PHYSICAL: GENERAL QUESTIONS

You’ve identified that physical pain or other physical problems are your greatest concern or that you have great difficulty coping with these problems.

Next, do your best to identify which type of physical problem is presenting you with the most difficulty. Or, identify which physical problem you most frequently experience. (Click on one of the options below.)

1. I often feel unrelaxed, tense, or stressed-out, but I generally function fairly well in my daily life. Go to CHECKLIST: STRESS-RELATED PROBLEMS.

2. I experience difficulties related to sleep. Go to PHYSICAL: SLEEP.

3. I experience problems related to having sex. (This includes experiencing an unusual lack of sexual desire, having pain during sex, or having some type of sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.) Go to CHECKLIST: SEXUAL DISORDERS.

4. I often feel restless or fatigued, and I experience muscle aches, headaches, digestion problems, or tightness in my chest. In addition, I can’t control my anxiety or worries. Go to CHECKLIST: GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER.

5. I sometimes experience a sudden onset of symptoms that feels like I’m having a heart attack or dying, but I’ve been told by a medical professional that these problems are most likely caused by anxiety. (These symptoms might include a racing or pounding heartbeat, perspiration, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, dizziness, or feeling faint.) Go to CHECKLIST: PANIC DISORDER.

I experience severe pain in one or more parts of my body. (This includes muscle pain, gastrointestinal pain, headaches, low back pain, and pain caused by illnesses and injuries, such as cancer, arthritis, complex regional pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, nerve damage, shingles, sports injuries, chronic myofascial pain, repetitive motion injuries, and osteoporosis.) Go to CHECKLIST: SOMATOFORM DISORDERS.

6. I restrict the number of calories I eat, and some people say I’m too thin. Plus, I experience physical symptoms such as stomach pain, constipation, sensitivity to cold temperatures, brittle nails, small unexplained bruises on my arms and legs, thinning hair on my head, or the development of fine downy hair on other parts of my body. Go to CHECKLIST: ANOREXIA NERVOSA.

7. I engage in binge eating followed by purging. Plus, I experience physical symptoms such as enamel erosion on my teeth, sore throat, swollen glands, stomach acid reflux, upset stomach, severe constipation, or general muscle weakness. Go to CHECKLIST: BULIMIA NERVOSA.

8. I’m very concerned about defects or flaws in my body or appearance, and I frequently check them or try to hide them. Go to CHECKLIST: BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER.

9. I experience a mysterious inability to use one or more senses or parts of my body. (This includes an inability to speak, swallow, use certain muscles, or use one of the senses, like hearing. It also includes unexplainable tingling or numbness.) Go to CHECKLIST: SOMATOFORM DISORDERS.

10. I’m very concerned that I might have a serious illness and I’ve been to many medical professionals for examinations, but so far they haven’t been able to find anything wrong with me. Go to CHECKLIST: SOMATOFORM DISORDERS.

12. None of these physical issues describe my problem. I’d like to explore other symptoms. Go to PRIMARY QUESTION.