Physical Pain Due To Stress?

Hi, Im new here and I have a quick question. I have been having alot of physical pain for the last 9 months. Every single day from the time I wake up to the time I sleep, I feel alot of different things. I also developed IBS(Irregular Bowel Syndrome). My Doctor said that this could be stress or some kind of trauma, because months before this started happening my dad almost died.

So I am really torn... Im just wondering is it possible that all these physical pain I am feeling is a really a psychological issue?. That is what my doctor is suggesting. I dont have any nightmares and dont feel stress out really, im just sick and tired of feeling like ***** everyday but I dont see how that can be considered as "stress". Im a pretty calm person.

Dear Confused Guy,

Welcome to PC!!! I think of ourselves as whole beings--mind and body as one.

However, you must have an aggressive physical examination complete with tests by a good diagnostician to figure out what is causing the physical pain. Yeah, psychological stress can cause physical pain but that doesn't make the pain real or imagined. It's there, and you should be able to give it a name. Emotional stress depresses the immune system making us vulnerable to illness. But the illness is still real.

So, I think a reasonable approach would be to see a psychotherapist AS WELL AS a doctor who will continue to find the physical cause and not just chalk it up to "stress."

A therapist can help you to discern your stress and move towards healing.

You might also consider posting this in the Health Support thread below to see what folks think.

Best of luck.

Peace


Good luck.

IBS is a very complicated problem; not "caused" by stress by reacting to it. I assume you had a full medical work-up and colonoscopy?

The stress thing is not a one-to-one relationship with physical or mental pain, just mostly an adjunct. I know my asthma and general health get worse sometimes and I'm not aware of a clearcut "reason". It's only when I concentrate on eating well and cut out some things that use to be okay (drinking alcohol usually affects me worse than it use to, even just one beer) and really focus on my health that it very gradually gets better.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/irr...ndrome/DS00106

You might want to explore your dad's death and it's impact on you with a therapist (and any other issues you might be able to think of) to help yourself heal faster, see if there is any lingering stress in your life.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Perna said:
IBS is a very complicated problem; not "caused" by stress by reacting to it. I assume you had a full medical work-up and colonoscopy?

The stress thing is not a one-to-one relationship with physical or mental pain, just mostly an adjunct. I know my asthma and general health get worse sometimes and I'm not aware of a clearcut "reason". It's only when I concentrate on eating well and cut out some things that use to be okay (drinking alcohol usually affects me worse than it use to, even just one beer) and really focus on my health that it very gradually gets better.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/irr...ndrome/DS00106

You might want to explore your dad's death and it's impact on you with a therapist (and any other issues you might be able to think of) to help yourself heal faster, see if there is any lingering stress in your life.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Thanks for the answer. Yes, I have had a colonoscopy. They didnt find nothing.

About IBS, I meant to say that I have been suffering from IBS since I was a kid but it was very mild. One day it just went crazy, Im really suspecting stress because its one of the triggers. My IBS became pretty bad that even certain foods sets it off and I was in horrible pain. But now I can control it with a strict diet, the pain I get from IBS is minimal now but I have other pains that I am dealing with.

My dad didnt die, he almost died from an accident but I really feel like everything is fine now. I believe that I dont feel any stress or trauma like having nightmares from the aftermath of the incident.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Perna said:
IBS is a very complicated problem; not "caused" by stress by reacting to it. I assume you had a full medical work-up and colonoscopy?

The stress thing is not a one-to-one relationship with physical or mental pain, just mostly an adjunct. I know my asthma and general health get worse sometimes and I'm not aware of a clearcut "reason". It's only when I concentrate on eating well and cut out some things that use to be okay (drinking alcohol usually affects me worse than it use to, even just one beer) and really focus on my health that it very gradually gets better.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/irr...ndrome/DS00106

You might want to explore your dad's death and it's impact on you with a therapist (and any other issues you might be able to think of) to help yourself heal faster, see if there is any lingering stress in your life.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Thank you!. That is what I have been suspecting but my doctor feels like I dont have anything but trauma/stress from what happened. Im getting pain and twitches all over my body, and chronic headache... can stress really cause all these symptoms?.