Response to Article: Psychosomatic Conditions: The Pain is Real
Articles categorized under "Health and Wellness" unfortunately cannot receive comments. I so wanted to leave a comment on David A. Reinstein's article, Psychosomatic Conditions: The Pain is Real, that I decided to write a responding article.
I agree with his article wholeheartedly. Psychosomatic conditions may be caused by a mental trigger, but the resulting symptom is still very physical. Ever seen the movie Lawnmower Man? Jeff Fahey's character reads about how people had been reported as causing boils to appear on their skin just by thinking about it. Curious, he tries it himself and with startling results. While this is of course, an extreme example, I do believe that similar situations are possible.
The mind is an extraordinary thing that we have yet to fully understand. It is connected with every part of your body through a complex system of nerves. Why is it then, so hard to understand that particularly strong thoughts from the brain could cause a part or parts of the body to react in one way or another? Doesn't it make sense that the brain would be able to initiate the message of pain through the nerves even if there is no 3rd party physical source triggering it? We are not talking about psychic powers where the brain has control over objects or forces outside of the body. This is pure science.
I know for a fact that when I have felt severely depressed I got real waves of pain that started from my body core and emanated out to my extremities. There was no physical trigger for this, I was not inducing the pain in any manner other than the emotional distress I felt. Therefore it is completely logical to me that people could cause other physical symptoms in addition to nerve pain simply by their thoughts or emotions.
I agree with his article wholeheartedly. Psychosomatic conditions may be caused by a mental trigger, but the resulting symptom is still very physical. Ever seen the movie Lawnmower Man? Jeff Fahey's character reads about how people had been reported as causing boils to appear on their skin just by thinking about it. Curious, he tries it himself and with startling results. While this is of course, an extreme example, I do believe that similar situations are possible.
The mind is an extraordinary thing that we have yet to fully understand. It is connected with every part of your body through a complex system of nerves. Why is it then, so hard to understand that particularly strong thoughts from the brain could cause a part or parts of the body to react in one way or another? Doesn't it make sense that the brain would be able to initiate the message of pain through the nerves even if there is no 3rd party physical source triggering it? We are not talking about psychic powers where the brain has control over objects or forces outside of the body. This is pure science.
I know for a fact that when I have felt severely depressed I got real waves of pain that started from my body core and emanated out to my extremities. There was no physical trigger for this, I was not inducing the pain in any manner other than the emotional distress I felt. Therefore it is completely logical to me that people could cause other physical symptoms in addition to nerve pain simply by their thoughts or emotions.
Published by Allana Calhoun
I'm a working mother who has been writing poetry and short stories since I was a child. I also do crafts and create handmade jewelry. View profile
- Positive PsychologySeligman's positive psychology is in contrast to Freud's psychoanalysis. This theory has the potential to achieve the success of behaviorism. Positive psychology is achieving what humanistic psychology could not.
- From MySpace to Digg: How Internet Psychology is Examining Social Bookmarking & So...This is a general overview of the dynamics in the growing discipline of Internet Psychology.
Good Research Paper Topics for PsychologyStumped on a topic for your psychology research paper? Here are a few themes to choose from.
Positive Psychology is the Future Since it Improves Rather Than Just FixesCurrent negative psychology of studying miserable people and fixing them creates a black and white duality of sick/healthy. Positive psychology focuses on successful individuals...
Physical Symptoms of DepressionPhysical symptoms are very common with people who suffer with depression. With proper treatment many of these symptoms will decrease or disappear. Here are five of the most com...
- Change; The Voice of Reality
- Psychosomatic Conditions: The Pain Is Real
- Explaining Conversion Symptoms: When Emotional Pain Becomes Physical
- Psychologically Induced Pain Syndromes
- Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Linked with Chronic Pelvic and Lower Back Pain in Women
- Samadhi: The Key to a Windless Mind Via Meditation
- Psychology and the African Violet Lady Part II
10 Comments
Post a CommentI agree. Our thoughts are very important to our physical health. It is important to keep your mind focused on positive thoughts. Great article.
Really great article, the mind is very powerful!
Great article good points in it Laura Everly
There is nothing quite so gratifying as the agreement of a thoughtful person! Thanks. :-}
What an awesome article! Good way to acknowledge another's meaningful work:)
I experienced firsthand the power of the mind after my brain surgery. While my brain was healing and rewiring itself (nerve endings and such) it was an extraordinary time of pain and healing, and learning to rethink ways of doing things to compensate for the short-term memory loss that I gained! cheers ;)
Interesting, never really looked at it that way. The mind really does have amazing power, who knows what will be discovered one day.
Unfortunately, since I like the freedom to leave comments on articles, I've been passing on reading most articles in the health and wellness category. If ever I publish an article on health, I'll place into different category...one which allows comments. Although we were told that the comment situation on health articles would be temporary, it appears to be permanent.
Fascinating ideas...
Allana, Great article! I have heard about this before. The body and mind are amazing.