What are somatic symptoms disorders?

Somatic symptom disorder is diagnosed when a person has a significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath, to a level that results in major distress and/or problems functioning. The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings and behaviors relating to the physical symptoms.

What are examples of somatic complaints?

Somatic symptom disorder symptoms include:

• Pain.
• Neurological symptoms such as headaches, movement disorders, weakness, dizziness, fainting.
• Digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain or bowel problems, diarrhea, incontinence, and constipation.
• Sexual symptoms such as pain during sexual activity or painful periods.

Can somatic disorders be cured?

Somatic symptom and related disorder treatment Although there is no known cure for somatoform disorders, they can be managed. Treatment focuses on helping the person who has the disorder to live as much of a normal life as possible. Even with treatment, he or she may still have some pain or other symptoms.

What are non somatic symptoms?

7.4. Depression and Somatic/Nonsomatic Symptomatology

Is there such a thing as somatic symptom disorder?

Overview Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by an extreme focus on physical symptoms — such as pain or fatigue — that causes major emotional distress and problems functioning. You may or may not have another diagnosed medical condition associated with these symptoms, but your reaction to the symptoms is not normal.

What is the difference between somatic symptom disorder and conversion disorder?

This condition was previously referred to as “hypochondriasis.” Unlike somatic symptom disorder, a person with illness anxiety disorder generally doesn’t experience symptoms. Conversion disorder is a condition in which symptoms affect a person’s perception, sensation or movement with no evidence of a physical cause.

Do you think somatic symptoms are fake or imaginary?

Somatic symptoms are not fake or imaginary. People experiencing somatization are not pretending to be sick for personal gain either—that is called malingering. Somatic symptoms may not have an observable cause, but the pain and distress are real. Individuals with this issue deserve as much compassion as those with a physical diagnosis.

Where to go for help with somatic symptom disorder?

People with somatic symptom disorder typically go to a primary care provider rather than psychiatrist or other mental health professional. Sometimes it can be difficult for individuals with somatic symptom disorder to understand that their concerns about their symptoms are excessive.