Could for some POIS be Psychosomatic?

[zeynali900]

Could for some POIS be psychosomatic? That means it's caused by stress, anxiety, worry or bad feelings of shame or fear.

How can we establish whether our POIS is psychosomatic or not?

[demografx]

For a number of years, I thought mine was psychosomatic.

When I discovered the forums in 2007, I became convinced that the root cause for me is physiological.

My TRT success -- a very physical treatment --  proved it in my mind.

For me.

[MirkoThiel0]

for around 2 years i was thinkin it is just normal puberty, then i was thinking for another 4 years that this all is psychosomatic, things came in my minde like: nobody have that problem... only i have it, and i find nothing on the internet so it must be something psychosomatic... but now im 100% shure its not, even if i wake up and do not even know i had an NE i feel the pois and brainfog

[COLM_2]

Maybe for some. All I can say after 40+ years with this condition and the havoc it created during teens and 20's specifically, is the following.

While at some points, based on the lack of any support in general and from medical people, I would have questioned whether there was a psychosomatic element to this.

I have found this forum (also that other men had similar symptoms and reactions to O) only 3 years back. With the progress I have made since, specifically outside of POIS cycles, from what I have learned about POIS, I am 100% certain now that my POIS was and does NOT have any psychosomatic nature.

Others may hold differing opinions, and without doubt how we manage our mind is important here, so we don't allow our symptoms to over run our emotions and cognitive processes or to define who we are. Easier said than done for young guys who find it very difficult to experience much wellbeing outside of what is a normal (what should be healthy) human act.

All the best

Colm

[demografx]

I am 100% certain now that my POIS was and does NOT have any psychosomatic nature.

I think most members eventually come to a similar conclusion.

My psychosomatic thinking was fueled by clueless doctors who insisted I see a shrink!

Sadly, my experience is a very common, disappointing scenario for many POISers seeking traditional medical help.

[zeynali900]

My psychosomatic thinking was fueled by clueless doctors who insisted I see a shrink!

And did you do that? What does a psychologist say in this situation? Or does a psychiatrist prescribe any thing?

Best regards

[demografx]

Psychologists and psychiatrists helped me with depression (meds) and some personality/social insights, but absolutely nothing for POIS.

[Quantum]

Could for some POIS be psychosomatic? That means it's caused by stress, anxiety, worry or bad feelings of shame or fear.

How can we establish whether our POIS is psychosomatic or not?

Hi Zeynali,

I think the answer is not the same for every POIS sufferer.  And I tend to think that the body and the mind are not separate entities, in the sense that they always have some influence on one another.  But for some POIS sufferers, there may be less involvement of the mind, and more for others.  POIS is not "all in your mind" as some doctors would like to say because they do not have any markers or clear clinical signs or appropriate knowledge in order to reach a POIS diagnosis, but I believe that in some case at least, like for myself, a part of it, or worsening of the POIS symptoms in severity or duration, can come from negative emotions or negative thoughts, mainly unconscious ones.

I suspect that there is  in my case at least some psychosomatic component, because since early childhood , I have been prone to anxiety and to psychosomatic symptoms. I do think however that POIS has a very physical, "real", part, and if Dr Waldinger or any other researcher find some blood markers typical of POIS, like, for example, raised activity of the C-Reactive protein, it will be found in my blood when I am in POIS.  But in my way of viewing things, it does not mean that emotions or negative thoughts are not included in the overall process of POIS.  Simply put, anxiety and stress can worsen about any medical condition, so this is the same for POIS.  In my own case, as my main symptoms are of emotional nature, there is of course a kind of reinforcing loop between my chronic tendency of being anxious and the added anxiety caused by POIS.  Both are additive, and reinforce one another.

Another hint that I may have some psychosomatic involvement is that I have less severe symptoms when having a NE than when having a release in awaken state.  Those who have the exact same severity of symptoms through a NE and when awake may have less psychosomatic "worsening" than I do.  Only a hypothesis here, there may be a completely different reason why NE cause me less symptoms, but I have no more information on that for now.

I can also say that my psychotherapy, that has been going on for years now, is helping me indirectly for POIS.  As my general level of anxiety gets lower, it helps lower the severity and duration of my POIS symptoms, which are mainly emotional.  Let's call this a positive modulation, rather than a cure.  This, plus my stack of supplements that I take before O, add up to a very good relief level.  But my sub-type of POIS is a bit rare, I have no cognitive symptoms at all, and, granted, psychotherapy would not show the same effectiveness for cognitive symptoms, most probably.  But it could only be of help with social issues, anxiety, mood instability, and the like, and most POISers have some of them as well.

[zeynali900]

Many thanks to the helpful forum members.