Anxiety in your body + 6 signs of psychosomatic pain
*writings are based off of common themes, however, are in no way specific to client stories to protect confidentiality.
Have you ever felt physically ill due to stress or anxiety? psychosomatic pain is when your emotional and mental stress begin making you physically sick. “Psychosomatic” explains the relation between mind and body. The term is a combination of Greek words psyche "mind" + somatic, from soma, which means "body".
When meeting with a new client, I listen to their story by what they are expressing verbally, but am also listening for the cues of discomfort, pain or dis-ease they have been struggling with on a body level.
“Am I crazy or is there a reason that I’m suffering?" Sally looks up with pleading eyes. “I know it’s probably stress related but I’m good at sucking things up and moving on. But for some reason it isn’t working. My stomach cramps up, I am constantly bloated and just feel so uncomfortable in my skin. Can you do your therapy magic and help me feel better? Clearly the medical tests don’t find anything, so this is my next stop”.
Sally looks up. Tears slowly fill her soft chocolate brown eyes. I can see the confusion, worry and despair. I’m glad she’s here as, based on my assessment, her symptoms seem psychosomatic. Thought therapy is far from "magic", body based symptoms are highly treatable using somatic informed, mind-body-focused psychotherapy. We begin the session with a mindfulness exercise and a body scan where she points out areas of discomfort as well as areas of less tension
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This exchange is a common one, where a clients inquires on a consult call or in our first session, seeking relief from chronic pain, discomfort, digestive issues, focusing difficulties and other body-related pains.
