Diagnosing 'Stress': A Misleading Label in Medicine

When doctors encounter patients with vague or inconsistent symptoms without an obvious explanation, they often consider 'stress' as a provisional diagnosis. However, this approach has its limitations and raises important questions about the true nature of the patient's condition.

Why 'Stress' Is Not Always the Right Diagnosis

The term 'idiopathic' better describes cases where the cause of symptoms is unknown. Doctors are ethically obligated to explore possible life-threatening and treatable conditions before resorting to 'idiopathic' or 'stress.'

I. Initial Steps in Diagnosis

Check for life-threatening conditions. Check for treatable diseases. If neither is found, provide a best-guess explanation for the symptoms.

II. A More Appropriate Communication Strategy

When there is nothing life-threatening or treatable, it is advisable to say, 'I can't find anything serious that is causing your symptoms and that's good news. But the bad news is that I don't have anything that will make your symptoms go away. It is possible that another illness will become apparent eventually so if you get worse, please come back. But for now, just know that there is nothing dangerous going on and it is likely that some lifestyle measures such as reducing your stress and getting some exercise will make you feel better.'

Personal Experiences and Challenges

The author shares her personal experiences, highlighting the frustration and difficulty faced in diagnosing autoimmune diseases such as Celiac Disease and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

Our older daughter never got well and increasingly sicker over the years while doctors and 'experts' scratched their heads and tried to blame it all on me as her mother. I kept wondering 'where is the stress!!' We had a life more fortunate than many and tons going for us!! And lots of love! If this is 'stress', what about the rest of the human race?

Many symptoms attributed to 'stress' are actually neurological issues related to the gut's complex neurological system. For instance, bacterial illnesses such as strep throat can cause PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), a group of symptoms including anxiety, OCD, trichotillomania, depression, sleep disruption, and learning disabilities.

The Need for Change and Awareness

The lack of diagnosis and understanding of autoimmune and neurological disorders has led to a harmful bias within the medical community. This bias can be traced back to a combination of Freudian and Marxist philosophies, though it is slowly evolving.

The author runs a nonprofit to improve diagnoses and raise awareness about the connection between autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders. The Human Microbiome Project, which aims to map the layers of bacterial life in our intestines, is a significant step forward in this field.

Key Initiatives:

The Human Microbiome Project Clinical Education and Awareness Campaigns

The medical system is limited by its complexity and the wide range of possibilities, often leading doctors to focus on 'low hanging fruit.' This is partly due to the evolution of healthcare and the pressure on medical professionals to manage patient loads efficiently.

Conclusion:
While 'stress' can certainly be a factor in many cases, it should not be used as a catch-all diagnosis. Medical professionals must strive to identify specific conditions and provide appropriate treatment. The road to better diagnosis and patient care is a continuous process, influenced by research, education, and patient advocacy.