Psychosomatic pain is real. It can be caused by life stressors or mental health conditions. Effective treatments, like therapy and stress management strategies, can help.

For many people, the term psychosomatic conjures up something “imaginary” or made up.

But psychosomatic pain is very real to the person experiencing it. In other words, they are not “faking it” or manufacturing symptoms (known as factitious disorder). They’re experiencing real, sometimes debilitating, physical symptoms due to a psychological cause.

Treatments, such as therapy and medication, can help you manage the pain and treat the underlying psychological cause.

Psychosomatic pain is when your mind causes real, physical pain. “Psyche” refers to the mind, while “soma” refers to the body.

Unlike hypochondria, in which you have a fear of getting sick and believe any small symptom is due to a physical illness.

Often, however, a doctor can find no underlying physical cause for your symptoms.

The link to somatic symptom disorder

Somatic symptom disorder is a condition in which one or more physical symptoms, such as pain, are accompanied by excessive thoughts, emotions, or behaviors related to the symptom. This can be distressing and often impairs functioning.

The symptoms may or may not be explained fully by a medical condition. Other common somatic symptoms include:

  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • weakness
  • insomnia

Many people experience these types of symptoms at one time or another, but somatic symptom disorder can have a serious effect on 4% to 20% of the population.

In addition to physical pain — the “soma” part of the condition — the psychological part can result in significant emotional and physical distress.

You may:

  • constantly worry about potential illness
  • continuously search for treatment
  • seek treatment from more than one doctor at the same time
  • have doubts about the adequacy of a medical diagnosis or treatment
  • be unresponsive to treatment or sensitive to adverse effects of treatment

Examples of psychosomatic pain

Everyone’s experience of psychosomatic pain is different, and the level and type of pain varies.

Your feelings of pain may range from mild to severe and occur anywhere in the body. For example, you may have:

  • a headache
  • a stomachache
  • abdominal pain
  • back pain
  • pain in the arms and legs
  • general “aches and pains”

Researchers believe psychosomatic symptoms may be an expression of untreated mental or emotional pain related to certain life experiences. These may include:

  • physical or emotional trauma
  • important life events or stressors
  • serious loss or grief
  • profound personal injury
  • anxiety, stress, or depression
  • mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder

For example, if you live with depression, you may often experience physical symptoms, such as:

  • headaches
  • stomachaches
  • general aches and pains

These psychosomatic symptoms are likely due to the depression rather than a physical cause or medical condition.

When it comes to your overall health, psychosomatic symptoms are just as important to address as physical symptoms. They can also lead to other physical health problems.

If you’re experiencing pain with no known cause, talk with your doctor. They can help you get to the root of the problem to get an accurate diagnosis and find the best treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Research from 2023 suggests cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy, can be effective in treating psychosomatic symptoms. It’s also been shown to help improve daily functioning and reduce depressive symptoms.

CBT can help you:

  • cope with the pain and other symptoms
  • recognize what makes the pain worse
  • focus less on your symptoms
  • reduce stress and anxiety about symptoms
  • stay active and social, even if you still have some pain

Medication

If therapy alone is not effective, your doctor may also recommend medication to treat accompanying symptoms like anxiety or depression.

These may include antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Your doctor will likely start you on a low dose and increase the dosage as needed to help prevent any side effects.

Stress management

Pain and stress often go hand in hand. Relaxation techniques can help psychosomatic pain by reducing levels of stress, which can exacerbate symptoms. They can also help reduce other symptoms like depression and anxiety.

Depending on the type and severity of your pain, you may need to experiment with a few things to see what works best for you and what you can tolerate.

Some things to try:

  • Deep breathing or belly breathing: taking long, slow, deep breaths to help distract your mind from negative thoughts or sensations
  • Guided imagery: conjuring up soothing places or experiences in your mind to help you relax
  • Mindfulness meditation: focusing on your breathing to help bring your attention to the present moment
  • Yoga or tai chi: combining rhythmic breathing with flowing movements
  • Repetitive prayer: silently repeating a short prayer or phrase while focusing on the breath

Psychosomatic pain is real, physical pain that has a psychological cause. It may be due to things like:

  • physical or emotional trauma
  • major life stressors
  • mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression

There are several ways to treat psychosomatic pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressant medication, and relaxation techniques can help you manage your pain and reduce accompanying psychological symptoms.

If you need help locating support, Psych Central’s How to Find Mental Health Support resource can help you find a therapist near you.