There is no question that chronic anxiety and stress can result in various physical and mental health consequences. While anxiety disorders happen to be more frequently diagnosed and understood, there is one physical disorder, in particular, that must be brought to one’s attention. Somatization, also known as somatic symptom disorder (SSD), is a mental health disorder listed in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition). This condition is rarely talked about; however, it can strongly interfere with one’s ability to function normally in daily life.
Somatization is a condition that occurs when an individual feels extreme and persistent anxiety about their internal bodily sensations. This disorder develops from unmanaged stress that eventually produces physical symptoms. To be diagnosed with SSD, an individual must experience one or more physical symptoms with an additional excess of energy, time, emotion, or behavior spent fixating on the symptom, which results in significant distress.
Individuals that struggle with SSD may experience a wide range of mental and physical symptoms. Similarly, symptoms can range in severity from mild to severe and tend to change over time. Common physical symptoms include:
While physical symptoms are caused by stress, the primary symptoms of SSD are related to how people feel and behave as a response to their physical symptoms. Some of these prominent symptoms may include:
Like many mental health conditions, there is no one known cause of SSD. Typically it begins before age 30 and involves an interaction of several different factors, including:
Despite SSD being a condition less recognized in day-to-day life, the prevalence of SSD is quite high. The NCBI online book Somatic Syndrome Disorders, written by Ryan S. D’Souza and W M. Hooten, states that nearly five to seven percent of the U.S. general population struggles with SSD, with a higher female representation. The prevalence of this condition is even more significant for individuals within the primary care patient population, being 17% respectively. Similarly, the prevalence tends to be higher in patient populations that have diagnosed functional disorders, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue.
The main goal of treatment for SSD is to help clients control their symptoms so they can better function in their daily lives. One of the most important facets of effective treatment is to have a supportive and balanced relationship between the client and the care provider. Clients should only be utilizing one primary care provider, which will help them with consistency and commitment to treatment. Similarly, the client should constantly contact their provider and see them regularly to access symptoms, coping skills, and potential future treatment routes.
Alongside having one primary care provider, a client should also see one mental health therapist. Due to the challenges involved with treating somatization, seeking a therapist who specializes in treating SSD is essential.
As far as behavioral therapies go, many treatment options can help individuals work through the mental and physical symptoms associated with SSD. One popular treatment option is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which can help clients bring awareness to how their thoughts and feelings affect their behavior and vice versa. Other therapy objectives for treating SSD include:
One may experience several complications if their SSD is left untreated. These complications include:
Somatization disorder, a condition where psychological distress is expressed through physical symptoms, often remains underdiscussed. Individuals with this disorder experience intense anxiety about bodily sensations, significantly impacting their daily functioning. Recognizing and addressing somatization is vital, as it can lead to various mental and physical health challenges if left untreated.
