What is somatisation?

Somatisation is a term used in the field of medicine, more specifically in psychology, which refers to the conversion of emotional problems into physical symptoms, i.e. in relation to the body.

In other words, a person somatises when they express psychological discomfort through their body, the symptoms being expressed physically and recurrently. It is the result of the connection between body and mind in a person.

If you are interested in the world of the human mind, its afflictions and how to solve them, the Psychology degree at Universidad Europea in Madrid, or the Degree in Psychology in Valencia could be options you can consider.

Definition of somatisation?

Somatisation is the presence of a physical symptom that cannot be explained by a medical diagnosis. It is the presence of symptom that the patient claims not to be a physical or mental illness. This condition is also known as psychosomatisation.

In short, somatisation is the set of physical symptoms (produced in the body) that cannot be explained medically and that are produced by a psychological discomfort in the person.

In this case, the individual is aware of the symptoms they are suffering from but are not aware that they are caused by a psychological issue.

Symptoms of somatisation

There are many symptoms that an individual may notice and that may fit in with somatisation. The most frequent ones are listed below:

• Dermatological symptoms: intense sweating, urticaria etc.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms: intolerances in the abdomen, pain in the abdomen or stomach, ulcers, etc.
• Sexual symptoms: loss of sexual appetite, erectile dysfunction, etc.
• Cardiac symptoms: dizziness or tachycardia.
• Respiratory symptoms: shortness of breath, hyperventilation, etc.
• Neural symptoms: headaches, tics, fainting, muscle pains, etc.

Causes of somatisation

There are many people who may somatise, but the individuals most likely to somatise are those who have experienced at some point in their lives situations or worries that they have not been able to cope with. Also, there are more cases in lower economic social classes and a higher percentage in women than in men.

When somatisation occurs, the body tells us that "something is not right" and gives us signals through these conditions indicating that there is some psychological discomfort.

The main cause of somatisation is the repression of emotions. It is counterproductive not to express what you feel, even if you are not used to it, because in the end they end up coming out, even if you do not want them to, and therefore they are expressed through somatisation in the human body.

Somatisation can also be caused by individual factors such as anxiety, stress, depression or by the influence of social or cultural factors among others.

The process of somatisation in psychology is a subject with many varieties and with a certain complexity, therefore, it is essential to understand its causes, types and the relationship it has with the emotions of the person to be able to identify it and address it in the best possible way.  The Degree in Psychology and many others is one of the Biomedicine and Health Degrees that you can choose from at Universidad Europea.