Is Environmental Illness Physical or Psychological?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I've met a few people who claimed environmental sensitivities in my life and frankly, they all did seem neurotic to me. That's purely my anecdotal opinion, not based on any scientific study. On the other hand, our environment is laden with many man made chemicals that humans didn't evolve to cope with, so it does make sense to me that some people would be hypersensitive.

Here's an interesting article in MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27282579/

Woman ordered out of chemical-free ‘bubble’

She says shed helps with her extreme allergies, but neighbors want it gone

From the article:

Some doctors question whether environmental illness is a genuine physical disorder and suggest it is psychological. Feudale-Bowles says she was diagnosed by Dr. William Rea of Texas, who has been accused by the Texas Medical Board of promoting "pseudoscience." He vigorously disputes the charge and continues to see patients.

What do you all think? Does anyone here have any chemical sensitivities? We know latex allergies are real. Are there some people who become hypersensitive to multiple environmental factors or is it all in their heads?

[*LadyJane*]

I've seen lots of people claim to have "allergies" to smoke, foods, etc, but have never seen one have anything remotely like an allergic reaction. I think those things can trigger sick feelings though.

I happen to be sensitive to chocolate and oddly enough, red food dye. I used to love red licorice. If I eat it now, I just get a migraine. Ugh.

I did know one person who had or claimed to have multiple chemical sensitivities. She was fairly neurotic.

[GilaRRT]

Extreme environmental sensitivities are possible. As far as "foreign" substance exposure and health problems, I have to agree. Violence aside, people have a very short life expectancy in Afghanistan. It does not take a rocket scientist to make a connection between living conditions and how long/well these people live.

[Straydandelion]

Knowing someone tested positive for some environmental allergies (not nearly as many posted in the article however) and having been constantly ill most of her life mainly with colds/headaches but a couple of times with pneumonia, it is my opinion there is a definite allergy though she didn't have the "typical" allergic response.