How to Handle a Stress-Related Psychosomatic Illness

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStressTypes of Stress-Related SymptomsPsychosomatic IllnessThe Biological Mechanisms Linking Mind and BodyTreatment for Psychosomatic SymptomsRelieving Stress for HealthFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Stress

Types of Stress-Related Symptoms

Psychosomatic Illness

The Biological Mechanisms Linking Mind and Body

Treatment for Psychosomatic Symptoms

Relieving Stress for Health

Frequently Asked Questions

Close

In Greek,psycherefers to the mind or soul, andsomaticrefers to the body. In essence, the term psychosomatic captures the mind-body connection. The World Health Organization defines psychosomatic medicine as “the study of biological, psychological, and social variables in health and disease.”

In this article, we will explore the biological mechanisms that link the mind and the body in the disease process and dispel the myth that these illnesses are “all in your mind.” You will learn more about current views of psychosomatic illness, common stress-related health symptoms, and the appropriate treatment.

No one is immune from experiencing stress in life. There are daily hassles, like dealing with traffic, working with a demanding boss, and managing a busy schedule. There are also major stressors such as poverty, maltreatment, relationship problems, job loss, caregiving, and traumatic events.

What Is Acute Stress Disorder?

The burden of chronic stress can take its toll on the human body through the “biological embedding” of a maladaptive stress response, especially in childhood if the brain is developing through a variety of adverse experiences.Without intervention, this maladaptive stress response can carry on through adulthood. Neuroplasticity of the brain, or the ability for neurons to adapt and re-wire, gives hope for recovery from the damaging effects of stress.

Coping Mechanisms: Everything You Need to Know

When you are under stress that exceeds your ability to cope, you are likely to experience physical symptoms. These can include aches, pains, muscle spasms, and headaches, possibly from unconsciously tensing your muscles for extended periods. Your stomach may be upset from the impact of stress hormones. And you may not be sleeping well, leaving you feeling fatigued and burnt out.

Some common examples of symptoms that a person might experience as a result of stress include:

If you are experiencing these problems, you should talk to your healthcare provider in order to identify the root cause and receive appropriate treatment.

Stress can cause a variety of symptoms, as seen above. These symptoms are mediated through the immune system, the nervous system, and the endocrine system. Over time, if left unchecked, this can lead to disruption in the delicate balance of hormones, neurotransmitters, metabolic processes, and the immune response that is required to maintain health. These systemic changes contribute, at least in part, to the development of illness and disease, that oftentimes could be prevented.

What Is Cortisol?

Sympathetic Nervous System:During thefight or flight response, cortisol affects a wide range of body functions through thesympathetic nervous system. Heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, breathing becomes more shallow and rapid, pupils dilate, blood sugar is released into the blood, and blood flow rushes to the large muscle groups and the brain. There is also an immune response in preparation to heal damaged tissue, and digestion is put on hold. Your body systems are being appropriately mobilized to manage the threat.

Metabolism:Cortisol directs the metabolism of sugar and fats and is a helpful anti-inflammatory under normal circumstances. However, excess cortisol can lead to metabolic problems like high cholesterol, increased appetite, weight gain, decreased insulin sensitivity, high blood sugar, adrenal insufficiency, fatigue, sleep issues, and so on. In addition, the gut microbiome is altered as a response to stress, resulting in a release of toxins, metabolites, and neurohormones that in turn affect eating behavior, mood, energy, and immune functioning.

Immune System:A review of the research published in 2015, shows that people who experience chronic stress have signs of a dysregulated immune system with higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in their bloodstream, lower antibody response to viruses, more frequent illness, and even re-activation of latent viruses like Epstein-Barr. People with ongoing stress also experience more auto-immune flare-ups and slower wound healing. All of these immune system responses place an extra burden on the immune system.

The impact of cortisol on multiple body systems is why too much of this stress hormone, particularly over a long period, can literally “get under your skin” and lead to major health issues.

What Is Toxic Stress?

Fortunately, the symptoms that manifest can lead you to see a doctor, who then may rule in or rule out any disease process that might be causing them. Without a diagnosis, you may only get treatment aimed at relieving the symptoms, rather than getting at the root cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a mental health professional to help address some of the psychological and emotional factors contributing to your illness.

Psychological treatments and stress management are important, but this does not mean that psychosomatic illnesses do not require medical treatment. Medications may be prescribed to help treat the medical symptoms that you are experiencing.

Psychotherapy

Mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR) may also help reduce stress levels and improve coping skills.

Medications

Your healthcare provider or therapist may also prescribe medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can contribute to physical symptoms, so medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines may be helpful for improving well-being.

