Psychosomatic disorders symptoms are physical signs that appear to be influenced by your mental state. They can be painful or distressing, and they are real and not imaginary.
They can be triggered by many things, including stress and anxiety.
You might experience muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, or feelings of restlessness when your mental health is struggling. You may also have “brain fog” or struggle to remember and focus on things, says Carla Manley, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author.
Symptoms can be intense and can last long, even after you take time to get over the initial emotional shock. They can be painful or annoying, and they can also make your life more difficult if they are affecting your work or daily activities.
If you have been experiencing symptoms for a while, they aren’t normal and need to be addressed by a doctor or therapist. These symptoms can also lead to anxiety or depression, so it’s important to seek help and get treatment.
They can cause problems with your self-esteem, relationships and memory.
You may also have symptoms that affect your ability to function, like stomach pain, nausea or diarrhea. They can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, fatigue or numbness.
They can be caused by a number of medical conditions, but they are more likely to occur during times of high stress or anxiety.
There are two main types of psychosomatic disorders: somatoform disorder and somatization disorder. Somatoform disorders are the most common and they typically involve a combination of psychiatric and medical symptoms.
Somatoform disorders are most often inherited and are related to personality traits, learned behaviors and problems with nerve impulses that carry false signals to the brain. The exact causes of these disorders aren’t known, but researchers believe they can be the result of a coping strategy, an underlying issue, or the presence of an unhealthy stress response in the brain.
Somatization disorder is a type of mental illness that can lead to chronic physical complaints, such as headaches or stomach upset. Patients with somatization disorder are convinced that they are suffering from a serious disease or other ailment, rather than recognizing that their body is not working properly.
These conditions can be triggered by many things, including stressful situations and negative thoughts about yourself or others.
They can be aggravated by certain medications, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs. They can also be triggered by changes in your diet or other environmental factors, such as stress and sleep issues.
Behavioral therapies and lifestyle changes are often used to treat somatization disorder. These changes can help you identify the source of your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Your doctor can help you develop a plan for dealing with your somatization disorder. They will examine your health history and check up on you regularly to see how you’re doing. They may recommend some kind of medication to alleviate your symptoms, or they may refer you to a mental health specialist who can help you deal with the cause of your symptoms.