Anxiety Disorders

The term neurosis was first used by William Cullen in 1777 to designate functional physiological disturbances without evident structural basis in the afflicted organic function. The symptoms that appear in these conditions are related to neurological functions and include anxiety, asthenia, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, headaches, hysteria, paresthesias, phobias, pseudo-seizures, sexual disorders, sleep disorders, etc. Often, these conditions are associated with: irritability, moodiness, restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, tremors, body temperature changes, breathing difficulties, nausea, palpitations, diarrhea, constipation, pain, or sleep difficulties, without obvious organic pathology.

Traditionally, these conditions are believed to arise from internalized, and often unconscious, emotional conflicts in the mind’s attempt to resolve tensions between instinctual desires and the repression of those desires by internalized forces, defenses, and controls. The nature of these conflicts is often found in early stages of development, during the interaction of the child’s behavior and emotional expression and the response from parents and caretakers to the child. These experiences are internalized in the form of complexes of memories, behavior patterns and emotions. These emotionally based complexes tend to be triggered by life circumstances that in some way recapitulate the early experiences.

Typically, neurotic disorders require psychotherapy for their resolution. There are different modalities of psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Treatment, Psychoanalytically Oriented Psychotherapy, and Hypnosis to treat these conditions. The treatment can take from 12 to 18 sessions, to several years, depending on the severity of the disorder and the underlying causes.

Homeopathic treatment can relieve the symptoms associated with these conditions. Many of these patients will be very sensitive to conventional medications and develop side effects from these compounds often. As the symptoms are relieved with the use of homeopathic remedies, the patient is able to move on with their life, as they learn new behavioral and emotional responses to  their particular  triggering factors.

Case series, as well as single cases, of patients with these conditions, successfully treated with homeopathy have been published. The response of patients suffering from these conditions to homeopathy is generally good. The approach to treatment is the same as with any other clinical condition. The homeopath has to take a complete history, including the present complaints, with all the particular and unique characteristics; the past medical and family history, including a social and developmental history, since most of these conditions have emotional components rooted in early childhood. Often, the triggering circumstances from the past, as well as the present, can help to pin point the particular homeopathic remedy which can relieve the complaints.

References:

• Cortina, J. (1994). Enuresis and its Homeopathic Treatment: Study of 20 cases treated with Ilex Paraguenses. British Homeopathic Journal , 83 (4), 220-222.
• Crothers, D. (1980). Mental Illness and Homeopathy. Northwest Academy of Preventive Medicine Newsletter , 7 (4).
• Davidson, J. (1994). Psychiatry and Homeopathy. British Homeopathic Journal , 83 (2), 78-83.
• Davidson, J., Morrison, R., Shore, J., & al, e. (1997). Homeopathic treatment of depression and anxiety. Alternative therapies , 3 (1), 46-49.
• Detinis, L. (1994). Mental Symptoms in Homeopathy. London, England: Beaconsfield Pubs.
• Gibson, D., & Lond, B. (1953). Some Observations on Homeopathy in Relations to Psychoneurosis. The British Journal of Homeopathy , 43 (3).
• Guernsey, H. (1866). Hysteria. Hahnemanian Monthly , 1 (11), 387-404.
• Priestman, K. (1951). Fears. The British Journal of Homeopathy , 41 (2), 93-100.
• Shevin, W. (1989). Case Presentations. Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy , 77 (2), 59-66.

Bernardo Merizalde, MD, DHt