Have you ever had a headache so persistent that no painkiller could touch it? Or stomach issues that seemed to flare up only when life felt overwhelming? What if I told you that these physical symptoms might not be just about your body—but about your mind, too?
What Are Psychosomatic Illnesses?
Psychosomatic illnesses are physical conditions deeply intertwined with our emotions and psychological state. They are real, tangible, and sometimes debilitating—but their roots often lie in unresolved emotional stress rather than a clear medical cause. Think of them as signals, like flashing warning lights, trying to communicate something we’ve buried too deep.
Some common examples include:
- Migraines
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Chronic pain disorders
- Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne
- Tinnitus
- Arthritis
- Sexual dysfunctions like erectile dysfunction or anorgasmia
Take migraines, for example. I used to suffer from debilitating migraines that left me incapacitated for hours. No medication helped, and doctors couldn’t pinpoint a clear cause. Then I started to notice a pattern - they always struck when I was overwhelmed or suppressing emotions. Was my body forcing me to slow down? Was it demanding that I face something I refused to acknowledge? When I began addressing my emotional stress, the migraines became less frequent, as if my body no longer needed to scream for attention.
The Mind-Body Connection: More Than Just a Metaphor
For centuries, we treated the mind and body as separate entities - two distinct systems functioning independently. But modern science suggests otherwise. Imagine a lightning strike: the flash of light and the electrical charge are different aspects of the same event. The same goes for our emotions and our physical health. When we suppress emotional pain instead of processing it, our bodies often take the hit.
Ever noticed how stress can manifest as tight shoulders? Or how heartbreak can feel like an actual ache in your chest? These aren’t coincidences - they’re the body’s language, speaking in symptoms when words fail us.
Emotions: The Flow of Life
The word “emotion” comes from the Latin emovere - meaning to move out. Emotions are meant to flow, like a river. But what happens when we block that flow? When we bottle up anger, deny sadness, or dismiss anxiety? The current doesn’t just stop - it finds another way. Often, that “way” is through physical symptoms: migraines, digestive issues, insomnia, and chronic pain.
I once knew someone who suffered from persistent stomach issues. She tried every diet, every medication, yet nothing worked. It wasn’t until she acknowledged the childhood trauma she had ignored for years that her symptoms began to ease. Her body had been screaming for her attention all along.
Trauma: The Stones in the River
Research shows that people with psychosomatic illnesses often struggle to put their emotions into words. It’s not that they don’t feel - it’s that their pain is locked inside, trapped beneath layers of unprocessed trauma. Studies reveal that trauma activates the emotional centers of the brain while shutting down areas responsible for logical thinking and speech. In simpler terms? The body remembers what the mind tries to forget.
Trauma creates “stones” in our emotional river, obstructing the natural flow. When escape isn’t an option, we freeze, store those feelings in our muscles, our gut, our skin. And without intervention, those blockages remain, sometimes for years.
Therapy: Observing and Redirecting the Flow
So how do we clear the river? How do we reconnect with the emotions we’ve long avoided? Therapy offers a way in. Techniques like mindfulness, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), psychodrama, and even movement-based therapies like dance and yoga help individuals reconnect with their bodies.
Healing begins with awareness. It’s about sitting with our emotions, observing them without judgment, and eventually, giving them a voice. When we translate physical pain into words—when we ask, What is my body trying to tell me?—we begin the process of healing. It’s not about erasing the past but integrating it, turning pain into wisdom, and finding new ways to let our inner river flow freely once more.
So, the next time your body speaks in aches, fatigue, or discomfort, pause. Listen. What might it be trying to say?
Written by Alice Bertoldo, Fung Tsoi Lam Christel and Amanda Prudencio Rebeschini