What is somatization and how to cure it

  • Jun 09, 2022
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What is somatization and how to cure it

We all know or have experienced in our own flesh that moment when your head starts to hurt for no apparent reason, or you start to have discomfort. So, you go to the doctor, but they don't find anything clear either, you start to feel worse and you feel weak. When you stop to think, it turns out that you have been subjected to a lot of stress and that has caused you anxiety.

What relationship do your discomforts have with anxiety? Why do they occur and how to calm them? We are talking about a phenomenon called somatization, which affects more women than men in our society and, if If not treated properly, it can lead to a psychological disorder: somatization or symptom disorder. somatic. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about what is somatization and how to cure it, in addition to what are its most frequent symptoms and causes.

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Index

  1. What is somatization in psychology
  2. Symptoms of somatization
  3. Causes of somatization
  4. Types of Somatization Disorders
  5. How to cure somatization

What is somatization in psychology.

The term somatization was introduced by Stekel (1943) as a hypothetical process by which a deep-seated neurosis could cause bodily disorder. Subsequently, contrary positions emerged, such as that of Lipowski, who conceived somatization as a tendency to experience psychological discomfortin the form of somatic symptoms that the subject erroneously interprets as a sign of some serious physical illness.

Currently, somatization can be defined as multiple physical discomforts whose origin is psychological. According to the DSM-V[1], somatizations can lead to a somatization disorder, classified within somatoform disorders, what we currently know as somatic symptom disorder.

Characteristics of somatization disorder

Somatic symptom disorder is defined as the presence of multiple and recurrent somatic symptoms over a long period of time. The main characteristics are to suffer pain, shortness of breath, physical weakness, tiredness and can vary in intensity and manifestation. Pain is usually the most frequent symptom and this can be associated with thoughts and behaviors such as the following:

  • excessive worry about the possibility of suffering from one or more diseases.
  • Associate physical symptoms as signs of serious illness.
  • Difficulty obtaining a clear medical diagnosis due to a lack of tests and evidence.
  • Constant review of the body looking for abnormalities.
  • Perception of more intense symptoms than even suffering from a medical illness.

The fact that these symptoms do not normally have an organic origin means that patients frequent different health care services in order to find a diagnosis and treatment definitive. As a consequence, by somatizing and not being identified its causes, different associated psychopathologies may appear What the anxiety, stress and depression.

Generally, somatic illness or somatization disorder begins in early adulthood, approximately around the age of 30, and its prevalence in the general population is 5 to 7%.

Symptoms of somatization.

The symptoms that a person experiencing somatization may present can be classified into the following categories:

  • pains: They manifest in four or more different areas such as the head, abdomen, back, joints, extremities, chest or rectum.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders: presence of nausea and abdominal swelling.
  • sexual dysfunctions: irregular menses in women or erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction in men. In this article you will find more information about the sexual disorders.
  • Pseudoneurological alterations: impaired coordination and balance, paralysis or muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, urinary sensation, hallucinations, blindness, loss of consciousness, among others.

In addition to the symptoms of somatization mentioned above, the person may have excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors associated with health concerns.

What is somatization and how to cure it - Symptoms of somatization

Causes of somatization.

Somatization has been associated in numerous cases with anxiety disorders. In this sense, and following the definition offered by Lipowski, somatization is understood as the "transformation" of symptomatology cognitive and affective alterations in real physical diseases or ailments that are aggravated, or appear due to stress and/or due to a sustained high levels of anxiety in the time.

In this case, it is understood that somatization is the affective expression on a physical plane. In this way, we could determine that the cause of somatization is found in an untreated psychological affliction, generally associated with anxiety or affective disturbances.

If you are wondering what causes somatization, there is currently no specific and defined etiology to explain why this phenomenon appears, but we can conclude that there are different predisposing factors that generate a vulnerability to suffer from it and that explain why it happens to some people and not to others:

  • biological factors how to be more sensitive to pain
  • Genetic factors.
  • Family background: family and personal clinical history of anxiety or depression.
  • personal factors: educational level, less perception to identify and process emotions, anxious personality or neuroticism.
  • Environmental factors: having recently experienced stressful life events, unemployment, social stress and social reinforcing factors when showing complaints about illnesses
  • Victims of sexual abuse or physical abuse in childhood.

In some cases, it should be noted that somatization appears due to the existence of another previous medical pathology such as cancer or heart disease, among others.

Types of somatization disorders.

There are different types of somatization disorder included within the DSM-V. Next, we will show you what they are:

  • Somatic symptom disorder.
  • Anxiety disorder due to illness or hypochondriasis.
  • Conversion disorder.
  • A disorder with psychological factors that influences other medical conditions.
  • factitious disorder.

How to cure somatization.

How to stop somatizing? This disorder can be treated from the approach of cognitive behavioral psychology, since, this current takes into account and is in charge of working with behavioral, behavioral, the thoughts and other psychological aspects that may be impairing the patient's normal functioning.

This treatment can help relieve pain symptoms, become aware of the existence of this problem, manage negative thoughts recurring, viz. manage stress and to have a better well-being and quality of life. In the following articles we explain in detail how to manage stress.

In those cases that require it, it is also important to work with the environment and cognitions, so that the individual cannot obtain social benefits for expressing their complaints. The objective is remove social reinforcers that are directly involved in the maintenance of somatization.

In addition, if the patient suffers from other psychological disorders, such as depression or anxiety, look for a specialized professional in this current could be of great help. Pharmacological treatment, using antidepressant and/or anxiolytic drugs, is also recommended in these cases to alleviate the symptoms of depression or anxiety. A combination of this treatment together with the psychological one would be the most recommended by specialists.

What is somatization and how to cure it - How to cure somatization

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is somatization and how to cure it, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

References

  1. American psychiatric association, (2014). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM – 5. Madrid Spain. Pan American Medical Publishing.

Bibliography

  • Belloch, A., Sandin, B., Ramos, F., (2009). Manual of psychopathology, volume II. Madrid. McGraw Hill / Interamericana de España, S.A.U.
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