Psychosomatic Disorders - Find a Doctor and Get Information

Psychosomatics refers to the idea that the body and mind form a single unit. Physical symptoms affect mental well-being, and vice versa. In psychosomatic disorders, at least some of the causes are psychological in nature. Triggers can include, for example, stress, anxiety, or traumatic experiences. The symptoms of psychosomatic disorders vary widely. What they have in common is that doctors have found no physical cause to explain them.

Here you’ll find more information as well as a recommended doctor specializing in psychosomatic disorders.

Symptoms of Psychosomatic Disorders

Mental health issues can lead to a wide variety of clinical presentations. The symptoms are correspondingly diverse.

Common examples include:

• Headaches and migraines
• Back, neck, or shoulder pain
• Digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and irritable bowel syndrome
• Hair loss
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Panic attacks
• Dizziness
• Heart palpitations
• Loss of sexual desire or impotence
• Excessive exhaustion and fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Eating disorders
• Addiction

Doctors assume a psychosomatic disorder is present if, despite careful diagnosis, they have not found a physical cause.

How common are psychosomatic disorders?

Almost everyone knows that emotional stress can lead to physical problems: Stress “hits the stomach,” anxiety “sits in the back of our necks,” or “gets to our kidneys.” 

These idioms can sometimes be taken quite literally: Stress and other emotional strains can lead to stomachaches, neck tension, or other symptoms. 

80 percent of Germans experience physical problems stemming from psychological factors at some point in their lives.

In many cases, the symptoms go away on their own. Patients hardly pay any attention to them. For some people, however, the symptoms persist for a long time. 

They become chronic, taking up more space in one’s life, without the connection to the psychological cause being apparent. This is referred to as a psychosomatic illness or a somatoform disorder.

There are other illnesses that are not caused solely by psychological stress. However, psychological stress can contribute to and exacerbate them. 

These include, for example:

• Stomach ulcers
• Heart attacks
• Sudden hearing loss
• Atopic dermatitis
• Herniated discs and many other problems

Modern medicine assumes that many physical illnesses also have a psychological component.

Children, too, often suffer from psychosomatic disorders @ HENADZY /AdobeStock

The Development of Psychosomatic Disorders

The causes of psychosomatic illnesses are varied. 

Possible causes include, for example:

• Stress
• Anxiety and worry
• Grief
• Unresolved conflicts
• Traumatic experiences
• Difficult life circumstances
• Depression

These stresses lead to various physical reactions: 

• Muscles tense up
• Stress hormones interfere with the body’s ability to receive adequate nourishment and relax
• Sleep is disrupted
• Metabolism changes
• Organs do not receive adequate nourishment

If this condition persists, physical pain and other symptoms may develop. In the worst case, these can take on a life of their own. 

The symptoms usually lead to increased stress, which in turn worsens the symptoms. A vicious cycle develops.

Diagnosis of Psychosomatic Disorders

When physical symptoms are present, doctors usually look for a physical cause first. If no such cause can be found, a psychological cause is generally suspected. 

The next step involves a psychological evaluation to confirm this suspicion. In this process, doctors primarily examine the patient’s living conditions and sources of stress.

Psychosomatic symptoms are not imaginary!

It is important to understand that psychosomatic disorders are not “imagined”—the symptoms are real and can be extremely distressing. 

The fact that there are no physical causes often makes those affected feel even more unsettled. Inappropriate statements like “There’s nothing wrong with you” make patients feel that there is something wrong with their perception. 

After all, they clearly feel the physical symptoms and feel left alone. 

Many patients cannot imagine that stress, worries, fears, and other emotional strains are the cause of their problems. And even within the healthcare professions, there is often still not enough focus on the possibility of a psychosomatic illness. 

Many doctors still limit themselves to physical examinations—even though modern medicine has long recognized that psychosomatic symptoms are common. 

Patients often consult many doctors or turn to alternative therapies in an effort to find someone who can help them. It often takes years before the correct diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment can begin.

Treatment of Psychosomatic Disorders

Since the cause of the illness lies in the psychological realm, therapy must also address this area. Therefore, psychotherapy is the primary treatment option for psychosomatic disorders. 

Psychotherapy employs a wide variety of methods. The focus is usually on psychotherapeutic conversation, which serves to identify and alleviate the patient’s psychological stress. 

Many physical illnesses require psychotherapeutic treatment as part of the overall care @ Pormezz /AdobeStock

Together with the patient, the therapist develops strategies to help the patient reduce or better cope with stressful situations.

Relaxation techniques, occupational therapy, social therapy, and movement and body therapy are used as complementary approaches. 

At the same time, it can be helpful to alleviate physical symptoms through medication, manual therapy, or other measures. 

In some cases, medications (psychotropic drugs) are used to improve the patient’s mental state—and also to make treatment possible in the first place.