How can I tell if an illness is psychosomatic?
You cannot tell by the signs alone: first see a doctor and get tested, because similar symptoms can hide an illness that needs treatment. A link with emotions shows in repeats: the symptom comes after stress, a quarrel or before an important event and fades when the tension eases. Psychosomatics is not a diagnosis but a look, alongside treatment, at what an illness may mean in your life.
Updated
First rule out what a doctor treats
Headaches, a racing heart, stomach pain, rashes and an irregular cycle can come from stress, and also from thyroid, blood vessel, bowel or hormone problems. Only tests and an examination can tell one from the other.
If tests found nothing, that does not mean “it is all in your head”. The pain is real, its causes are simply looked for further, including in strain and emotions.
Signs that emotions play a part
Watch yourself for a month and note when the symptom comes:
- It returns after quarrels, conflicts at work or talks with a particular person.
- It gets worse before important events: an exam, a trip, a visit to your parents.
- It fades on holiday, at weekends or when a hard situation is resolved.
- It appeared during a hard period: divorce, moving, a loss, a loved one’s illness.
What to do next
Keep up your treatment and at the same time look at what is happening in your life. These questions help: what can I not say out loud, what draws me and what holds me back, what am I afraid of.
In the Ladder method this is visible on one map: the goal, where you stand, what pulls you back from the past, who and what gets in the way. The free diagnostic builds it in 10 minutes from your phone. The “Psychosomatics in women” section has articles on separate topics, and each starts with the medical side.
Psychological work goes alongside treatment, not instead of it. Diagnosis is made by a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
If my tests are normal, does that mean it is psychosomatic?
Not necessarily. Sometimes other tests or another doctor are needed. Discuss normal results with your doctor rather than labelling it “psychosomatic” yourself.
Can I find the cause from a psychosomatics chart?
A chart suggests what to think about, but it does not make a diagnosis or explain the cause of your particular illness. If a line in the chart makes you feel guilty, set it aside.
Does psychosomatics mean it is my fault?
No. Emotions affect the body in every person, it is neither guilt nor weakness. The point is to notice the strain and take care of yourself.
See what is holding you back.
In 10 minutes, the Ladder shows past events, other people’s words and your fears on one map.
Take the free diagnosticFree · 10 minutes · on your phone