On Wishes, Symptoms, and Withdrawal

Are there some symptoms that become reinforced, sustained, and even intensified throughout the duration of the symptom episode, while others simply relieve tension? For example, the suffering of psychogenic migraines seems to be sustained, even fortified, throughout the duration of the episode. Such a symptom could be considered a negative one. On the other hand, an average compulsion, or perhaps even a severe one, when acted out, actually relieves tension; that is, the symptom episode (acting out the compulsion) produces a positive result for the person, a relief of tension.