Almost all of us, at some point in our lives, have experienced the process of somatization although we have not been aware of it.
Without apparent cause, organic or muscular discomfort arises that do not seem to respond to the cause-effect process, and condition our mood, our behavior and our general vitality. In this article we are going to analyze this type of process, what its most common mechanisms are, and how we can be aware of these, in order to manage them properly.
Somatizing is, by definition, “involuntarily transforming psychological problems into organic symptoms,” and This transformation from the mental to the physical is not always well understood nor, consequently, well treated.
When we go to the doctor for some discomfort, and the diagnostic tests do not show anything that justifies them, we may be facing a somatization process. The symptoms reported may be mild, such as a slight headache or a slight joint discomfort, or they may be more intense, such as disabling low back pain or unpleasant and unexpected dizziness.
Of course, a visit to the doctor should be the first option to rule out an underlying cause, but if the clinical evaluation does not show anything relevant, we can start the psychological analysis of what we are suffering, either individually or with the help of a specialized professional.
We are going to present here four ways of somatization that, although they are not the only ones, do cover a good part of the somatization disorders that we can experience, and it is more than likely that we recognize ourselves in some of them.
muscle tension
Low-intensity muscle tension, but maintained for a long time, generates contractures that are a common source of pain. The way in which we create these tensions may be evident, for example, if we have lifted weights and are not used to doing so, or if we have climbed the mountain without prior physical preparation. In these cases, the tension is justified by a precedent. But what if muscle pain appears, and there is nothing prior to explain it? Let’s look at a typical situation:
Having shrunken shoulders can easily cause pain in the neck, due to the tension of the muscles that connect the cervical spine to the scapulae. Experiences of fear, insecurity or low self-esteem can involuntarily induce this gesture, which does not require much effort, but whose prolonged maintenance ends up contracting the muscles and blocking the movement of the neck. It can be perceived as stiffness in the neck, difficulty turning the head, or pain in the back of the shoulder that extends to the cervical area.
In these cases, it may be useful to analyze the possible fearful situations that are being experienced, or If the personality of the sufferer is prone to negative thoughts about themselves. In fact, it is easy to imagine the typical person with a slightly hunched posture, shoulders hunched and head forward and down, as if they were carrying something on their back, and associate this pose with a depressed and low-spirited personality.
intense emotions
Emotional states experienced with great intensity cause physiological changes that can be measured objectively, such as heart rate, respiratory frequency and amplitude, or skin conductance. Emotions such as anger and fear are those that cause the greatest fluctuation of some physiological levels as they prepare the body for specific behaviors such as fight, flight or, simply, being able to raise one’s voice to express discontent or agitation.
Once the emotional state ends, these changes gradually return to their usual levels. But when some emotions last over time, or are experienced too frequently or intensely, physiological changes can maintain altered parameters, causing internal changes. It is known, for example, that personalities prone to being angry for a long time experience cardiovascular changes that increase the risk of suffering from coronary symptoms such as arrhythmias or small heart attacks. And it has also been experimentally proven how the experience of intense fear can cause vomiting or stomach problems, due to the internal discomfort that an experience of this type produces.
Emotional management involves, first of all, being aware of what you feel, and express it sincerely. Admitting that you are angry about what is happening around you, or recognizing that some situations cause you exaggerated fear, can be the first step to modulate these emotions, and prevent them from becoming extremely triggered.
Prolonged stress
Daily demands can be perceived as excessive, to the point of feeling that we are not able to cope with them. This is how stress arises, the consequences of which are related to internal organic changes, among which the increase in some hormonal levels, such as adrenaline, stands out. This connection of the nervous system with the endocrine system also affects the immune system varying the parameters of lymphocytes and killer cells, which can modulate the way we deal with an infection.
It is known from numerous studies that students during exam times tend to develop more illnesses than the rest of the year. Colds, flu or colds are more common when you spend time thinking that you will not be able to face an external requirement, such as academic tests, or you feel overwhelmed by the tasks to be performed at work or at home. Although they are not very serious ailments, depression of the immune system can expose us more vulnerable to pathogens such as viruses or bacteria, or make us more sensitive to adverse weather conditions such as cold or humidity.
Stress management requires specific work in which relaxation techniques are of great help, or the regular practice of moderate exercise in which body and mind work in harmony, such as yoga or tai chi. In this sense, the ideal is for each person to find the dynamic with which they tune in best, or that task in which their mind can escape from daily worries, such as painting or playing a musical instrument, for example.
Negative thoughts about yourself
What we say to ourselves in our hearts determines our emotional state. If we repeat daily that we are worthless, that our life has no meaning, or that we do not contribute anything significant to the world, it is easy for us to enter a state of apathy in which we do not feel motivated to engage in healthy behaviors such as physical exercise. , a balanced diet or an optimal sleep pattern, with the harmful consequences that this can have on health.
When this happens, and it can take a long time to occur, the body suffers and enters into an unhealthy attitude, which is usually noticeable in the external appearance and in the way of moving, expressing oneself or simply being in society. We are talking about a long-term somatization process, which can last years and even decades, and which involves deep level changes in the way of thinking and seeing the environment.
In these cases, and surely someone we know comes to mind, the person in question has to voluntarily take a first step to initiate a process of individual transformation that reverses this process. This is not always easy, as it involves changing patterns of thought and behavior that are usually deeply rooted in the mind, so it is essential that the person in question makes a great individual effort, regardless of the external help that he or she may request.
Somatizing is natural
Somatization ailments are something natural, and a way for the body to communicate with us when it feels that something is altered in the mind. Therefore, somatizing is not only “what the mind does to the body,” as the title expresses, but also “what the body reflects from the mind” and that a sleeping consciousness prevents us from perceiving.
We are not always aware of being stressed, tense, or experiencing exaggerated emotion. And that is where the body comes into the picture and, in an often unpleasant way, tells us: “there is something wrong here, what are you going to do about it?”
