In Egypt, after death and before the mummification, each organ was placed in a pot with the shape of the head of an animal, to mean that every part of the body corresponded to a divinity and its intelligence was placed in it. Today we remember that we have a body only when it starts to fall into pieces and cursed it without realizing that it can communicate with us, revealing our needs through its own inner voice: the symptom.
The word “symptom“Derives from the Greek symptoma And it means “what happens together, concomitant event ”, From syn- (‘Together’) e piptein (‘fall’), suggesting something that ‘falls together’ on an underlying condition ..
For Jungian psychology the symptom is teleological, Meaning what has a purposeis one creative solution which allows the transformation. A sick, suffering and tormented psyche imposes an arrest and yield. When our needs are denied, the symptom arrives, so that that unrecognized part can find space for expression and realization.
So it happens that even unconscious desires and impulses in contrast with moral consciousness and with the way we tell ourselves that we have to be, are removed and re -emerge through the disease to exist, to be listened to and integrated into consciousness.
The symptom is a possibility
IftAccustomed to sliding life into routines and duties, we constantly leave out the body and soul, forgetting that they are essential dimensions of our being, not simple tools to be used according to our goals. Thanks to the pain we start to:
- observe us;
- feel our vulnerability;
- reflect on ourselves.
Thus the symptoms arrives unexpected, which insinuates itself and stops our usual way of moving around the world. Breaks a balance To bring a more aware presence of self to that rhythm of life. Looking at that break and listening to the symptom, we can find new ways of:
- to be;
- reflect on the road we are traveling;
- find a life full of meaning.
The symptom is a voice that comes from the unconscious and catapults our attention from the world outside the world inside.
Dialogue with an inner voice
Fight against the symptom, our pains can perhaps subside, anesthetized by drugs; But, if we do not understand the meaning, they will return to visit us in other forms, even more domineering and disabling. On the contrary, if we activate a dialogue with the symptom, it can indicate a new way: by letting ourselves be guided, we can restore more authentic harmony with ourselves.
IftWhat is a symptom? Definition and etymology
A symptom is a subjective manifestation of a malaise or a disease, perceived and reported by the person who experiences it. Unlike a ‘sign’, the symptom is not objectively measurable, but is reported by the person who experiences it.
The difference between symptom, sign and syndrome
In common and medical language, it is important to distinguish between three related terms:
- Symptom: A subjective feeling reported by the patient (e.g. ‘I feel nausea’, ‘I have headaches’).
- Sign: An objective and measurable evidence detected by a healthcare professional (e.g. fever at 38.5 ° C, rash).
- Syndrome: A characteristic set of signs and symptoms that present themselves together and define a specific clinical picture.
The different types of symptoms
Symptoms can be classified in various ways to understand them better:
- Physical symptoms: They concern the body (e.g. pain, fatigue, dizziness).
- Psychological or emotional symptoms: They concern the mental and emotional sphere (e.g. anxiety, sadness, irritability, panic attacks).
- Cognitive symptoms: Mental functions impact (e.g. difficulty concentration, memory loss).
- Behavioral symptoms: They manifest themselves through actions (e.g. social isolation, insomnia, changes in appetite).
The symptom as a message: the meaning in psychology
From a psychological point of view, in particular in the Jungian approach, the symptom is not only a disorder to be deleted, but a message from the unconscious. It is a ‘creative solution’ that our psyche adopts to bring to light an unheard need, an inner conflict or a part of us who asks to be recognized and integrated. Listening to the symptom means opening a dialogue with our interiority to find a new balance.
From the symptom to awareness: your path begins
Understanding a symptom, whether physical or psychological, is the first step in taking care of yourself. It is not an enemy to fight, but an ally that invites us to look inside us. If you feel that your symptoms are trying to tell you something, a psychological path can help you decipher the message and transform the malaise into an opportunity for growth.
A therapist can offer you a safe space to explore what you feel and find the right strategies to get better. If you want to start understanding what is hiding behind your symptoms, we are here to listen to you. Start the questionnaire to find your psychologist online.
