Physical symptoms
- Persistent or recurring pain
- Fatigue and low energy
- Headache, muscle or joint pain
- Digestive problems
- Tightness, chest pressure or palpitations
Do you experience pain, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations or other physical symptoms that persist while medical tests do not provide a complete explanation?
Persistent physical symptoms are real and can strongly affect your daily life. With Nadia El Amrani, psychologist, we explore together the physical, psychological and social factors that maintain these symptoms, and how you can gradually regain control of your body and your life.
When doctors do not find a sufficient medical explanation, this does not mean the symptoms do not exist. Body, brain, stress system, emotions and behavior continuously influence one another.
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CBT · ACT · EMDR
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We speak of persistent physical symptoms when pain, fatigue, dizziness or other bodily sensations last over time without a medical examination fully explaining their intensity or duration.
These symptoms can coexist with a physical condition, appear after an illness or treatment, or be present without a clearly identified medical cause. Often several factors play a role at the same time: bodily sensitivity, prolonged stress, past experiences, worry, overload and changes in activity.
Physical symptoms and psychological factors can coexist. Treatment does not aim to say that everything is "in your head", but to understand the interaction between body, thoughts, emotions, stress and behavior so that the symptoms limit you less.
Addressing psychological factors does not mean denying the symptoms. It means working on how body, stress, thoughts and behavior influence each other, in order to reduce the impact on your life.
Persistent physical symptoms can manifest in many different ways. Some people experience one main symptom, while others have several at the same time.
Persistent physical symptoms usually do not have a single cause. They are often the result of a combination of physical, psychological and social factors that reinforce each other and keep the symptoms going.
With prolonged symptoms, the nervous system can become more sensitive to bodily signals. Normal sensations may then be perceived more quickly as pain, tightness or other symptoms.
Chronic stress keeps the body in a constant state of alert. This can reinforce fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness and palpitations.
When you constantly monitor your body or fear that something serious is happening, sensations often become more intense. A vicious circle easily develops.
For fear of worsening symptoms, many people move less or avoid activities. This leads to a loss of fitness and can keep symptoms going longer.
For some people, traumatic experiences, prolonged overload or emotionally significant events play a role in the onset or persistence of physical symptoms.
Symptoms lead to worry, avoidance and tension. These in turn reinforce the bodily sensations, keeping the circle in place.
Treatment does not aim to deny the symptoms, but to reduce their influence on your daily life. Together we work on restoring functioning, confidence in your body and quality of life.
During the first consultation we map out in detail which symptoms you experience, which medical examinations have already taken place and which factors seem to influence them. We then draw up a treatment plan together that fits your situation.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you recognize and change unhelpful thoughts, worries and behaviors that maintain the symptoms. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you live with symptoms without them constantly determining your life.
When traumatic experiences or prolonged stress play a role, EMDR can be part of the treatment. We also work on gradually resuming activities, restoring confidence in your body and improving the balance between effort and rest.
Together we explore the factors that contribute to the onset and maintenance of your symptoms.
You receive explanations about the influence of the nervous system, stress, emotions and behavior on physical symptoms.
You learn to deal differently with health anxiety, rumination and constant body monitoring.
We rebuild your daily activities step by step without overloading yourself.
You learn to trust your body again and develop strategies to manage symptoms.
The goal is that, despite possible symptoms, you can return to work, social contacts and activities that matter to you.
Persistent physical symptoms can strongly affect your daily life. That is why we do not only look at the symptoms themselves, but also at the factors that keep them going. Together we work toward more control over your body and your life.
We use scientifically supported approaches such as CBT, ACT and, when relevant, EMDR.
We examine the interaction between physical symptoms, thoughts, emotions, behavior and stress, for a treatment that fits your situation.
Therapy is offered in French, English and Moroccan Arabic (Darija), with attention to your cultural context, identity and life experience.
The goal is that you regain confidence in your body, resume your activities and improve your quality of life.
With the right support, you can learn to cope better with persistent physical symptoms, regain confidence in your body and gradually return to the activities that matter to you.
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