Psychosomatic symptoms are real bodily manifestations linked to psychological state. This doesn't mean the symptom is 'not real' — it means part of its cause lies in the realm of psychological strain.
Chronic stress keeps the body in a state of constant mobilisation: increased muscle tension, digestive disturbances, changes in heart rhythm, disrupted sleep. When this mobilisation continues for weeks or months without release, persistent bodily symptoms emerge — tension headaches, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, back and neck pain.
A psychosomatic approach never replaces medical evaluation. Before linking a symptom to psychological causes, organic pathology must be ruled out by an appropriate medical specialist. Psychological work is applied alongside medical care, or once organic causes have been excluded and symptoms persist.
The cognitive model explains this through the persistent activation of the physiological stress response in reaction to anxious thoughts, even when no real threat exists. The body does not distinguish "imagined" from "real" danger with equal precision — it responds to the brain's interpretation of the situation.
The CBT approach to psychosomatics combines work with anxious thinking, techniques for regulating physiological arousal, and the gradual restoration of healthy sleep, eating, and activity patterns. The goal is not to "heal the body with words", but to reduce the chronic load on the nervous system that sustains the symptoms.
I offer online consultations within the CBT approach. The first session is about understanding your request — no pressure, no obligations.
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