All people are exposed to stressful situations daily for a variety of reasons. In some, the body can withstand the frantic pace of life without serious consequences. The psyche of others is forced to experience enormous loads. Very often she does not cope with them. In this case, they talk about the development of a disease called "psychasthenia." This is a pathological condition characterized by excessive introspection. Subjected to him people make excessive demands on themselves. They are very self-critical, can have low self-esteem.
The main causes of the disorder
Psychasthenia is rightly recognized as a disease of the 21st century. An increasing number of people in large cities are suffering from personality changes. They constantly check, double-check their actions and cannot find the strength to fundamentally change something.
The exact causes of the disorder are unknown. Doctors suggest that under the influence of certain factors, the pathological process arises and begins to actively develop. These include:
- Stress. Almost every modern person is subject to unrest and worry. The need to work hard, be successful and meet certain standards - all these are difficult tests for the psyche. Without quality rest, depletion of the nervous system occurs over time. She ceases to fulfill her primary functions.
- Lack of sleep. A full rest is the key to the good work of the central nervous system. Chronic lack of sleep for several months can cause a decrease in immunity, impaired brain function.
- Lack of exercise. Lack of physical activity entails many problems, including the work of the body.
- Alcohol and smoking. Chronic intoxication of the nervous system leads to its pathology.
- Diseases of the endocrine system and central nervous system.
- Adverse environmental conditions. Polluted air and water, poor quality food worsen human health.
These factors are not uncommon. Their effects can be observed in all developed countries. However, only a small percentage of people are diagnosed with psychasthenia. This is due to the second component of the pathological process - the personality characteristics of the patient.
Clinical picture
On the way to achieving the goal, psychastenics are most afraid of defeat. Therefore, they do not commit rash or spontaneous acts. On the other hand, the psychasthenic type of personality is characterized by indecision in decision-making, expressed pedantry. Before starting any action, such people carefully think over the plan, and then follow it exactly. If any external factor violates it, they are lost and can completely recede from it.
Most of the psychastenics are well-read and educated people. Despite their intellectual knowledge, they do not like publicity. When a speech is required in front of an audience, they can completely forget the information, even owning it in full. It's hard for such people to make decisions. Therefore, they often seek support and help.
Symptoms of psychasthenia include selectivity in the choice of friends. The social circle is rather limited. They interact exclusively with people proven over the years. They treat strangers with distrust and do not like to communicate because of the fear of being misunderstood.
Punctuality and pedantry are characteristic of the disorder. These qualities often annoy others. However, they are offset by hard work and reliability. This is used by colleagues who load psychastenics with their problems.
Such individuals are distinguished by increased concern for their own health. To some extent, they can be considered hypochondriacs. Over time, this kind of suspiciousness degenerates into reactive depression.
How do psychastenics think?
Today, almost all medical directories contain detailed information about what constitutes a disease of psychasthenia. A personality type diagnostic test is often attached to its description. With it, anyone can determine the likelihood of developing this disorder. What else is it interesting?
The thinking of patients with such a diagnosis is often striking in its logic. They are highly susceptible to doubt, so they carefully approach problems. Always compare the positive and negative sides of the issue, putting an incredible amount of effort. It would seem that a logical answer is obvious and lies on the surface. However, internal uncertainty does not allow him to be discerned.
Long thoughts are practically not used in practice. Psychasthenics are always smart and extremely educated people. They are afraid of criticism from society, so they rarely speak in public. Among them there are no politicians or public figures.
On the other hand, one does not have to wait for rash or improvised actions. Due to the nature of the disease, such people present their actions in advance.
The psychasthenic type of personality is characterized by a desire for continuous development. However, even positive dynamics does not give satisfaction. After reaching the designated goal, such people begin to search again for that ideal, in comparison with which they feel worthless. This can go on throughout life.
Varieties of disorder
There is no official division of the disease into categories. However, in medical practice it is customary to differentiate it according to the following subspecies: anxious (evading) and anancaste (obsessive-compulsive) personality disorder. Each of them has certain differences.
With anancastic personality disorder , people have obsessive thoughts. They constantly think whether the iron was unplugged or the door closed. On the other hand, they show unprecedented friendliness towards relatives. In contact with outsiders, they prefer to behave modestly and unemotionally. Such individuals are prone to various phobias. The development of the latter can occur for absolutely any reason.
With an anxious personality disorder, a fear of criticism from outsiders appears. Patients with this form of diagnosis of "psychasthenia" must be constantly encouraged and comforted. In no case should be criticized or blamed. Otherwise, constant introspection can develop into a real depression.
Features of the violation in children
Symptoms of psychasthenia are usually detected in childhood. To be more precise, at the beginning of schooling. In the lower grades, problems arise with mechanical memory, which necessarily reflects on the ability to learn educational material. Such children are constantly re-checking the work done, so they lag behind their peers. In public speaking, they are very sensitive to the assessment of others.
