There is a huge difference between psychological and psychosomatic.
Psychosomatic is the "it's all in your head" diagnosis that Dr.s give us.
When they suggest councelling they believe us. They understand there is a real problem, but they don't know what to do about it.
A Dr. CANNOT just treat symptoms if he is to successfully help his patient. He must treat the MIND, the body AND the symptoms.
A diagnosis of a chronic pain condition has a mental component no matter how hard you fight against it. The mental component is not an illness, but it is a part of your disease. How can it not be? When you are in pain all the time, and your body is being bombarded by medications and all the signals to your brain are messed up, you need to learn new coping mechanisms. THAT IS THE MENTAL PART OF THIS DISEASE.
Yes I believe that mental ILLNESS can come along as part of the problem in chronic pain patients. Depression, as you mourn the loss of your former life. Dependency issues, as you are bombarded my medications. None of this is the fault of the patient.
When are we going to realize that there is nothing wrong with admitting that you need a Dr. to take care of ALL of you. Mind, body AND symptoms.
Don't get so caught up in labels that you forget what is important. Taking care of all of you.
IMHO, Tracy