Psychological stress and peptic ulcers

  Two months ago, a special patient was received in the specialist’s office. “Doctor, do I have a terminal illness? My stomach pain has been bad for three or four years, what should I do?” This young Ms. Wang was very thin and was consulting the doctor in a breathless manner. She already appeared dazed and exhausted. Ms. Wang’s illness had been to several hospitals and doctors, while the stomach pain, anorexia, diarrhea was good and bad, and her condition was prolonged, accompanied by irritability, restlessness, emotional instability, and general discomfort. After taking a medical history, physical examination and psychological tests, the doctor diagnosed her with anxiety disorder. The doctor told her that it was not an “incurable” disorder, but a common disease in psychiatry, and that the disorder would be cured quickly if she cooperated with the doctor. Through medication (anti-anxiety, anti-ulcer and phytonadic drugs), psychotherapy and physical therapy, the patient’s symptoms disappeared in just one week, and she has not relapsed for two months, regaining her former beauty and laughter.  Everything in the human body is psychologically connected. Psychological factors can effectively penetrate into all the subtleties of the human body. The human brain accumulates a large amount of excess emotional energy and directs every cell, tissue and organ of the body. The human brain exhibits the miracle of psychic connection at all times, and sometimes naturally manifests itself as a disease. If a person’s mental and emotional well-being is often maintained in an optimistic state, the body can enhance its resistance to disease and many diseases may be overcome or delayed. Ms. Wang’s peptic ulcer disease originated from the conflict between husband and wife, the divorce case was not satisfactorily resolved, she had great pressure inside, and deeply powerless, long-term psychological conflict, so that she was restless, memory and work ability significantly reduced, marital disharmony seriously affected her daily life and work, but also brought serious damage to her health.  The etiology and pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease are quite complex, among which the role of psychological factors cannot be ignored. According to the theory of Chinese medicine: emotional discomfort, liver depression and gas stagnation, resulting in malfunction of the spleen, gastrointestinal disharmony (refers to digestion and absorption function), and finally the occurrence of gastric or duodenal ulcers. As the saying goes, “the disease comes from thinking and thinking”. From the perspective of medical psychology: human personality and long-term repeated negative emotions are closely related to the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease, which is a change in the function of the higher nerves leads to disorders of the plant nerve function, which affects the secretion and motor function of the stomach and duodenum, and finally ulcer disease occurs. When a person is under the effect of certain internal and external stimuli, accompanied by emotional experiences, a series of physiological changes will occur. Chronic tension and anxiety, depression and anxiety, and frustration and fear can cause persistently high secretion of gastric acid. Therefore, some mood disorders such as anxiety and depression are also often accompanied by ulcer disease, and, moreover, anxiety and depression problems are often neglected. Medical psychology classifies peptic ulcer disease and other types of diseases as psychosomatic diseases.  Ms. Wang’s peptic ulcer is a psychosomatic disease, not a single use of peptic ulcer treatment drugs, psychotherapy and psychological adjustment is extremely important. Psychotherapy and psychological adjustment are extremely important. It should also be combined with anti-anxiety, anti-depressant and phytonadic drugs. This requires a certain level of psychological expertise for accurate diagnosis and treatment.