How can Morgellons Syndrome be in my head?

There is a large percentage of the medical and scientific community that believes that Morgellons Syndrome is purely psychological. According to this theory, Morgellons is not really a disease, but a combination of different symptoms associated with several different mental and physical disorders, compounded by hypochondria fueled with growing media attention. For the many sufferers of Morgellons Syndrome, the maddening pursuit to find doctors that believe their symptoms are real is more than they can bear.

The psychological symptoms related to Morgellons include increased anxiety, chronic and debilitating fatigue, as well as short term memory loss and even dementia. The debate between Morgellons researchers is simply which came first, the chicken or the egg? Though some would argue that these are symptoms of Morgellons, others make the point that they are conditions that cause it. Anxiety, for example, is a common factor in those that suffer from Delusions of Parasites. Patients suffering from it may have a history of mental illness or none at all, but are plagued with the belief that there are insects crawling on and inside them.

The feeling of bugs crawling within the body is a common symptom of Morgellons Syndrome that has been argued as a psychological disorder. Constant scratching because of the sensations has been known to lead to the open sores and lesions that Morgellons Syndrome patients also often exhibit. Many sufferers report being told by their physician to stop scratching and the sores will heal. However, others that support Morgellons Syndrome as a valid disease argue that the sores don’t always resemble areas that have simply been scratched to excess.

Confusion, memory loss and chronic fatigue are other reported symptoms of Morgellons Syndrome that naysayers have had the most simple time providing explanation for. Although they are common in most sufferers reporting Morgellons Syndrome, confusion, memory loss and fatigue are associated with so many other conditions that it is hard to make the connection stick. Additionally, fatigue often leads to short term memory loss an confusion, a much simpler explanation for most people than accepting Morgellons Syndrome as an actual condition.

One particular story that was published regarding a child complaining of Morgellons Syndrome symptoms nearly lead to an investigation by the child protective service. The parents had no explanation for the open sores on their child’s body and the physicians they saw had little or no knowledge as to Morgellons Syndrome. This is an example of the common misconception that Morgellons sufferers are self-inflicting their wounds.

Even the fibers that have emerged from the skin of Morgellons Syndrome sufferers have done little to alter the opinions of those that refuse to recognize the disease. Their explanations range from complete fabrication of the fibers coming from the body to attributing them to environmental factors. Morgellons Syndrome fibers have been tested against known textile fabric fibers with no match.

The debate about Morgellons Syndrome continues as the CDC carries on their investigation into the condition. Whether it is a true disease or a combination of physical and psychological factors, Morgellons Syndrome is very real to those that suffer from it and wait with bated breath for a cure or treatment to put an end to the suffering.