Self-Help

Self-help may also be an effective tool for reducing medically unexplained symptoms and improving quality of life. Research suggests that self-guided stress management (such as journaling and meditation techniques) can help manage symptoms of stress.However, this approach may be best utilized as a first step or as part of a more comprehensive treatment program.

If you are experiencing health concerns that might be related to stress, your first step should be to talk to your healthcare provider. However, there are also steps you can take to relieve stress and improve your overall health. To stay healthy, learn positive ways to deal with stress and eliminate excessive stress from your life whenever possible.

It may seem overwhelming to even think about, but slow and steady, figure out what works for you and what doesn’t, and build a new lifestyle that supports your mental and physical health. Strategies that may be helpful for reducing stress levels include:

There are dozens ofstress-relieving tacticsavailable, so it is important to learn what stress relievers work best for you. Create a stress management game plan to examine and change the stress in your life. Bymaintaining healthy habits, you can minimize the stress in your life and reduce the impact of stress-related psychosomatic illness on your health and well-being.

If you experience physical symptoms in the absence of an injury, disease, or illness, there is a chance your symptoms might be psychosomatic or stress-related.It is important to talk to your healthcare provider for an assessment and diagnosis. If no medical causes are found, your healthcare provider can recommend treatments to address symptoms, work with you to manage stress, and refer you to a mental health professional for further assistance.

Psychosomatic symptoms are real. While they may be attributed to stress or psychological origins, they have a very real impact on your body. Psychosomatic symptoms are not “all in your head” or imaginary. They are real symptoms that require real treatments. Unfortunately, stigma about psychosomatic illness often leads people to avoid seeking treatment.Learn More:What Is Stigma?

Psychosomatic symptoms are real. While they may be attributed to stress or psychological origins, they have a very real impact on your body. Psychosomatic symptoms are not “all in your head” or imaginary. They are real symptoms that require real treatments. Unfortunately, stigma about psychosomatic illness often leads people to avoid seeking treatment.

Learn More:What Is Stigma?

5 Effects of Stress on the Brain

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bransfield RC, Friedman KJ.Differentiating psychosomatic, somatopsychic, multisystem illnesses, and medical uncertainty.Healthcare (Basel). 2019;7(4):114. doi:10.3390/healthcare7040114Nerurkar A, Bitton A, Davis RB, Phillips RS, Yeh G.When physicians counsel about stress: Results of a national study.JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(1):76-77. doi:10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.480McEwen BS.Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109(supplement_2):17180-17185. doi:10.1073%2Fpnas.1121254109American Psychological Association.How stress affects your health.Madison A, Kiecolt-Glaser JK.Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human–bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition.Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2019;28:105-110. doi:10.1016%2Fj.cobeha.2019.01.011Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016%2Fj.copsyc.2015.03.007Nakao M, Shirotsuki K, Sugaya N.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies.Biopsychosoc Med. 2021;15(1):16. doi:10.1186/s13030-021-00219-wAmanvermez Y, Zhao R, Cuijpers P, et al.Effects of self-guided stress management interventions in college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Internet Interv. 2022;28:100503. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2022.100503Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri.Psychosomatic symptoms.von dem Knesebeck O, Lehmann M, Löwe B, Makowski AC.Public stigma towards individuals with somatic symptom disorders - Survey results from Germany.J Psychosom Res. 2018;115:71-75. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.014Additional ReadingDessel NV, Boeft MD, Wouden JCVD, et al.Non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. January 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011142.pub2Gils AV, Schoevers RA, Bonvanie IJ, Gelauff JM, Roest AM, Rosmalen JG.Self-help for medically unexplained symptoms.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2016;78(6):728–739. doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000000325Menon V, Rajan T, Kuppili P, Sarkar S.Cognitive behavior therapy for medically unexplained symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published controlled trials.Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2017;39(4):399. doi:10.4103/ijpsym.ijpsym_17_17

