(This blog covers the topic of mindbody disorders as related to the psyche and the heart, as presented to a local chapter of WomenHeart, a national coalition for women with heart disease.)
A great deal of evidence now exists for the inextricable link between mind and body. This evidence comes from research in the areas of medicine and psychology and is responsible for the development of the field of health psychology. When mind and body are not playing nicely together, we can see the development of various physical and psychological disorders. Mindbody, or psychosomatic, disorders can best be explained as dealing with the concept of mind over matter. The goal of healing, then, is to master your mind to better your matter.
As with many things in life, we can take a lesson about the mindbody connection from Scooby-Doo. In one episode with the Harlem Globetrotters, Meadowlark is distraught because he can’t find his lucky ball before a game. Velma tells him he’s just being superstitious and really shouldn’t worry. He responds, “You know it, I know it, but my hands don’t know it.” So, his conscious mind knew the ball would not make him win, but he knew from experience that his subconscious mind would win out and negatively impact his performance. This example illustrates the abyss that can exist between the conscious and unconscious minds. That divide, as Dr. Oz says, is where psychosomatic ailments originate.
There are numerous conditions believed to be psychosomatic in nature. Depending on whom you ask, they range from vertigo and carpal tunnel syndrome to eating disorder and various psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety.
When I talk with patients about matters of the heart, I emphasize that there’s a broken heart and then there’s a BROKEN HEART. The first refers to anatomical, structural issues, and the second refers to psychological, emotional issues. At a point, though, there may be a chicken and egg quality to issues of the heart. That is, heart problems can cause a person to feel anxiety and depression, and anxiety and depression have been known to cause or exacerbate heart problems.
When it comes to psychological distress, two diagnoses predominate: depression and anxiety. Women are more susceptible to both of these disorders. Both have many forms, but we’re going to review the basic symptoms of each of them today.
Depression
When it comes to depression, there are several signs and symptoms to consider. If these linger more than two weeks, it could be what’s known as a major depressive episode.
- First, there is depressed mood that is present for most of the day, nearly every day.
- Second is a loss of interest in things that normally bring pleasure.
- A person may experience fatigue or loss of energy on a daily basis.
- There may be feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
- Next, a person may experience difficulty with concentrating or making decisions.
- Several symptoms may be on either end of a given continuum. For example, significant changes in appetite and/or weight, either up or down, may occur.
- Also, a person may become unable to sleep or sleep too much.
- Next, there may be feelings of restlessness or of being slowed down.
- Of course, the most dangerous symptom is frequent thoughts of death or suicide, sometimes leading to a suicide attempt.
Anxiety
The symptoms of anxiety are many as well. Anxiety can range from frequent worry all the way to panic attacks and can manifest mentally and physically. The list here is for basic anxiety. There are other anxiety disorders, such as OCD and PTSD, with specific symptoms that are beyond the scope of our discussion today.
- Physically, anxiety may cause a person to feel wound-up, on edge, tense or restless.
- It may be easy to become fatigued or worn-out, even from activities that don’t normally result in these feelings.
- There may be significant muscle tension. This is most often seen in the neck and back and could lead to headaches.
- In terms of bodily functions, a person may notice frequent urination.
- There may also be gastrointestinal discomfort or bowel problems.
- Next, sleep problems may also exist. This could manifest as problems falling or staying asleep or a tendency toward early waking.
- Mentally, a person may experience attention, concentration or memory problems.
- Finally, irritability or agitation could be present.
Bear in mind that depression and anxiety are bedfellows. That is, it’s very common to see symptoms of both disorders in the same person. In fact, many of the symptoms of these two disorders overlap. For instance, a person’s primary challenge may be symptoms of anxiety. If that anxiety is based on perfectionism, let’s say, then the person may become overwhelmed by their own unrealistic expectations. That, in turn, may lead to feelings of depression and hopelessness about all that needs to be done.
Both anxiety and depression are very common, even normal reactions to medical issues, including heart disease. There are various forms of treatment available for depression and anxiety. These include therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, exercise and pharmacology, to name a few. Remember, the sooner you get treatment, the better.
Resources
- If you are considering therapy, word of mouth is often the best referral. So, talk to others and find out if they know of a great therapist.
- Also, you can call your insurance company and ask for help in locating a therapist in your area.
- If you’re interested, you can find today’s lecture on my website (www.doctorbellingrodt.com). You will also find more information on topics and resources relevant to both psychological and physical health.
