What is Conversion Disorder?
Conversion disorder is a wide term that describes when emotional or psychological disturbance generates physical symptoms in the absence of a medical ailment.
You cannot regulate your bodily response if you have a conversion disorder. This response is often triggered by either your perceptions or your muscle control. In other words, you go through a stressful or frightening incident, and your body reacts with tremors, arm or leg paralysis, or anything similar. There is no underlying medical ailment causing the trembling or paralysis, such as an accident. Instead, stress or emotional trauma is to blame for the physical illness.
Signs and Symptoms of Conversion Disorder
Conversion disorder symptoms frequently appear suddenly after a stressful or traumatic incident. The symptoms will usually end rapidly as well.
Conversion disorder symptoms differ from individual to individual. The degree of these symptoms varies as well. When the stressor is recalled, the symptoms may recur only once event often. They might include:
- Tremors, potentially accompanied by a loss of awareness
- balance problems caused by paralysis, commonly in an arm or leg
- Arm or leg weakness or numbness
- visual issues, such as blindness or double vision
- swallowing difficulties, such as a block in your food pipe
- slurred speech or incapacity to talk
- partial or complete hearing loss
Causes of Conversion Disorder
While the specific origins are unknown, research shows that it may be caused by aberrant blood flow to certain parts of the brain. Conversion disorder can also be caused by a psychological reaction to a traumatic incident. A soldier, for example, who unconsciously tries to avoid shooting a pistol may acquire hand paralysis.
Because the disorder does not always manifest immediately after the trigger, it is critical to reveal recent and prior stress to your therapist.
Other conversion disorder risk factors include:
- Being a woman (Females have a higher risk of developing the disorder.)
- Being extremely diligent, hardworking, obsessive, and meticulous
- Having a first-degree female relative with conversion disorder (People having a first-degree female relative with conversion disorder—sister, mother, or daughter—are more likely to acquire symptoms than females in the general population.)
- Having a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety, dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder), or other personality disorders.
- Having unfavourable personality characteristics
- Having a neurological condition that generates symptoms comparable to yours (such as non-epileptic seizures in people that have epilepsy)
- A history of physical or sexual abuse and neglect.
According to research, individuals with conversion disorder have weak emotional control.
How to treat Conversion Disorders?
Conversation dysfunction is not a permanent condition. If you or someone you care about is suffering severe or prolonged symptoms of conversion disorder, therapy may be necessary, depending on your specific symptoms.
However, symptoms may subside on their own over time even in the absence of medication, and most patients gradually improve.
Psychotherapy
Individual or group counselling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), hypnosis, biofeedback, and relaxation therapy have all been shown to assist persons with conversation disorder discover triggers and symptoms and acquire new coping strategies.
Physical Therapy
Physical is frequently used for persons with communication difficulties who have mobility issues, such as difficulty with coordination, balance, walking, or weak limbs. It’s also critical to avoid any secondary issues caused by inactivity, such as muscular weakness and stiffness.
Methods of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS)
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may be used as an alternate treatment to alleviate conversion disorder symptoms such as limb weakening and immobility.
It is crucial to note, however, that these therapies are considered experimental, and there are no rigorous randomised controlled studies. As a result, these therapies should be approached with care.
In addition to medication, making some healthy lifestyle adjustments might help you manage any stress or anxiety that is triggering your symptoms. This may include:
- Consuming a well-balanced diet.
- Developing positive relationships.
- Getting enough sleep.
- Using relaxation methods such as yoga, mindfulness, or progressive muscular relaxation.
Types of Conversion Disorders
Conversion disorder is classified into four types: those with movement disorders or impairments, those with sensory abnormalities or imbalances, those with pseudo-seizures, and those with a combined manifestation.
