Cholinergic Urticaria

Related Psychosomatic Reaction?

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I routinely get hives under a great deal of stress or when I am overheated (being a Michigan to Florida transplant this happens more often now). However when I found this site I was looking for an explanation to why I have an intense physical reaction to watching people eat spicy food… Even if its on the television and I cannot even smell the food I start to sweat intensely and my nasal passages become swollen.

I do not have a particular aversion to spicy food and love spicy to a point (I’d never try a ghost chili but jalapenos are good for eating). Yet I am having trouble identifying others with similar tendencies and I’m wondering if a predisposition to hives may be related to this type of psychosomatic reaction. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

-Kristen

[The post above was submitted by a reader]

Comments

  1. Well, that’s a tough one. Hives are a physiological, not psychosomatic, condition. The element of watching someone eat spicy foods is a reminder of the uticarial reaction. While it stems from a thought, stress is caused by physical chemicals produced by your body, leading to the physical hives reaction. We all react differently to certain emotions, whether it be hives or another physical symptom of stress.
    I would think that the change in climate from Michigan to Florida is causing the hives. It could just be coincidental that it’s happening at the same time. Hard to say, but one thing to note is that even an overly bright computer screen can cause reactions because of the UV rays. If you are watching a flat screen tv, it may be the tv is to blame as well.
    Hope you start to feel better!
    Mike

    • I agree with Mike. I think it is probably more physiological than psychosomatic. Peppers and spicy foods are sometimes very high in histamine, which may evoke a reaction in sensitive people.

      Thinking about it could raise your anxiety level of something, so maybe that’s why you get a reaction when thinking about it. It’s hard to say, but I definitely hope you feel better!