreme focus on physical symptoms. Their preoccupation with those symptoms goes beyond the norm, creating unnecessary distress and impairing their every life.
Signs of Somatic Symptom Disorder
Putting attention on physical pain or discomfort is normal. Worrying about sudden fatigue or sensations you're not used to feeling is okay. But when those worries get out of control, they can have a debilitating effect on a person's life.
The most common characteristic of somatic symptom disorder is a hyper fixation on physical symptoms that may not be serious or cause for concern. Many individuals think that normal feelings of tiredness or muscle soreness indicate that they suffer from a severe illness. Despite no evidence, they may think those symptoms point to the fact that their health is in jeopardy.
Even after an assessment, they may believe that the evaluation and treatment were incorrect. A person might reject the assurances of a medical expert, choosing to worry about non-existent problems because of a seemingly typical physical symptom.
Treatment for Somatic Symptom Disorder
This mental disorder can be more dangerous than people realize. Unfortunately, it's not common for family and friends to brush it off as nothing more than paranoia. But somatic symptom disorder can put individuals on a potentially dangerous path.
Their refusal to accept medical advice could make a person turn to DIY treatments that do more harm than good. It's essential to encourage people with somatic symptom disorder to seek professional help.
Therapists can help patients overcome this disorder in many ways. Typically, talk therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy make a difference. Providers can change people's outlook on their health and help them get to the root of their worries. It takes time, but expert care providers can empower individuals to forward and combat the concerns that plague them.
Author Resource:-
Alester Brown writes about mental and physical health. She advises people on Paediatrician & online Psychiatrist consultation. You can find her thoughts at telehealth treatment blog.