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Psychosomatic symptoms appear to originate in, or are worsened by, a person's beliefs, emotions and relationship entanglements. Many psychosomatic symptoms seem to be meaningful communications, and many diseases appear to have psychosomatic components.

What are Psychosomatic Symptoms?

Some body (somatic) symptoms have no known physiological basis. Some symptoms seem more related to beliefs and emotions than to physical damage or biological causes. These symptoms can range in severity from mild headaches to phantom pregnancies to cancer, and can include nausea, abdominal pain and chest pain, breathlessness, diarrhea and giddiness and muscle pains.

Although all illnesses seem to involve the mind (psyche) and body (soma), there is little agreement as to what symptoms should be called psychosomatic. Sometimes, emotional components seem particularly important, and influence not only the cause of the illness, but can worsen the symptoms.  Other symptoms apparently have little or no emotional component and may appear almost totally somatic. Beyond biology is psychobiology.

Like many doctors, we believe that illnesses such as asthma, eczema, heart problems, hypertension, migraines and ulcers are strongly influenced by emotions and beliefs - and therefore by relationships which generate emotions and beliefs. Often, anxiety, stress or depression seem to precipitate physical and emotional complaints.

What is the difference between somatic and psychosomatic complaints?

Some people consciously exaggerate or fake symptoms to avoid examinations, work or military duty. Unconscious ways to prevent overwork, stress etc include physical or emotional complaints, such as ...

Do relationships require psychosomatic symptoms?

Psychosomatic symptoms can affect people at any age. They are more likely appear during times of stress, such as divorce, examinations, overwork, military service and other life problems. These symptoms may also appear during intense conversations about life goals and family relationships.

We find that the key issue is usually communication. Psychosomatic symptoms seem more common in children and in people who cannot communicate well, especially about important emotions and feelings. But how many people are taught how to communicate their feelings ... children are often punished for expressing emotions that their parents do not want to acknowledge or respond to.

People appear to develop psychosomatic symptoms to cope with stress and relationships. We find that psychosomatic conditions are often linked by family dynamics, role modeling and identification. For example, chronic sadness, chronic anger and chronic anxiety seem to be passed on from family members of one generation to the next generation. Parents lead and children follow.

Solutions for Psychosomatic Symptoms

Expect to find multiple factors precipitating psychosomatic symptoms. (I don't seek one cause - I seek ten! If I only find six - I keep looking! Martyn) Finding all the benefits of symptoms is often complex and tricky, so we observe and respond to non-verbal signals at least as much as we listen to vocalized words.

We help people dissolve psychosomatic symptoms by helping them resolve relationship issues, from which unpleasant emotions and beliefs can drive dysfunctional behaviors and physical symptoms. If we help people resolve the elements that underlie psychosomatic conditions (and if body tissues have not been irreparably damaged or removed) those conditions may seem to magically disappear.

Some health professionals recognize the importance of dealing with relationship factors of disease symptoms and try to heal whole people, rather than just sick body parts. And yet many people diagnosed with psychosomatic disorders have told us that their doctors talked to them as if they were insane. Most people need a safe space, time and a good listener to talk about their feelings and relationships. We provide this space to gain insights into how their symptoms interact with their lives.

We look at the whole lifestyles of people - we look at their current and past relationships, we look at how they deal with stress, and we often check their diet and exercise. We provide time - not only for talking but for listening and insights but also for integration. Even after a single session, people often describe insights that keep on coming for days or even weeks.

Adults with psychosomatic symptoms can benefit from support, understanding and compassion (but not so much from sympathy) of family and friends. They often benefit from friendly people who will listen and provide supportive feedback.

Sometimes its spooky to watch symptoms vanish! It looks like a Hollywood special effect in slow-time! We have seen many somatic symptoms vanish or lessen during and immediately after our coaching.

Consult your physician about any opinions about medical symptoms or medical conditions.

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Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2008-2010 All rights reserved

Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 1996-2010 All rights reserved. Soulwork Systemic Coaching was primarily developed by Martyn Carruthers. We help people define and achieve goals, resolve emotional blocks and improve relationships. This information is for general knowledge only. Consult a physician about medical conditions and before changing any medical treatment. Don't steal ... ask Martyn for permission to post or publish his work.