Somatic symptom and related disorders are mental health disorders characterized by an intense focus on physical (somatic) symptoms, which can cause significant distress and even interfere with daily life. Most mental health disorders are characterized by mental or emotional symptoms such as disruptive thoughts, anger, or sadness. However, those with somatic disorders are primarily concerned with physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, weakness or nausea. When physical symptoms are present, a person may respond to them excessively or over exaggerate them making them worse. A sufferer of somatic related disorders may even cause physical harm to themselves or have a physical response over the idea of becoming sick; the anxiety related to the possibility of becoming ill is enough to make it hard to function in daily life.
When hurt or sick everyone has an emotional reaction to physical symptoms. You get frustrated when your back has been in pain for three days, nervous when a headache won’t go away or start crying when you can’t get relief from a sore throat. These reactions are natural and will vary based on your tolerance for pain. The difference between this reaction and ones that are characterized as somatic symptoms and related disorders is the severity of the reactions related to the physical pain. At times people with these disorders fake illness or injury and claim they’re experiencing pain even when they’re not.
Somatic and symptom-related disorders include the following most common types of this disease:
Somatic Symptom Disorder: A persistent preoccupation with physical symptoms that makes it hard to function normally
Illness Anxiety Disorder: The act of becoming anxious over the sheer idea of becoming sick or having an undiagnosed medical condition.
Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder): Experiencing physical symptoms that lack a medical explanation.
Factitious Disorder: When a person internally creates or over exaggerates symptoms or fakes illnesses to gain attention or recognition. A commonly referenced severe form of factitious disorder is Munchausen Disorder.
These disorders can be complicated to diagnose and treat as the sufferer typically first takes their concerns to a medical doctor. It often takes multiple doctors visits to diagnose a person’s illness as somatic related disorders. Usually, these disorders are indicative of a deeper condition that can stem from various traumatic events or stressors.
Once diagnosed a therapist will be able to help a person that has these disorders with extensive therapy and at times medication to help curb the feelings of anxiety and depression that typically accompany these disorders.
If you’re a caregiver of someone with a somatic disorder being patient and caring are incredibly essential skills to have.
The person you’re caring for will need a strong, consistent person in their corner to help them through the diagnosis and treatment process. As a caregiver utilizing therapy may be an excellent resource for your too. Having the ability to talk to a licensed professional about your stressors and concerns may make it easier for you to handle the burden of taking care of someone with a somatic disorder.
Dr. Amy Rosenberg is a LGBTQ and life transitions counselor Syosset, who provides individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy for individuals across the adult lifespan, ranging from young adults to geriatrics.