Undoubtedly, many people have heard that our emotions affect our health. Sustained mental health and a positive attitude help us avoid colds and various diseases. There are complex connections between the body and the brain, and any emotion affects the functioning of all organs, from the heart to the skin and bones. This mind-body connection is at the core of psychosomatics, where negative emotions such as anger, irritation, jealousy, or envy trigger signals from the brain that impact our physical health. When we experience negative emotions regularly, it alters our metabolism, leading to a decline in well-being, lowered immunity, and increased risk of disease.
Attention to our health consists not only of the emotions we feel, but also in regular visits to the doctor in case of physical discomfort.
Speaking of psychosomatics, common psychosomatic symptoms are:
- Feeling of trembling.
- Increased sweating.
- Nausea.
- Dryness of the mouth.
- Migraines.
- Spasms of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Rapid breathing.
- Tachycardia.
High activity of the nerve impulses that the brain transmits to these organs, as well as the release of adrenaline into the blood are responsible for the above symptoms.
Psychosomatics of chronic stress and its impact on health and immunity
An increase in cortisol levels, as with acute stress, occurs with chronic stress. This hormone is also produced by the adrenal glands, but it acts a little later than adrenaline. Neuroendocrine signals from the brain affect its synthesis.

Prolonged elevation of cortisol concentrations in the blood increases the risk of:
- of infectious diseases and cancer;
- gastrointestinal problems;
- cardiovascular disease;
- anxiety and depression.
It is this steroid hormone that plays an important role in the suppression of immunity during prolonged exposure to a stressor. During the first five minutes, the immune system, on the contrary, is activated. Then, by nature’s design, it declines to a normal state. But immunosuppression reaches prohibitive levels when a person is under stress, which can significantly impair the body’s ability to resist infections and fight mutated cells.
Chronic stress and prolonged cortisol elevation can also contribute to the development of psychosomatic disorders, where psychological stress manifests as physical symptoms in the body.
Psychosomatics: disorders
Psychosomatic disorders are already more serious and persistent deviations and are divided into several subgroups:
Conversion syndromes – represent a projection of mental reality onto the body area. They are symbolic in nature and can be interpreted as an attempt to resolve a conflict situation. Affects the senses and voluntary motor skills. This may include loss of sensation, hysterical paralysis, etc.
Functional syndromes – are physiologic results of emotional feelings. The respiratory, motor, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and genitourinary systems are affected. Most of them are functional disorders of individual organs.
Psychosomatoses – suggest psychosomatic diseases in a broader sense; pronounced bodily reactions to prolonged conflicting circumstances. Can be protracted and even incurable. These include infectious diseases, cancer, coronary heart disease and others, as well as the “classic seven” diseases.
The “Classic Seven” of psychosomatics
Specialists distinguish the “classic seven” of psychosomatic diseases. It includes:
- bronchial asthma,
- thyrotoxicosis,
- ulcers,
- neurodermatitis,
- hypertension,
- rheumatoid arthritis,
- ulcerative colitis.
This, however, is not a complete list of diseases that have psychosomatics at their core. There are over a hundred such conditions, including inflammatory diseases, problems with the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, stomach and intestinal diseases, problems with other internal organs, bone and skin diseases, cancers, insomnia, and even substance abuse.

Only an experienced practitioner can determine that an illness is related to a patient’s mental state and determine an appropriate course of treatment. In such cases, healing the body is not enough, as the underlying cause of the disease is in the brain and cannot be eliminated by other methods.
How are psychosomatic disorders diagnosed?
Patients with psychosomatic disorders may see doctors in any specialty. Some have shortness of breath and palpitations, some have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and some have pain syndromes.
The main diagnostic criterion – examination, often repeatedly – does not reveal any signs of organic disease. It is this fact that should lead to the idea of the need for consultation with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
The basis of diagnosis is a conversation with the patient. Just on the basis of how the patient presents complaints, it is possible to think about the presence of psychosomatic disorders. If the doctor has enough time to clarify the circumstances associated with the onset or exacerbation of the disease, if he finds careful words to clarify psychologically traumatic situations, the picture of the disease will begin to emerge. The dissociation between complaints and the absence of organic pathology is an important argument in favor of “psychosomatics”.
Psychosomatics in psychiatric treatment
Treatment of any psychiatric disorders and diseases requires an individualized comprehensive approach. Currently, such illnesses are treated with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, as well as physical therapy and other preventive and relapse prevention methods. Instead of focusing on one system or organ in the patient’s body, treatment should focus on the patient’s personality as a whole. In addition, treatment should be carried out by several physicians: a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a somatic physician.

Helpful tips for managing stress and understanding psychosomatics
Here are some tips to help you cope with overload and stress.
- Limit negative information flow. Try not to let the TV run in the background. It is better to turn on music or your favorite movies in a recording.
- Separate your work time from your leisure time. Have two phone numbers for home and business calls, and turn off your work cell phone at home, on weekends, and on vacation.
- Think back to the most difficult event in your life. Everything else may not be worth the worry and stress.
- The best way to deal with accumulated fatigue and irritation is physical activity.
And lastly, if you feel you can’t cope with the situation, don’t hesitate to contact mental health professionals and psychotherapists.
Remember, psychosomatics can play a significant role in how stress manifests in your body, so addressing both mental and physical health is essential.
Conclusion
We should always take care of our psyche, reactions and emotions. Modern life often makes us experience negative emotions, anxiety, fear, suffering or even aggression. We should try to minimize their influence on our personality. In this way, our lives will become more joyful and our well-being and health will improve.