Psychosomatics of kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits made from substances in the pee. Small ones often cause no signs, and when a stone moves there is sharp pain in the side or lower back, sometimes with nausea. Most stones pass on their own, large ones are removed. It is a matter of metabolism and fluids, not a punishment. The Ladder method adds questions about what you store up and hold inside, and it comes after treatment.
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When to see a doctor
A urologist or GP makes the diagnosis by a urine test, ultrasound or CT. The doctor will say whether to wait for the stone to pass or whether it needs breaking up. Do not treat colic at home with a hot water bottle and herbs: with a high temperature it is dangerous.
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method kidney stones are not explained as "you store up resentment" as a cause. You are not to blame. Stones grow from the make-up of the pee, fluids and metabolism, and treatment with a doctor comes first. Questions to yourself belong after the pain has eased.
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In the method the kidneys fit the image of what you "filter" and store: what is hard for you to let out. It is an image, not the cause, and it does not replace a doctor.
On the ladder this shows up as the steps "I store it up inside" and "I am not allowed to show that it hurts". You can work through them at your own pace.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
More: signs, medicine, sources, questions
How it shows up
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- Sharp pain in the side or lower back in waves
- Pain spreading to the groin or lower tummy
- Nausea and vomiting
- Frequent urges to pee
- Cloudy pee or blood in the pee
- A high temperature or shivering
- Small stones often have no signs
What medicine knows
Stones form when chemicals build up in the pee and stick together into hard lumps. The NHS says a common cause is not drinking enough, along with some illnesses, medicines, a diet high in protein and salt, and little movement.
The risk is higher if you have had stones before, if relatives have them, and with frequent urine infections. Small stones often give no sign of themselves.
Signs according to the NHS: pain in the side or lower back that can spread to the groin; pain that comes in waves; frequent urges and cloudy pee; nausea, vomiting; a high temperature or shivering.
What the doctor does and what helps: a urine test, an ultrasound or CT. Many stones pass on their own; drinking plenty and painkillers help. Large stones are broken with shock waves or removed. To stop them coming back the NHS advises adults to drink 2.5 to 3 litres of water a day, keep salt under 6 g, limit fizzy and caffeinated drinks and not go on strict diets without a doctor.
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Frequently asked questions
Can kidney stones be from nerves?
No. Stones form from chemicals in the pee, too little fluid, diet, medicines and illnesses (NHS, MedlinePlus). Stress does not make them, though pain can feel worse when you are tense.
What do kidney stones mean in psychosomatics?
There is no proven "meaning". In the Ladder method stones become a reason to ask yourself what you have been storing up inside for a long time. It is a question to yourself, not a diagnosis.
How much should I drink to prevent stones?
The NHS advises adults to drink 2.5 to 3 litres of water a day, pee should be pale, and to keep salt under 6 g. Talk to a doctor before big diet changes.
Related topics
Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.