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When Your Brain Throws a Tantrum: Understanding Psychosomatic Illness

Why Your Mind Might Be Turning Everyday Stress into Real Pain (and What You Can Do About It)

Alain Suppini
5 min readAug 6, 2024
Photo de Aarón Blanco Tejedor sur Unsplash

Ever wondered why that mysterious headache or persistent back pain just won’t go away, despite countless doctor visits and a medicine cabinet full of remedies? You might be experiencing what’s known as a psychosomatic illness — a physical condition caused or aggravated by your mental state. Yes, your brain can be that dramatic!

Psychosomatic illnesses blur the lines between mind and body, causing real, often debilitating symptoms without a clear medical explanation. While it might sound like a plot twist in a psychological thriller, this is a very real phenomenon affecting millions worldwide. Let’s dive into this fascinating and often misunderstood intersection of psychology and medicine.

The Psyche-Soma Connection: When Feelings Become Physical

Psychosomatic disorders occur when psychological stress manifests as physical symptoms. Commonly affected areas include the digestive system, skin, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal system. These disorders can make life extremely difficult, as sufferers often endure a vicious cycle of pain, anxiety, and…

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Alain Suppini
Alain Suppini

Written by Alain Suppini

Anesthesiologist and Intensive Care Physician passionate about Holistic Medicine and Well-Being.

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