Article 49: Psychological Adjustment for Self-Odor Phobia and Stock Market Syndrome

7. What is self-odor phobia?

The term "self-odor phobia" is still quite unfamiliar to many people. However, for psychologists and psychiatrists, it is a not uncommon psychological disorder that typically develops during adolescence. Patients believe they have a physical defect (odor) and that this defect causes discomfort to those around them.

Patients generally have a strong desire for treatment. However, most patients stubbornly believe that what they need to solve is not a psychological problem but a physical illness, which is why they first visit many internal medicine and surgical doctors.

This disease is most common during adolescence and young adulthood, and patients often experience only one symptom. Moreover, apart from this symptom, patients maintain normal thinking and emotions. This is often misunderstood by many people, who then perceive patients as having "thought problems."

The causes of "self-odor phobia" are not yet clear, but the unique personality traits of people who grow up in certain special family environments play an important role in the development of this disorder.

In short, the patient's personality is in a contradiction between "strong" and "weak". On the surface, they may appear cheerful and lively, but inwardly they are rather timid and weak; or conversely, they may appear introverted and kind, but inwardly they are competitive and ambitious.

They all share a common characteristic: a strong desire to be accepted and liked by others, making them highly sensitive to the opinions of others. When they transition from family to school or the workplace-that is, into new interpersonal environments-these new relationships often take on greater significance, thus triggering the onset of this disorder.

Aside from systematic psychotherapy, there is currently no ideal treatment for "self-odor phobia". Although psychotherapy has its limitations, it can still achieve relatively satisfactory results for patients with milder symptoms.

It is hoped that patients who are troubled by "self-odor" and go to various hospitals and clinics will first consult a psychologist and find a solution with the doctor's help.

8. What is "Stock Market Syndrome"?

James, a stock market expert at the University of California, famously said on Wall Street: "The stock market and 'stock market syndrome' are twins."

Although stock market investors often try their best to avoid falling into the vicious cycle of "stock market syndrome," many people still involuntarily contract this disease, and some even suffer tragedies as a result.

There are three types of "stock market syndrome":

1. "Stock Market Regret Syndrome"

It can be further divided into sudden and recurring types. The former is often caused by a sudden shock, resulting in extreme panic. Symptoms include a pale face, followed by dizziness, swaying, and even falling to the ground. Repeated attacks of the above symptoms can lead to serious consequences such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

2. "Stock Market Anxiety"

Due to prolonged excessive stress and poor psychological resilience, symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and loss of appetite may occur.

3. "Stock Market Phobia"

Because of severe losses in stock trading, he developed a strong fear of the stock market, dared not look at the market anymore, and even felt panicked at the mere mention of the word "stock".

Here are some ways to avoid developing "stock market syndrome":

1. Enhance risk awareness

Risk is a characteristic of stocks. It's impossible to make money from stocks without bearing any risk. Whether the stock market is regulated or unregulated, there is risk. The only difference is the magnitude of the risk. Therefore, investors should strengthen their risk awareness. They must understand that the stock market is an arena; there are always winners and losers, and those who remain undefeated are few and far between.

2. Diversify investment

Stock investors should carefully consider their options and diversify their limited savings, avoiding putting all their resources into stocks and making a desperate gamble. As for those who sell off assets and accumulate massive debts to raise funds for stock speculation, this is even more unwise. Such a "one-size-fits-all" approach, once resulting in significant losses, often leads to unbearable emotional distress and inevitably traps one in the quagmire of "stock market syndrome."

A more prudent approach is to allocate one-third, or at most half, of your savings to stock trading, and the remainder to other securities or savings accounts. This way, even if you lose money in the stock market, you won't be devastated, heartbroken, or constantly complaining and gloomy.

3. Learn relevant knowledge

To profit from stocks, one must naturally care about, pay attention to, and study stock prices. The rise and fall of stock prices affect the hearts of millions of people.

Stock prices are determined by thousands of people and are constantly changing. Besides various economic factors, stock price fluctuations are also influenced by social factors such as national political situations, government macroeconomic policies, investor sentiment, newspaper reports, and rumors. Economic factors play a decisive role in stock price changes, and this effect is relatively long-lasting. The influence of social factors, however, is less likely to be sustained.

