What is called neurosis today?
In the past, neurosis was the name given to any reversible disorder associated with stress, as opposed to psychosis, in which contact with reality is disrupted. Modern medicine has retained the idea itself, but replaced the general term with specific diagnoses: they better predict the course and determine treatment. Therefore, when the doctor clarifies the wording, it is not about the fact that there is no problem, but about choosing the exact help. For the patient, the main thing remains uniting: the symptoms are not caused by organ failure, but by overload of the regulatory system, and they are reversible.
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Social and other phobias
- Somatoform disorders
- Adjustment disorder
- Neurasthenia - a state of exhaustion
Symptoms
Manifestations are divided into mental and physical, and often it is the physical ones that first lead a person to a therapist or cardiologist. Mental health symptoms include anxiety, irritability, tearfulness, difficulty concentrating, and a feeling of constant internal tension. On the part of the body - palpitations, a feeling of lack of air, a lump in the throat, tension headaches, abdominal discomfort, sweating, trembling. Sleep almost always suffers: it is difficult to fall asleep, sleep is superficial, and in the morning there is no feeling of rest. Symptoms intensify during periods of exertion and subside during vacations.
- Anxiety and internal tension
- Irritability and tearfulness
- Fatigue and decreased performance
- Sleep disorders
- Palpitations and feeling of shortness of breath
- Tension headaches
- Abdominal discomfort and bowel movements
- Decreased concentration
Reasons
Neurotic disorders occur where prolonged stress exceeds recovery capabilities. This could be a protracted conflict, work overload, caring for a seriously ill relative, financial uncertainty, or moving. What matters is not only the force of the event, but also its subjective meaning, as well as personality traits: a tendency to anxiety, perfectionism, the habit of suppressing feelings. Additionally, chronic lack of sleep, lack of rest, and abuse of caffeine and alcohol deplete the body. Often the disorder begins after an illness, when resources are already reduced.
- Prolonged stress and fatigue
- Internal conflict and suppressed feelings
- Anxious personality traits and perfectionism
- Psychotraumatic events
- Chronic lack of sleep
- Abuse of caffeine and alcohol
- The period after the illness
Survey
Since complaints are often physical, the first step is usually a reasonable examination, excluding diseases with similar manifestations: thyroid diseases, anemia, cardiac arrhythmias, neurological diseases. It is important that this stage is limited: endless repeated studies with normal results increase anxiety and reinforce the conviction of the presence of a serious illness. When serious causes are excluded, the diagnosis is clarified by a psychotherapist or psychiatrist in a conversation, assessing the nature of the symptoms, their connection with stress and impact on life.
- Examination by a therapist or neurologist
- General blood test
- Thyroid hormones
- ECG for complaints of palpitations
- Limiting repeat examinations with normal results
- Clinical conversation with a psychotherapist
Treatment and prevention
The main method is psychotherapy, primarily cognitive-behavioral, which helps to recognize anxious thoughts, change the reaction to them and gradually return to avoided situations. At the same time, the regime is restored: regular sleep, physical activity, limiting caffeine and alcohol, dosing the load. Medicines are prescribed by a doctor for severe anxiety or depression; Rapid-acting sedatives are used briefly and cautiously due to the risk of addiction. Uncontrolled use of pharmaceuticals without a diagnosis often prolongs the problem rather than solving it.
- Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy
- Restoring sleep and rest patterns
- Regular physical activity
- Limiting caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
- Breathing and relaxation techniques
- Medicines only as prescribed by a doctor
- Caution with sedatives due to risk of addiction
- Reconsidering workload and boundaries at work