Persistent physical symptoms can lead to emotional symptoms, such as anxiety (eg, fear of having a life-threatening condition such as cancer, fear of falling, uncertainty about the diagnosis or prognosis, panic, etc) or depression due to the impact of persistent symptoms on one’s life, including the ability to work, socialize or find pleasure in typically enjoyable activities. In turn, these emotional symptoms or any form of distress, including a poor night’s sleep, may exacerbate physical symptoms creating a vicious feedback cycle, and prevent recovery.

In addition, stress of any kind in one’s life can act like “fuel on the fire” of physical symptoms regardless of the cause. We provide a safe space to explore and cope through these stressors.

Interventions, consisting of medication, physiotherapy, and solution-focused and supportive psychotherapy, are available to target both persistent physical and emotional symptoms to break the vicious cycle.