Psychosomatics: When the Body Speaks for Us
Many people are used to thinking that the body and the psyche exist separately. However, modern science confirms: our emotions, unexpressed feelings, and chronic stress directly affect physiological processes. Psychosomatics is not about "imaginary diseases," but rather the body's real response to psychological discomfort.
How does it work?
When we suppress anger, fear, or resentment, the nervous system remains in a state of chronic arousal. This leads to muscle tension, hormonal changes, and the disruption of internal organs. Often, the catalyst for this process is mental traps — habitual cognitive distortions that make us perceive ordinary events as disasters.
Are your symptoms a result of tension?
Often, physical discomfort is a consequence of accumulated anxiety. I recommend taking the Internal Tension Diagnostic Test or using the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) for an objective assessment of your nervous system's condition.
Primary "Targets" of Stress
- Gastrointestinal tract: "Indigestion" of a situation, hidden fear, or a sense of hyper-responsibility.
- Back and shoulders: Feeling an unbearable burden, a lack of foundation, or feeling unsupported.
- Heart and blood pressure: Suppressed emotions and a constant readiness for "fight or flight." This state often escalates into full-blown chronic anxiety. Read more about the mechanisms of acute reactions in the article on panic attacks.
The Path to Recovery
Working with psychosomatics requires a comprehensive approach. Medicine treats the consequence (the body), while coaching and professional support help eliminate the root cause — those internal scenarios and "frozen" feelings that make the body sick. By breaking the cycle between a negative thought and physical tension, we restore the body's ability to heal itself.