What is psychosomatic illness?

You know when you go to a job interview or take a test and then you get a headache? Or you feel butterflies in your stomach?

Stress and anxiety are responsible for causing that “butterflies in the stomach” before certain experiences.

This is all the somatization of emotions. When we give too much emphasis to new events, traumas and bad experiences, our body has this type of reaction.

It is common and normal, but when these symptoms occur frequently and are accompanied by other discomforts, they can overload the brain, leading to what is called psych somatization.

Somatization is difficult to diagnose, as it is not linked to a factor in itself, whereas psych somatization – as it is accompanied by other illnesses – can be detected in laboratory tests.

When we feel sadness, fear, anger or other types of emotions, our body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline; these substances released constantly cause an imbalance in our organism.

A study published in the journal Science showed that emotions trigger important responses at the brain level. To reach this conclusion, participants in the experiment were subjected to emotional traumas such as rejection by their partners.

The part of the brain that received this information about rejection was located in the same place as when we feel physical pain. This shows that in the brain, emotional pain is similar to the pain of a blow or injury, that is, to physical pain.

Emotions that can harm the body’s health

Therefore, psychosomatic illnesses are those caused or aggravated by psychological suffering.

Not knowing how to deal with their negative emotions or daily problems, a person can develop anxiety disorders, uncontrolled fear and paranoia, leading to serious illnesses.

Some emotions that, in excess, can harm the body’s health:

• Anger;
• Depression;
• Stress;
• Anxiety;
• Sadness;
• Blame;
• Doubts.

With uncontrolled emotions, the patient can develop physical illnesses, which will be mentioned below, and some symptoms can also be observed in different parts of the body.

Symptoms of psychosomatic illnesses:

• Generalized pain;
• Shortness of breathe;
• Skin spots (red or purple);
• Tingling;
• Tremors in the extremities;
• Insomnia;
• Disinterest in routine activities;
• Lack of concentration;
• Irritability;
• Tiredness, without apparent cause.

Other traits of psychosomatic illnesses are burnout, negativity and self-demand.

There are some reasons why psychosomatic illnesses can be caused, for instance, financial difficulties, mourning, childhood trauma and chronic depression.

That is the reason why you need professional support, so you know how to manage your feelings, frustrations and negative emotions.

Diseases that may be related to emotions

We will present here some psychosomatic illnesses, but there are also many others that are included in this list, such as:

• acne;
• allergies;
• changes in libido;
• hair loss;
• autoimmune diseases.

In addition to getting sick or catching the flu frequently, since psych somatization leads to a weakening of the immune system, favoring the emergence of various diseases.

Therefore, you need to be aware of the symptoms and seek out professionals who can help you in your case.

Here are the 5 most common psychosomatic illnesses.

1. Gastritis

Emotions do not cause gastritis in themselves, but feelings such as anxiety, stress and nervousness stimulate the production of gastric acid, making the stomach more susceptible to the disease.

Symptoms such as pain, burning, nausea and lack of appetite – as well as gastritis and ulcers – can be influenced by emotions. This happens because of the excess of acidic substances produced in the stomach during periods of tension and stress.

Additionally, the disease can spread to the intestine and cause diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.

2. Migraines

Emotional disorders can affect our nervous system, causing certain reactions, such as visual changes, insomnia, tingling, and also migraines and headaches.

When a headache is not related to any type of illness, it can be the result of mental exhaustion . Migraines are one of the most common symptoms after an emotional crisis. According to one study, 45% of chronic headache cases are related to emotional triggers.

Some patients even report that this type of migraine can last for days and nights and does not improve with any type of medication.

3. Cardiovascular changes

Heart problems can also be linked to high stress levels.

Severe chest pain, palpitations and high blood pressure are some of the cardiovascular changes that can occur.

The production of hormones generates adrenaline, which accelerates the heartbeat. This action leads to an increase in blood pressure, which can lead to a greater risk of heart attack, stroke or arrhythmia.

Furthermore, stress stimulates the production of white blood cells. Although it is a defense system, in excess, it can harm blood circulation in the arteries.

4. Inflammation in the joints

Some emotional disorders can cause inflammation in the joints, muscles and bones, such as joint stiffness, bone pain, contractures and postural deformities.

Furthermore, due to stress, a person may experience great muscle tension and back pain. This is due to the release of hormones, such as cortisol, which increases the perception of pain.

During this process, blood circulation is reduced, causing less oxygen and nutrients to reach the tissues. This results in pain and even a feeling of fatigue.

Even the TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint), which is responsible for opening and closing the mouth, can be damaged. This happens because when we are stressed or angry, we have the habit of clenching and grinding our teeth.

Constant tension in this joint can cause pain in the face and spread to the head, neck and shoulders, potentially leading to TMD ( Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction ).

5. Bruxism

The stresses of the day, in addition to affecting emotions and harming the health of the body, also affect oral health.

People who are anxious or subjected to very strong stress may develop the habit of grinding or clenching their teeth unconsciously, this type of habit is known as bruxism.

Sleep bruxism is characterized by grinding of the teeth during sleep, but this problem can also occur during the day, which is why it is called waking bruxism.

In waking bruxism, the individual has the unconscious habit of grinding or clenching their teeth, or tensing the facial muscles (temporal and masseter) during the day.

Without realizing it, tension, concentration and stress can lead people to keep these muscles contracted and thus develop awake bruxism.

In fact, human beings have the particularity of channeling all the stress of the day into the joints and muscles of the mouth, which can lead to TMJ dysfunction.

Some symptoms of awake bruxism:

• Tension headache;
• Ringing in the ear ;
• Clicking sounds when opening and closing the mouth ;
• Tooth sensitivity ;
• Pain in the face and near the ear;
• Pain in the neck, nape and upper back.

For this type of condition, the diagnosis is made by an orofacial pain specialist who will evaluate your case, indicate the best treatment and even refer you to other health specialists.