Therefore, stock traders need to learn some stock knowledge, trading skills, and financial product knowledge, and they should have the qualities of strategy, decisiveness, courage, and meticulousness to overcome blindness and enhance their self-awareness.

9. Why are skin diseases related to psychological factors?

Numerous facts have proven that skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, pruritus, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and hyperhidrosis are related to psychological factors to some extent. Significant emotional fluctuations, fear, and depression can all trigger skin reactions, and in severe cases, various strange and unusual skin inflammations may occur.

In fact, unmet needs, excessive repression, maladjustment to new environments, self-doubt, fear of failing to complete tasks or accomplish something, and failures in studies or careers can all cause emotional tension and anxiety, which can trigger a variety of skin diseases.

Many skin diseases can be caused by psychological stress and emotional fluctuations. When diagnosing and treating skin diseases, doctors also consider psychological factors along with other possible causes, which is beneficial for diagnosis, treatment, and maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment.

If a skin condition is not caused by other factors (such as bacterial infection), then medication is unlikely to be effective. Psychological issues require psychological solutions. For skin conditions caused by psychological factors, we must first understand the patient's recent life, work, and study situation to identify possible causes, and then treat those causes accordingly. If the cause is the patient's self-doubt, we can point out, based on the patient's past performance, that they are capable of handling the task. If the cause is maladaptation to the environment, we can help them overcome difficulties in life, study, and work, while emphasizing that everyone (including themselves) has a great capacity for adaptation, and that with serious effort, we can adapt to any difficult environment, thus building their confidence. If the cause is an unmet need, we can help the patient meet that need within permissible limits.

In short, by addressing the underlying cause of the patient's condition and providing targeted treatment, skin diseases caused by psychological factors can be cured quickly.

10. What kind of help can psychological counseling provide?

Modern society is developing rapidly, and interpersonal relationships are becoming increasingly complex, thus placing higher demands on people's social adaptability. People need to be understood and cared for, they need mutual support and help, and in short, they need psychological maturity and development. Psychological counseling precisely meets these needs of modern people. So, what kind of help can psychological counseling provide? In summary, it can be summarized as follows:

1. Psychological counseling at various stages of life development

(1) Eugenics and education: psychological preparation and emotional adjustment before and during pregnancy, fetal movement, music and language training, etc.

(2) Child psychological counseling: early intellectual development, emotional disorders and conduct disorders, etc.

(3) Psychological counseling for adolescents: learning difficulties, poor social adaptation, sexual psychological confusion, early love, etc.

(4) Psychological counseling for young people: friendship and love, choosing a spouse and getting married, career and ideals, etc.

(5) Psychological counseling for middle-aged people: adapting to work and family burdens, adjusting family structure, etc.

(6) Geriatric psychological counseling: social role readjustment, aging, poor mood, etc.

2. Social psychological counseling

(1) Marital and romantic counseling: mate selection, unrequited love, heartbreak, extramarital affair, divorce, remarriage, etc.

(2) Family psychological counseling: marital harmony, children's education, intergenerational relationships, etc.

(3) Psychological counseling for education and employment: analysis of memory, attention, test scores, career interests and career orientation.

(4) Psychological counseling for unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors: withdrawal and adjustment of various addictive behaviors, sleep disorders, etc.

(5) Sexual psychological counseling: lack of sexual knowledge, sex education and guidance, etc.

3. Clinical psychological counseling

(1) Neurosis: Treatment of neurasthenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobia.

(2) Psychosomatic diseases: psychological treatment for primary hypertension, coronary heart disease, bronchial asthma, diabetes, etc.

(3) Psychophysiological disorders: sexual dysfunction, etc.

(4) Psychological counseling during the recovery period: psychological adaptation after illness, psychological rehabilitation of the disabled, etc.

(5) Sexual dysfunction and sexual perversion.

4. Management Psychological Counseling

(1) Management decision consulting: leadership behavior and style consulting.

(2) Consumer psychology counseling: consumer motivation, advertising, trademarks, packaging psychology, sales psychology.

(3) Industrial psychological counseling: such as work efficiency, physical and chemical stimulation and physical and mental health.

(4) Environmental psychological counseling: such as the psychological effects of environmental layout and design.

As can be seen from the above, the scope of psychological counseling is very broad. Moreover, in reality, the scope and content are constantly expanding and improving. It can be said that wherever there are people, there is a need for psychological counseling.