Allergic rhinitis, a suppressed cry

From some currents of psychology and, in particular, from psychoanalysis, the thesis has been raised that Repressed feelings, desires and conflicts, when not expressed, return in the form of health problems. Allergic rhinitis, as well as other forms of allergies, seem to support this idea.

They are called diseases psychosomatic to those in which a psychological condition is determining in an organic problem. These types of conditions are usually very resistant to all types of medical treatments, finding relief when they are addressed from a mental point of view. That seems to be the case with allergic rhinitis.

Allergies are disproportionate reactions of the immune system in the face of some stimulus that does not pose a threat. In allergic rhinitis, the body reacts instantly to a certain factor, releasing antibodies and thereby generating inflammation in the mucous membranes. Why does this happen from a psychosomatic point of view?

Allergic rhinitis

In allergic rhinitis there is inflammation of the mucosa of the nasal passage. Those who suffer from it usually feel a blockage in their nose, tickling, itching and discharge, or dripping from the nose. This is usually accompanied by sneezing and, often, conjunctivitis. It is a condition that does not entail great dangers, but it does affect the quality of life .

People with allergic rhinitis often also have difficulty sleeping.. Likewise, their social life is affected by the disease, as well as their ability to concentrate and their general well-being. The factors that trigger it are diverse: pollen, dust, animal hair, fungi, mites, etc.

In recent years, cases of this type of rhinitis have increased.. It is especially prevalent in children and adolescents, but a significant number of adults also suffer from it; On the other hand, the disease tends to disappear with age. It is estimated that it is a problem that affects a third of the world’s population at some point in their lives.

Rhinitis and the mind

According to psychoanalyst Luis Chiozza, along with Dahlke & Dethlefsen and other authors, breathing is an activity closely linked to emotions. Allergic rhinitis, in particular, would speak of despondency, sadness and depression. Chiozza points out that it is “a lack of breath”. In his opinion, at its core there is a situation in which a person has been stripped of their dignity, that is, a “snub.”

From that point of view, allergic rhinitis would be a response not so much to an allergenic factor, but to contempt or a perceived lack of support. It’s like a kind of crying that doesn’t come to fruition. Likewise, he points out that it may be related to “lack of inspiration to produce creatively”. Difficulty taking inspiration manifests as difficulty breathing.

Chiozza, and other authors, too associate the disease with the need for maternal affection or, in any case, protection and support. They insist that distressing experiences affect respiratory function. They refer to situations such as loss, abandonment, shame and guilt.

In this perspective, they have also postulated the idea that people with these types of allergies are extremely sensitive to contact with life in general. Specifically, they would like there to be no sexual stimuli or aggressive stimuli in their lives.. They concentrate that desire for “sterility” in the nose.

What does the scientific evidence say?

For its part, in recent years studies have been carried out that demonstrate a relationship between allergies and the mental world. For example, a work published in Frontiers in Psychiatry talks about the relationship between allergic rhinitis and depression. To arrive at that hypothesis, they examined 200,000 patients.

Among them, around 70% were “healthy” and the remaining percentage suffered from rhinitis or other forms of allergies. Based on various tests, they detected that among “healthy” individuals the risk of developing a psychiatric disorder was 6.7%. In those with allergies, this percentage was 10.8%. In reality it is not a significant difference, but it is suggestive.

Likewise, they concluded that The mechanisms of these inflammatory diseases are very similar to those that cause psychiatric diseases.. In addition to the studies they carried out with patients, they also noted that anti-inflammatory medications often reduce symptoms of depression.

However, researchers invite further research “to study the ability of psychological, behavioral and emotional factors to affect the degree and frequency of inflammation of the nasal mucosa” since the evidence remains very scarce.

To conclude, we emphasize that The mind is in close relationship with the body, so that everything that happens on a mental level has an impact on physical health and vice versa. Therefore, let us try to attend to these two dimensions when ensuring our well-being.

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