Somatic Symptom Disorder (Essay Sample)

Somatic Symptom Disorder
Student’s Name
Institution
Somatic Symptom Disorder
About a year ago Michael began experiencing abdominal pain that was becoming progressively worse. The pain occurred on an irregular basis, was not located at a specific place in his abdomen; it was everywhere and was not always related to food intake. His attempts to change his diet and cut out wheat products, meat, and dairy products did not improve his situation. Despite quitting alcohol, the pain got more frequent and severe. Before he decided to seek medical help, his pain was so severe that he missed began missing a few days at work and would not join his family for an out of town trip for fear of having another attack.
Michael made an appointment with the primary care physician at a local hospital who performed a comprehensive physical exam and noted down a detailed history of the entire course of Michael’s symptoms. Laboratory tests checking his overall health and autoimmune disorders came back normal. The doctor asked Michael to keep a log of his symptoms and anything that was related to them. During the following appointment, the doctor reviewed the log but could not identify what was causing Michael’s symptoms. The doctor noted how Michael was distressed by the symptoms affecting his work and relationships, particularly with his wife. The doctor asked Martin to come with his wife in the following appointment. At the meeting, Michael and his wife concurred that the symptoms had had adverse effects denying him the chance to experience h