When you have conversion disorder, your brain's normal functioning is interfered with by a mental health problem. This results in uncontrollable, actual bodily symptoms. Seizures, weakened or paralyzed muscles, or decreased input from one or more senses are examples of symptoms (sight, sound, etc.). Through a variety of therapies, this illness is frequently curable.

Conversion disorder, also known as functional neurological symptom disorder, is a mental health problem that manifests as physical symptoms. Your brain "converts" the impacts of a mental health issue into disturbances of your brain or nervous system, which leads to the symptoms. Although the symptoms are real, they do not coincide with any known brain-related illnesses.

It's critical to understand that conversion disorder is a legitimate mental health issue. It's not acting or doing it for attention. It's not merely something someone has imagined or in their thoughts. Even if it's a mental health issue, the physical symptoms still exist. The symptoms of conversion disorder cannot be managed by trying or contemplating doing so.

Although it can appear at any stage of life, conversion disorder can start to show symptoms as early as late infancy. Early adulthood, usually about 30 years old, appears to be the most common age at which this illness manifests. Additionally, women seem to be more affected than men. Many think that this may be because women are more likely than men to experience sexual trauma, which increases their likelihood of having this condition.

Conversion disorder can impact a person at any stage of life, even during childhood. At various ages, some symptoms are more likely. For instance, seizures typically begin between the ages of 20 and 29, while other movement-related symptoms typically begin between the ages of 30 and 39.

Conversion disorder is also considerably more likely to affect women and people who are born with the gender designation of female (DFAB). According to the available evidence, conversion disorder affects at least twice as many women as men or those who are born with gender identity (DMAB).

Conversion disorder's root causes are still not well understood. There may frequently be an event that triggers the disease, such as:

Stressful occasion
Sexual and physical abuse
Violent abuse
Psychological child abuse
Neurological condition
Epilepsy
Migraines
Alterations in brain activity

Other Risk Factors:

Genetics: A person is more likely to have conversion disorder if they have relatives who also have the condition.

Traumatic life events - These incidents can hasten the onset of conversion disorders. This mental disease may be brought on by extreme stress, traumatic experiences on either an emotional or physical level, or chaotic lifestyles.

Mental disorders - A person may be more prone to having a conversion disorder if they have one or more mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, or specific personality disorders.

Pain tolerance: Conversion disorder may be more likely in those with lower pain thresholds.

Symptoms:

Depending on the area of the brain affected, conversion disorder symptoms might vary greatly. Among the most typical signs are:

Non-epileptic psychogenic seizures (PNES): Most often, structural or functional problems or disorders in your brain lead to seizures. Since "psychogenic" refers to "of mental health origin," psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are caused by mental health issues.
Sensory disturbances: With conversion disorder, there is a chance that the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch will be affected. Examples include the inability to feel things touching your skin, hearing loss or numbness, double or tunnel vision, and hearing loss.
Pain is a common symptom of conversion disease, sometimes present alone or in combination with other symptoms.
Unusual tremors, twitches, spasms, and tension in the muscles. All of them occur as a result of interference with the way your brain commands your muscles.
A weakened or paralyzed muscle.
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
Dizziness.
Fainting or collapsing (syncope).
chronic exhaustion or low energy

A common characteristic of those who have conversion disorder is a lack of concern for their symptoms. La belle indifference, or "beautiful ignorance," is a symptom that most frequently occurs with conversion disorder. However, it isn't always a sign of conversion disorder, and it doesn't occur in every instance.

Treatment:

A mental health problem like conversion disorder might manifest as physical symptoms. Because of this, the initial strategy is typically to treat the mental health component using Online Counseling from the best Online Therapist India. It's also typically the best strategy. The most typical forms of psychotherapy consist of:

Behavioral and cognitive therapy (CBT): The most frequently suggested form of therapy is this one. Experts also believe it has the best chance of success.

Hypnotherapy: This is typically a backup choice for some forms of therapy. When conversion disorder symptoms interfere with your ability to communicate or use any of your senses, it might be extremely beneficial.

Family or group treatment: People with conversion disorder can benefit from sharing their therapeutic experiences. Individuals suffering from this condition can connect with the best Online Counsellor for group therapy. Family counseling can assist and educate loved ones on the disease.

Even an expert healthcare provider has trouble diagnosing conversion disorder. It can be quite challenging to distinguish conversion disorder symptoms from those of other brain disorders. Some of the symptoms closely resemble those that accompany illnesses like stroke, a serious medical emergency. You shouldn't attempt to self-diagnose or self-treat this ailment as a result.