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bransfield RC, Friedman KJ.Differentiating psychosomatic, somatopsychic, multisystem illnesses, and medical uncertainty.Healthcare (Basel). 2019;7(4):114. doi:10.3390/healthcare7040114Nerurkar A, Bitton A, Davis RB, Phillips RS, Yeh G.When physicians counsel about stress: Results of a national study.JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(1):76-77. doi:10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.480McEwen BS.Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109(supplement_2):17180-17185. doi:10.1073%2Fpnas.1121254109American Psychological Association.How stress affects your health.Madison A, Kiecolt-Glaser JK.Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human–bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition.Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2019;28:105-110. doi:10.1016%2Fj.cobeha.2019.01.011Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016%2Fj.copsyc.2015.03.007Nakao M, Shirotsuki K, Sugaya N.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies.Biopsychosoc Med. 2021;15(1):16. doi:10.1186/s13030-021-00219-wAmanvermez Y, Zhao R, Cuijpers P, et al.Effects of self-guided stress management interventions in college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Internet Interv. 2022;28:100503. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2022.100503Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri.Psychosomatic symptoms.von dem Knesebeck O, Lehmann M, Löwe B, Makowski AC.Public stigma towards individuals with somatic symptom disorders - Survey results from Germany.J Psychosom Res. 2018;115:71-75. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.014Additional ReadingDessel NV, Boeft MD, Wouden JCVD, et al.Non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. January 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011142.pub2Gils AV, Schoevers RA, Bonvanie IJ, Gelauff JM, Roest AM, Rosmalen JG.Self-help for medically unexplained symptoms.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2016;78(6):728–739. doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000000325Menon V, Rajan T, Kuppili P, Sarkar S.Cognitive behavior therapy for medically unexplained symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published controlled trials.Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2017;39(4):399. doi:10.4103/ijpsym.ijpsym_17_17

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bransfield RC, Friedman KJ.Differentiating psychosomatic, somatopsychic, multisystem illnesses, and medical uncertainty.Healthcare (Basel). 2019;7(4):114. doi:10.3390/healthcare7040114Nerurkar A, Bitton A, Davis RB, Phillips RS, Yeh G.When physicians counsel about stress: Results of a national study.JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(1):76-77. doi:10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.480McEwen BS.Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109(supplement_2):17180-17185. doi:10.1073%2Fpnas.1121254109American Psychological Association.How stress affects your health.Madison A, Kiecolt-Glaser JK.Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human–bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition.Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2019;28:105-110. doi:10.1016%2Fj.cobeha.2019.01.011Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016%2Fj.copsyc.2015.03.007Nakao M, Shirotsuki K, Sugaya N.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies.Biopsychosoc Med. 2021;15(1):16. doi:10.1186/s13030-021-00219-wAmanvermez Y, Zhao R, Cuijpers P, et al.Effects of self-guided stress management interventions in college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Internet Interv. 2022;28:100503. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2022.100503Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri.Psychosomatic symptoms.von dem Knesebeck O, Lehmann M, Löwe B, Makowski AC.Public stigma towards individuals with somatic symptom disorders - Survey results from Germany.J Psychosom Res. 2018;115:71-75. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.014

Bransfield RC, Friedman KJ.Differentiating psychosomatic, somatopsychic, multisystem illnesses, and medical uncertainty.Healthcare (Basel). 2019;7(4):114. doi:10.3390/healthcare7040114

Nerurkar A, Bitton A, Davis RB, Phillips RS, Yeh G.When physicians counsel about stress: Results of a national study.JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(1):76-77. doi:10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.480

McEwen BS.Brain on stress: How the social environment gets under the skin.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109(supplement_2):17180-17185. doi:10.1073%2Fpnas.1121254109

American Psychological Association.How stress affects your health.

Madison A, Kiecolt-Glaser JK.Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human–bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition.Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2019;28:105-110. doi:10.1016%2Fj.cobeha.2019.01.011

Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016%2Fj.copsyc.2015.03.007

Nakao M, Shirotsuki K, Sugaya N.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies.Biopsychosoc Med. 2021;15(1):16. doi:10.1186/s13030-021-00219-w

Amanvermez Y, Zhao R, Cuijpers P, et al.Effects of self-guided stress management interventions in college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Internet Interv. 2022;28:100503. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2022.100503

Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri.Psychosomatic symptoms.

von dem Knesebeck O, Lehmann M, Löwe B, Makowski AC.Public stigma towards individuals with somatic symptom disorders - Survey results from Germany.J Psychosom Res. 2018;115:71-75. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.014

Dessel NV, Boeft MD, Wouden JCVD, et al.Non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. January 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011142.pub2Gils AV, Schoevers RA, Bonvanie IJ, Gelauff JM, Roest AM, Rosmalen JG.Self-help for medically unexplained symptoms.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2016;78(6):728–739. doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000000325Menon V, Rajan T, Kuppili P, Sarkar S.Cognitive behavior therapy for medically unexplained symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published controlled trials.Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2017;39(4):399. doi:10.4103/ijpsym.ijpsym_17_17

Dessel NV, Boeft MD, Wouden JCVD, et al.Non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. January 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011142.pub2

Gils AV, Schoevers RA, Bonvanie IJ, Gelauff JM, Roest AM, Rosmalen JG.Self-help for medically unexplained symptoms.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2016;78(6):728–739. doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000000325

Menon V, Rajan T, Kuppili P, Sarkar S.Cognitive behavior therapy for medically unexplained symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published controlled trials.Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2017;39(4):399. doi:10.4103/ijpsym.ijpsym_17_17

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