Symptomatic cure

A psychosomatic symptom is by definition a manifestation of underlying suffering. It is a warning that something goes wrong. Removing the symptom without taking into account the underlying, is therefore equal to the masking of a warning light. It is quite natural that as a result, sooner or later another warning shows up, probably in the form of a clearer symptom. Low back pain becomes severe low back pain. Take away the pain and an underlying anxiety or depression emerges, sometimes directly, sometimes after some time. Behind this anxiety or depression even something else can hide: a loss of contact with the ‘deeper self’.

If the deeper self cannot directly and positively ‘come to life’, than it does so in a negative way, as for instance a depression, or as a psychosomatic symptom. Attachment to one’s own symptoms becomes very understandable in this sense. But it is an attachment that enhances and perpetuates deeper suffering. With Aurelis one can, optionally using the symptom-as-symbol, still reach the whole person.

Take the field of medication. The only drugs that do not work only symptomatically are antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, 2 groups about which incidentally some controversy exists. For patients who are prescribed medication, this is generally not evident. They assume that medication cures. That is wrong. At best, medication oppresses symptoms until the patient heals himself... but in chronic psychosomatics this is not the case.