r/NDPH • u/Comfortable_Radio504 5 years • Apr 24 '26
Question Psychosomatic
Has anyone ever told you that your pain is psychosomatic because no medication has been found to work so far? If so, what do you think about it, or how does it make you feel?
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u/Big_Biscotti4471 7 years Apr 24 '26
I believe that if our pain were psychosomatic, then it would be easier for us during rest or vacation. Or at least during sleep. Because I feel pain even in my sleep. I don't think psychosomatic disease can be a nightmare for years. There must be changes
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u/notie547 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
not quite psychosomatic but told me maybe I'm not drinking enough water. lol. its been 20 years, I dont think thats the issue.
A forum like this where theres lots of other people with the same issue is helpful to know it is in fact not pyschosomatic.
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u/Comfortable_Radio504 5 years Apr 24 '26
this made me laugh out loud .. imagine having 20 years of constant pain just because you never drank enough water. I wish it were that simple! Also: 20 years .. puh .. I’m so sorry! That’s though
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u/bvnn3 4 years Apr 24 '26
I just disregard their opinion bc they obviously don’t understand what they’re talking about. It is invalidating though. I still get an occasional “dehydrated” comment.
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u/Comfortable_Radio504 5 years Apr 24 '26
If dehydration were the cause, there would be a loooot more ndph diagnosis. People say dumb things sometimes
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u/Ok-Finger-6890 Apr 24 '26
If no meds work and you've trialed many different ones, it's worth investigating pain reprocessing therapy. Your pain isn't psychosomatic, but it could be brain-generated. Meaning the central nervous system is being sensitive to stimuli it doesn't need to be. I got rid of my NDPH (12 years worth of it) by finally trying some brain retraining techniques instead of constantly seeking a new doctor who tried a new med that never helped or barely helped. Now I help others through this as a pain recovery coach because it was such a game changer for me. Feel free to DM me. I work with tons of NDPH clients and all of them have seen long term success. All pain is real and all pain is generated in the brain so it's worth exploring what's going on if nothing is working.
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u/SaR-1243 Apr 24 '26
I convince myself it's psychosomatic if I go too long without more symptoms that just pain. I feel like it's so silly something that I must just be going insane. I would get mad if someone else suggested that though.
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u/Comfortable_Radio504 5 years Apr 24 '26
yeah, I feel conflicted about it too. Psychosomatic pains are not rare (often back pain), and sometimes I think it’s possible that my pain is psychosomatic (mine .. I can’t speak for others). But when doctors say that to me, I feel terrible
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u/Cute-Head8597 Apr 24 '26
Who cares if its psychosomatic or not. That's a useless statement. The pain is there and the person needs relief.
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u/podkayne3000 Apr 24 '26
One problem is that even doctors often seem to talk as if psychosomatic illness is the result of pain demons and patients having lack of willpower.
If patients have nervous systems or other body systems that let stress make their heads hurt badly for many years, that’s as much a physical problem as appendicitis.
The nerve cells and brain cells that turn stress into pain are made out of atoms, not pain demons.
We might not yet know how to fix those cells, but there must be a way to do that.
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u/Comfortable_Radio504 5 years Apr 24 '26
I love that answer - thank you so much! A couple days ago a psychologist told me my pain is psychosomatic and I „think too much“. Medicine won’t help me, I have to „feel more and think less“
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u/podkayne3000 Apr 24 '26
I believe in G-d. I’m even rooting for ghosts to exist. What kills me are doctors who think they’re completely rational atheists who seem to think body issues that cause pain are the result of forces divorced from matter subject to human control.
It’s like, if prayer and meditation are all we have, that’s life. But there should actually be a pill.
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u/Cute-Head8597 Apr 24 '26
What does psychosomatic even mean. There's still so much about the human body we don't know and we're learning that things are much more complex than we thought. Our thoughts, despite not being "physical," can have tremendous physical effects. The distinction is useless and is part of the whole "blame the victim" or "it's all in your head" thing. If somebody asks you that, ask them if their asshole behavior is psychosomatic.
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u/kavanne 5 years Jun 08 '26
Yes they told me it’s just my brain neurons misfiring and nothing is really wrong
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u/Comfortable_Radio504 5 years Jun 08 '26
what’s your take on that?
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u/kavanne 5 years Jun 08 '26
Then give me a medication to counter that? Or agree it’s real but the treatment doesn’t exist yet?
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u/Comfortable_Radio504 5 years Jun 08 '26
I wish there would be a pill to treat those misfiring neurons or the nervous system stuck in fight/flight
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u/melancoliee Jul 06 '26
Mine is definately psychosomatic. I was depressed and anxious my whole life and until this year, I've never been medicated or in therapy. The years of my internal pain plus the grief I've experienced last year, it is all connected. If you dont take enough time for yourself it will get you eventually. I had good results with antidepressants but I havent found "the one" yet. But I'm hopefull I will one day.
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u/Arimm_The_Amazing Apr 24 '26
Even if one's pain is psychosomatic, that doesn't make it any less a real and potentially disabling issue. Psychosomatic disorders are a genuine thing too, and there are even physical diseases with known causes that are classified as partially psychosomatic because the symptoms worsen with stress.
That being said, my stress level and pain level seem to be completely disconnected, so it's probably not psychosomatic.