somatization
Distress becomes physical
Somatization is the expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms.
Someone experiencing anxiety or depression may develop headaches, fatigue, or chronic pain with no identifiable medical cause.
The process is typically unconscious—the person genuinely feels ill rather than faking symptoms.
Doctors suspected somatization after tests revealed nothing wrong.
Psychological distress causing physical symptoms
- hypochondriasisPreoccupation with nonexistent ailments
- functional disorderSymptoms without detectable cause
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- neurosisFunctional mental disorder
hysteria · mind-body connection · repression · internalization · trauma response
Awareness of abnormal heartbeat
- headacheCranial pain
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- dizzinessUnsteady, spinning sensation
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
chest pain · muscle tension · back pain · insomnia · tremors · sweating · shortness of breath · gastrointestinal distress
Treatment through guided conversation
- psychiatryMental health medicine
- cognitive-behavioral therapyTreatment restructuring harmful thought patterns
- symptomatologyStudy of disease manifestations
- differential diagnosisSystematic comparison of possible conditions
chronic pain syndrome · fibromyalgia · chronic fatigue syndrome
conversion disorder
Psychological distress causing physical symptoms
- hypochondriasisPreoccupation with nonexistent ailments
- functional disorderSymptoms without detectable cause
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
neurosis · hysteria · mind-body connection · repression · internalization · trauma response
palpitations
Awareness of abnormal heartbeat
nausea · chest pain · muscle tension · back pain · insomnia · tremors · sweating · shortness of breath · gastrointestinal distress · irritable bowel
psychotherapy
Treatment through guided conversation
- psychiatryMental health medicine
- cognitive-behavioral therapyTreatment restructuring harmful thought patterns
- symptomatologyStudy of disease manifestations
differential diagnosis · chronic pain syndrome · fibromyalgia · chronic fatigue syndrome
somatizationmalingering
Fabricating symptoms for gain
faking · feigning · faking illness · Munchausen syndrome · simulation
somatizationemotional expression
Conveying feelings outwardly
verbalization · psychological insight · emotional processing · introspection · psychologizing
somatic, soma, psychosomatic, somatotype, somatics, somatically, somatize, somatized