Causes of  Psychomatic Symptoms

Tracey suffered with brittle asthma and anxiety and attended a group session to learn about self-hypnosis. The induction included imagery of being on a swing. Swinging forward it was suggested that they thought ‘Calm’ and as they swung back, they were instructed to think ‘Control’. A few minutes in, Tracey started to sob. She was supported and positive suggestions given. After the session Tracey was asked if she knew what had happened and she said that the imagery had taken her back to her childhood when she had been playing on the swing in her Grandfather’s garden. Her Grandfather had died some while before and she volunteered the thought that she had ‘taken’ on her Grandfather’s asthma so as to keep hold of him.

Brenda was a busy executive who had suffered with migraines several times a month for three or four years. These were often severe enough for her to take to her bed in a darkened room and this was beginning to put her job at risk. Prophylactic medication had not been very effective, so she decided to come and see me, to see if self-hypnosis would help. On taking a history it became apparent that Brenda was a very driven person, who was getting increasingly stressed by her job, had no hobbies and took no time out to re-charge her batteries.

Colin suffered with chronic abdominal pain and had a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease. He came to see me for some help with his anxiety levels and on taking a history he admitted that he “…had a secret that was eating away at him”. He had had a short fling when away at a conference and felt very guilty, as he hadn’t told his wife. He wanted them to be honest in their relationship but was worried that if he told her she might leave him.

Melanie came to see me with subfertility. She and her husband had been investigated and no cause had been uncovered. On ideomotor questioning she indicated that she had a psychological block to becoming pregnant. She recalled that when she was a nineteen year-old medical student, she had discovered that she was pregnant. Her mother was furious and told her there was no way she could be a mother and continue with her career, so she would have to have a termination.

Susan had developed aphonia and could not talk above a whisper. She had been investigated and no cause found so she came to see me for help. On taking her history it transpired that the problem had arisen soon after coming back from holiday the previous year. She had been holidaying Cyprus and whilst she was away her mother had died.

Peter came to see me with chronic neck pain and headaches. On taking a history he dated the problem from a bad road traffic accident he had been involved with, and had initially thought his symptoms were due to whiplash. His Consultant had since given him a clean bill of health but his symptoms continued unabated. Further exploration revealed that he had a very demanding elderly mother whom he described as ‘..a pain in the neck’.

Sheila had suffered with multiple symptoms over many years and been diagnosed with fibromyalgia two years ago when everything had got a lot worse. Upon taking a history she revealed that she had been married to an alcoholic who sometimes became violent when drunk. She had eventually got the courage to leave him but only the younger of her two daughters would come with her. Her eldest daughter became very hostile towards her mother and refused to see her, even after the birth of a Sheila’s grandchild. Two years ago her youngest daughter had decided to emigrate to Australia.