At an older age, developed analytical skills help to achieve the desired result. Such children manage to perfectly understand the material, logically summarize new information. Intellectual talent makes itself felt already in adulthood.
Psychasthenia in children develops rather slowly. However, caring parents may notice certain difficulties in establishing contact with classmates, especially with the opposite sex. Such children try to choose only those people for communication who cannot bring them suffering.
Diagnostic Methods
Most often, relatives of the patient or his close friends turn to suspect psychasthenia. To clarify the preliminary diagnosis, the doctor must first ask a number of clarifying questions. It is important for him to know how long the symptoms of the disorder appeared, which served as an impetus to the depletion of the nervous system.
After that, they switch to instrumental diagnostic methods. Standard tests of urine and blood are prescribed to all patients, since they allow you to evaluate the functioning of the body as a whole. Additionally, examination of the kidneys, endocrine system and metabolic processes may be required.
Instrumental diagnostics allows you to confirm the assumptions of a specialist or clarify some points. Among the methods used today, the following are especially relevant:
- ECG.
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
- Ultrasound of the cerebral vessels.
Psychasthenia is a complex disease. His clinical picture is in many ways similar to other pathologies. Therefore, during the examination process, it is rarely possible to do without differential diagnosis. It is carried out with other personal manifestations that may accompany schizophrenia and neurasthenia.
Recommended treatment
Psychasthenia is a serious disease that requires competent therapy. However, it is not possible to completely cure him. This ailment usually accompanies a person until death. With an appropriate approach, it is possible to stop its symptoms, thereby making life easier for the patient.
Methods of therapeutic effects can be varied. Most often resort to the help of drugs and physiotherapy. In especially serious cases, psychotherapy sessions cannot be dispensed with. More details about these techniques will be described below.
Regardless of the chosen course of treatment, any doctor will first advise the patient to review his lifestyle. You need to devote more time to rest, plan sleep time correctly. It is better not to abuse physical and emotional stress. A good option is to sign up for a gym or massage. This approach allows not only to remove the accumulated stress, but also to prevent the emergence of a new one.
Drug use
Medications used to combat the disease help to eliminate signs of anxiety, suspicion and mood swings. Some of them help prevent the development of phobias, which often haunt patients with a diagnosis of "psychasthenia." Drug treatment involves the appointment of the following groups of drugs:
- Vitamins and adaptogens. Their prolonged use contributes to filling the deficit of neurotransmitters, restoring the body as a whole.
- Sedatives. Treatment begins with the use of herbal preparations. In the absence of effect, therapy is supplemented with more complex drugs.
- Hypnotics (Donormil, Barbital, Melaxen). Medicines from this group are allowed to be used only as prescribed by the doctor and under his constant supervision.
- Antidepressants (Aminalon, Sertralin, Fluoxetine).
- Antipsychotics (Propazin, Azaleptin). You have to resort to the help of these drugs in the most severe cases. Dosage and duration of treatment are determined strictly by the doctor.
For the speedy recovery of the nervous system, it is additionally recommended to take vitamin complexes. They contribute to the improvement of adaptation processes, the prevention of the development of complications.
Physiotherapeutic Impact
The treatment of psychasthenia cannot be imagined without physiotherapy. This is a series of completely safe and effective procedures. They not only enhance the effect of drugs on the body, but also support basic therapy.
- Electrical stimulation. This procedure involves the effect of electric current on certain areas of the body.
- Electrophoresis Used for deeper penetration of drugs into the layers of the skin. As a result, the body’s need for medicine decreases, and the duration of its therapeutic effect increases.
- Electrosleep. Provides a calming effect. This procedure is prescribed for patients suffering from chronic fatigue and mental overload.
The listed procedures are characterized by high efficiency. However, their help should be resorted to only after consultation with your doctor.
Psychotherapy
Various types of psychotherapy are also used to treat psychasthenia. Thanks to regular sessions, the patient begins to accept himself. Gradually, he developed the skills of successful socialization. Such treatment allows you to find your place in life, and use personality traits for the benefit of self-improvement. A specific type of psychotherapy is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. The best results are given by sessions conducted simultaneously with the course of drug intervention.
Prognosis for recovery
The treatment of psychasthenia is a long process. Unfortunately, it is not possible to overcome this disease forever. The proposed methods of therapeutic exposure can only correct its symptoms, improve the patient's worldview. Comprehensive treatment helps bring psychastenics to the level of a practically healthy person. Its absence can lead to disastrous consequences.
The disorder quite often develops into all kinds of obsessive states. At the same time, psychastenics begin to abandon new activities and initiatives. They live either in the past, or in a fictitious future. Over time, this existence is complicated by causeless anxiety, anxiety. There is a distrust of others, skepticism. Neurasthenia and psychasthenia are borderline conditions. The consequences of such violations can be sexual disorders, alcoholism, prolonged depression.