Do you become excessively afraid of even the slightest physical discomfort? This is called Somatic Symptom Disorder!

Do you sometimes feel that you are worrying too much about minor physical problems, perhaps just a headache, a sore throat, or even a little fatigue? Maybe you go to a doctor and get tests done, but you still find it hard to accept it? If so, it may be very important for you to learn about the mental health condition that we are going to talk about today, that is , Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) .

What exactly is Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Simply put, Somatic Symptom Disorder is a mental health condition in which a person is intensely preoccupied with their physical symptoms and thinks, feels, and behaves in unusual ways in response to those symptoms. This condition can interfere with their ability to function and enjoy life.

Imagine this. You have a slight stomach ache. A normal person would check to see if the food was digested or if it was gastritis . But someone with (SSD) may be very afraid of this slight stomach ache , thinking, “Oh, I don’t know if I have something serious, maybe even cancer?” Sometimes these symptoms may have no medical explanation, or they may be normal bodily sensations or minor discomforts. Sometimes, even if there is actually a medical condition, what we see here is that the anxiety is much greater than the symptoms.

Many people with SSD are unaware that they have an underlying mental health problem. They believe they have a serious physical illness. This excessive anxiety leads them to visit doctors frequently and even undergo unnecessary medical tests and treatments.

What is the difference between (Somatic Symptom Disorder) and (Illness Anxiety Disorder)?

Now you might be thinking, “So this is like being constantly afraid of getting sick?” It’s a little different. Illness Anxiety Disorder is also a mental health condition. It’s when a person is excessively worried and afraid that they have or will get sick. However, unlike Somatic Symptom Disorder, people with Illness Anxiety Disorder usually don’t experience any physical symptoms or have very few. Their main problem is the fear of getting sick.

So what is Conversion Disorder? What is the difference between it and SSD?

Conversion Disorder, also known as `functional neurological symptom disorder`, is a condition in which the nervous system does not have a specific physical or neurological cause. This can affect your senses, movements, and other things.

People with Conversion Disorder also experience stress and anxiety , but excessive worry and preoccupation with physical symptoms are not part of the diagnosis of Conversion Disorder. However, in Somatic Symptom Disorder, excessive worry about physical symptoms is the main part of the diagnosis. Do you understand the difference?

Who is most affected by this condition (Somatic Symptom Disorder)?

This condition, called Somatic Symptom Disorder, can affect anyone, from young children to adults. However, it most often begins around the age of 30.

Another thing is that this condition is reported to be about ten times more common among women .

How common is this condition?

Somatic Symptom Disorder is a fairly common condition. It is estimated that between 5% and 7% of the adult population may have this condition.

What are the symptoms of Somatic Symptom Disorder?

There are several physical symptoms that a person with (SSD) may experience. They are:

• Pain (this is the most commonly reported symptom. It can be anything from a headache to a stomachache to a body ache)
• Fatigue or weakness
• Difficulty breathing (doctors also call this ``dyspnea'')

These physical symptoms can be mild or severe. One or more symptoms may occur at the same time. There may be a medical reason for this, or there may be no obvious cause.

However, the main characteristics of Somatic Symptom Disorder are the way people think, feel, and behave in response to these physical symptoms. People with SSD may do things like:

• Feeling extremely anxious about their physical symptoms.
• Even with a minor physical symptom, there is fear, "I don't know if this is a sign of a serious illness."
• They went to one doctor after another, underwent many tests, and even though the results told them they were not sick, they still didn't believe them.
• Feeling that doctors are not paying enough attention to their symptoms.
• Switching from one doctor to another, or receiving treatment from several doctors at the same time.
• Spending too much time and energy thinking about your health problems and finding solutions to them.
• Often showing unusual sensitivity to the side effects of medications .
• Starting to depend on others, asking for help and emotional support, and getting angry when their needs are not met.
• Having difficulty carrying out daily activities due to thoughts, feelings, and behaviors about their physical symptoms.

Approximately 30% to 60% of people with Somatic Symptom Disorder may also have co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and/or depression .

What are the causes of Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what causes SSD, but they believe that a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors may contribute to it. Some of these include:

• Being physically or sexually abused as a child.
• Lack of proper understanding and development of one's own feelings and emotions during childhood. This can be influenced by factors such as parental neglect and lack of emotional closeness.
• Excessive worry and attention to processes occurring in one's body and possible symptoms.

How do you know if you have Somatic Symptom Disorder?

When you describe your symptoms, your doctor will first do a physical exam, possibly doing blood tests and urine tests to see if there are other conditions that could be causing your physical symptoms. They will also ask about your health history.

