Bronchial asthma is a serious illness. Inflammatory processes in the bronchi provoke severe suffocation in children and adults. Despite the fact that this disease occurs quite often, the mechanisms of its development are not well understood.
Psychosomatics of asthma is a direction that studies the influence of psychological factors on the development of the disease.
As found, the occurrence of bronchial asthma is directly related to the emotional state of a person. And the study of this industry allows you to more effectively help the patient return to normal life.
Factors triggering the development of asthma
Scientists have identified many factors that influence the onset of bronchial asthma. These include:
- Genetic predisposition.
- The influence of external factors, for example, working conditions.
- The presence of chronic bronchitis.
- Various infectious diseases affecting the respiratory tract.
- Poor ecology in the area of residence.
- Bad habits.
- The use of certain drugs.
- Psychosomatic factors (one of the most common causes of asthma).
- Psychosomatic causes of bronchial asthma
Among the reasons due to which bronchial asthma occurs , psychosomatics occupies one of the leading places.
Three main factors can influence the development of the disease:
- allergic reactions;
- chronic inflammation of the respiratory system;
- poor emotional state.
Moreover, regardless of the reason that became the impetus for the development of the disease, any nervous tension can provoke an attack.
Asthma as a psychosomatic illness can be caused by:
- a variety of stresses;
- anxious states;
- depression;
- nervous shocks, regardless of their origin.
Separately, it should be noted the features of the psychosomatics of bronchial asthma in children.
On a nervous basis in childhood, the disease can develop for a number of reasons:
- Switching the attention of parents to the second child. The kid begins to feel abandoned and deprived.
- In adolescence, suppression of negative emotions leads to the development of the disease.
- Divorce of parents.
- Other emotional upheavals.
How asthma occurs
It has been established that asthma can develop against the background of stress, and the psychosomatics of this process is well studied.
There are two main psychosomatic causes of the development of the disease:
- Lack of attention. A person (especially often in childhood) feels lonely and abandoned.
- Excessive attention and care. Excessive control generates nervous tension.
In the first case, attention is needed, in the second, on the contrary, its excess is observed. But in both cases, the main problem is the lack of love and understanding in the patient’s life.
An asthma attack is, first of all, the activation of the body’s defense mechanisms, indicating that a change in communication tactics is necessary.
In children
In the process of studying the psychosomatics of the development of asthma in children and adolescents , it was found that both of the above reasons are relevant.
The risk group includes:
- Children are very bossy and authoritarian moms who always know what is best for their child. Such a patient is not given the opportunity to make decisions on his own, he is controlled in everything.
- Older children in the family. In the event that a child has a brother or sister, parents begin to spend most of their time with the newborn. The kid begins to think that no one loves him, that he was abandoned. This causes such strong emotional experiences that it can provoke the development of the disease.
- Children from disadvantaged families, where the child is either unwanted or simply not loved enough.
Children very subtly feel the attitude of others around them and worry if something is wrong. And that is why bronchial asthma often develops at an early age.
In adults
The psychosomatic causes of asthma in adults are also rooted in childhood. Problems and complexes revealed at the wrong time in adult life are manifested as follows:
- Dissatisfaction with oneself and the surrounding life. Inflated ideals and the pursuit of them generate deep personal conflict. In this case, asthma can lower the bar. The patient agrees that he cannot do everything perfectly because he is sick.
- Also, asthma in adults can manifest itself in the opposite case, when the requirements for oneself are minimal. However, such a patient expects too much from others. In this case, there is a subconscious manipulation of others.
- An insufficiently formed system of values in a patient, unwillingness to make decisions and be responsible for them can also cause asthma attacks in adults. Illness helps to avoid responsibility.
- The inability to solve problems or be a judge in any controversial issues in some patients causes such a strong nervous overstrain that an attack is inevitable. The attention of the conflicting ones switches to the patient, and the quarrel temporarily stops.
Very often in adults, seizures occur in situations where it is necessary to show such qualities as courage, perseverance, aggressiveness or independence. In this case, asthma is used as a manipulation mechanism to avoid this or that action.
Psychological portrait of an asthmatic
In all patients with bronchial asthma associated with one or another psychological cause, a number of similar character traits can be identified.
The characteristics of patients include:
- Suppression of emotions. This can be aggression in adolescents, experiences, depression and other feelings. A person keeps feelings to himself. An asthmatic attack becomes an external manifestation.
- Inability to cope with stress.
- Infantilism.
- Insufficiently developed ability to express their feelings. A person wants to show his emotions to the world around him, but he cannot.
- Increased excitability and anxiety.
- Wrong assessment of your abilities (it does not matter if it is overestimation or underestimation).
- Increased ability to smell.
- Too much attention to the opinions of others.
The psychosomatic nature of the disease most often implies internal fears and conflicts. At the same time, drug treatment is not enough. An appeal to a psychotherapist is also required.
Treatment tactics
In the case of an illness of a psychosomatic nature, only medication cannot give satisfactory results. Psychotherapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma of this type is simply necessary.
First of all, the patient is taught to express his emotions correctly: on the one hand, not to restrain them, but also not to depend on them – on the other. Asthmatics are convinced that it is important to share their experiences with relatives and friends, to talk about their problems.
If the cause of the illness is an event from early childhood, you may need the help of a qualified psychoanalyst who can find the roots of the problem.
Of the drugs, mild sedatives are most often prescribed, the action of which is aimed at relieving the state of anxiety.
It has been established that group breathing exercises give a good therapeutic effect. It not only develops the patient’s breathing apparatus, but also helps relieve tension and cope with stress. Correctly performed exercises facilitate sputum discharge, which also has a positive effect on the patient’s condition.
Therapeutic massage relieves muscle fatigue and helps the patient to relax. It helps to improve the performance and well-being of the patient. It can be used both during remission and during exacerbation of the disease.
It has been found that climate also affects the course of the disease. Most often, the resorts of the North Caucasus and the South Coast of Crimea are recommended for health improvement.
In recent years, acupuncture has become more and more popular. The impact on the active points of the body improves the patient’s well-being.
Equally important is the patient’s attitude to the disease. One must learn not to use it as a mechanism for influencing others.
Finally
Bronchial asthma is one of the most famous diseases associated with psychosomatics. With the help of his well-being, the patient manipulates others, avoids responsibility, or simply declares his problems.
During treatment, in order to obtain and consolidate a positive result, it is important not only to fight the external manifestations of the disease by prescribing medicines.
It is necessary to find a psychological problem. This can be done by an experienced psychologist who will not only understand the psychosomatic origins of the disease, but also help the patient learn to cope with problems.