Can we talk about the word “psychosomatic” for a minute?
Like most people, I used to understand this word to mean “the cause of your symptoms has been discovered to be psychological, and must be treated as such.”
But that’s not quite how it’s used in practice.
Like most people, I used to understand this word to mean “the cause of your symptoms has been discovered to be psychological, and must be treated as such.”
But that’s not quite how it’s used in practice.
In practice, diabetes was considered to be psychosomatic until we discovered insulin.
In practice, Lyme disease and the horrific symptoms that can follow it have historically been written off as psychosomatic.
In practice, there was published research arguing that AIDS was psychosomatic.
Anyone with adhd knows how easy it is to have our challenges reframed and dismissed as psychosomatic - “go to therapy and take meds and if that doesn’t fix you you must not be trying hard enough.”
In practice, ME/CFS has been treated as psychosomatic. In fact, despite the fact that we now have a ton of bio markers showing that it’s neuroimmune there are still doctors who insist it’s psychosomatic.
In theory, “psychosomatic” means “we found evidence that the problem is psychological.”
In practice, “psychosomatic” means “medical science can’t determine the cause of your symptoms, try therapy.”
Do you see the problem?
Where is the evidence?
In practice, “psychosomatic” means “medical science can’t determine the cause of your symptoms, try therapy.”
Do you see the problem?
Where is the evidence?
In practice, “psychosomatic” means “the medical system has given up on you.”
Now, when you point this out you’ll get people who accuse you of not caring about mental health. “Psychosomatic doesn’t mean not real!” they insist as they terminate treatment.
Now, when you point this out you’ll get people who accuse you of not caring about mental health. “Psychosomatic doesn’t mean not real!” they insist as they terminate treatment.
It’s entirely possible - even likely! - that some people get sick because of a psychological condition.
What I didn’t realize is that when doctors say this they always do it in the absence of any evidence at all and simply assume if they can’t explain it it’s psychological.
What I didn’t realize is that when doctors say this they always do it in the absence of any evidence at all and simply assume if they can’t explain it it’s psychological.
So when you see people dismissing anyone’s Long Covid as psychosomatic, you can know they’re in the same historical company with people who have said the same about everything from diabetes to AIDS.
That certainty is misplaced, and this suffering is very real.
That certainty is misplaced, and this suffering is very real.
Any medical professionals that want to disagree, tell me about all the patients you have diagnosed with psychosomatic illness *and then kept in touch with to see how that treatment worked* and seen success.
Anecdotally I’m sure it happens.
Systemically I’m sure it doesn’t.
Anecdotally I’m sure it happens.
Systemically I’m sure it doesn’t.
Anyway. This is a thing I had to learn.
NEVER suggest to your chronically sick friends that their illness might be psychosomatic.
That’s not a friendly attempt at helping them get better, that’s a kick to the head implying that you don’t believe them.
NEVER suggest to your chronically sick friends that their illness might be psychosomatic.
That’s not a friendly attempt at helping them get better, that’s a kick to the head implying that you don’t believe them.
I didn't realize that Multiple Sclerosis was also in this camp, but of course. Everything is "psychosomatic" until they find biomarkers, and even then much of it remains "psychosomatic" until that doctor retires.
https://twitter.com/MightyMermaid87/status/1426251701963694080
But when you say this people tell you you sound like a QAnon person.
https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/1426290318266097668
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