If these test results confirm that you do not have a medical illness or condition, or that the condition you have does not match the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may refer you to a mental health counselor , such as a psychologist or psychiatrist .

A psychologist or psychiatrist uses specific criteria to confirm whether you have Somatic Symptom Disorder.

To be diagnosed with this disorder, a person must have one or more symptoms that interfere with daily life and cause distress for at least six months . They must also display excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors in response to those symptoms. They must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Having excessive, prolonged thoughts about the severity of physical symptoms.
• Having a persistently high level of anxiety about health or physical symptoms.
• Focusing excessive time and energy on physical symptoms and health problems.

People with Somatic Symptom Disorder may find it difficult to accept that their anxiety is excessive.

What are the treatments for this?

The main goal of treating Somatic Symptom Disorder is to manage physical symptoms, as well as mental symptoms, using psychotherapy (i.e. talk therapy) and sometimes medication for the underlying anxiety and depression.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT ) is a type of psychotherapy that helps people learn how to change their thinking or behavior patterns, thereby changing the way they feel. Under the guidance of a psychologist or psychiatrist, CBT can help people cope with anxiety and stress and respond more effectively to different situations.

If you have Somatic Symptom Disorder, CBT can help you with things like:

• Evaluate your feelings and beliefs about your physical symptoms and health in general.
• Find ways to reduce stress and anxiety about your symptoms.
• Stop focusing too much on your physical symptoms.
• Identify what makes your physical symptoms worse.
• Even if you have pain or other symptoms, find ways to stay active and social.
• Go about your daily routine well.

Your doctor may also prescribe medications such as antidepressants . In addition to improving mood, these medications have been reported to help relieve symptoms such as pain, fatigue, joint pain, and sleep problems.

The important thing is that there is a treatment for this condition. With proper treatment, many people can recover from their symptoms.

What are the risk factors for developing Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Research has found that there are certain risk factors that can contribute to the development of Somatic Symptom Disorder. Some of them are:

• Having a history of paying excessive attention to bodily sensations.
• Having a substance use disorder.
• Having alcohol use problems (`Alcohol Use Disorder`).
• Being neglected as a child.
• Having a history of physical and sexual abuse .
• Having a chaotic lifestyle/experiencing traumatic events.
• Suffering from chronic illnesses during childhood.
• Having other mental health conditions, especially anxiety or depression .
• Having certain personality disorders, such as Avoidant Personality Disorder, Paranoid Personality Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCD).

For people who are prone to the condition (SSD), therapy can help them learn other ways to deal with stress and things that make their symptoms worse (triggers). This can help reduce the intensity of their symptoms.

What is the prognosis of Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Somatic Symptom Disorder is often a chronic (long-term) condition. Symptoms may appear at certain times, persist for months to years, and then subside again.

But if left untreated, Somatic Symptom Disorder can lead to the following conditions:

• Limitation of daily activities.
• Job loss or poor job performance.
• Becoming mentally disabled.
• Decreased quality of life.
• Problems with alcohol and drug use.

But the good news is that with treatment, many people can experience significant improvement or complete remission of their symptoms. So don't give up hope.

If I have (Somatic Symptom Disorder), how can I take care of myself?

If you have been diagnosed with Somatic Symptom Disorder, following these steps will definitely help with your treatment:

• Build a good, collaborative relationship with your primary healthcare provider, the doctor you see regularly.
• Keep the same primary care physician. This can help you avoid unnecessary tests and treatments.
• See your doctor to talk about your physical symptoms and how you're coping with them.
• See your mental health professional/psychiatrist to manage and monitor your mental symptoms, such as excessive anxiety and fear.

When should I see my doctor about Somatic Symptom Disorder?

It is very important to see your primary care physician and/or mental health professional/ psychiatrist about these issues:

• If you feel so overwhelmed by your physical symptoms that you can't even do your daily tasks .
• If you have symptoms of anxiety or depression (such as feeling constantly down, sad, lacking interest in anything, or having trouble sleeping).

The most important thing to remember is that Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) is a mental health condition. As with all mental health conditions, seeking help as soon as symptoms begin to appear can help reduce the disruption to your life. Mental health professionals can provide treatment plans to help you manage your thoughts and behaviors.

Take-Home Message

Okay, so now you have a better understanding of what we've been talking about (Somatic Symptom Disorder). Remember, if you're constantly worrying about your physical problems, and your mind doesn't accept them even when doctors say "nothing is wrong," don't just dismiss it as "just a mental phobia." It could be (SSD).

This is not your fault, this is a treatable condition. Getting the right help is the most important thing. You don't have to struggle with this alone. Talk to a trusted doctor or psychiatrist. They will help you. You can definitely live a relaxed and happy life again!