Alan Kershaw
'The Therapists, Therapist'

The difference between the symptoms and the cause

Sigmund Freud (the father of psychoanalysis) always said that a person will lay their underlying anxiety at the door of their environment. In other words people evaluate their problems or illness by the way they feel (i.e. the symptoms). For example, the symptoms of a headache may be caused by stress, the symptoms of indigestion may also be caused by stress of worry. In these situations, taking painkillers or something to settle the stomach would help alleviate the symptoms in the short term but do not treat the underlying cause. Therefore if the cause is not dealt with the symptoms will continue to reoccur, a bit like plastering over the cracks.