What is a Psychosomatic Illness?

Psychosomatic symptoms are real physical issues that are influenced or triggered by emotional and psychological factors. The body and mind are intimately connected: stress, unresolved trauma, anxiety, or repressed emotions can manifest as bodily symptoms. 

You are not just imagining things.

The Science: How Emotions Influence the Body

Multiple studies in neuroscience and psychoneuroimmunology have shown strong links between the brain, the nervous system, and the immune response.

Here are a few key scientific findings:

• The Stress Response: Chronic stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, releasing cortisol. Over time, elevated cortisol levels can lead to inflammation, lowered immunity, and heightened sensitivity to pain—contributing to disorders like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and tension headaches.

• Neurotransmitters & Mood: Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine affect both mood and bodily functions, including digestion, muscle tension, and cardiovascular activity. This explains why anxiety and depression often come with physical symptoms.

• Brain Imaging Studies: Functional MRI (fMRI) studies have shown that brain regions involved in emotional processing (like the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex) are also active when patients report physical pain—even without injury.

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Research shows that individuals with high ACE scores are more prone to chronic illness later in life, reinforcing the idea that early emotional trauma can set the stage for lifelong physical issues.

Mind Over Matter?

While traditional treatments like therapy and medication remain important, hypnosis is gaining recognition as a powerful tool for addressing psychosomatic issues.

Scientific Evidence Supporting Hypnosis

• IBS Treatment: A meta-analysis published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology found gut-directed hypnotherapy to be highly effective for IBS, with symptom improvement rates over 70%—even years after treatment.

• Chronic Pain: The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis reports that hypnosis can significantly reduce chronic pain intensity, especially in conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, and lower back pain.

• Anxiety and Somatization: Hypnosis helps patients uncover and process suppressed emotions, making it especially helpful for those with psychosomatic symptoms rooted in anxiety, trauma, or repressed anger.

Psychosomatic illness is not about pretending to be sick—it’s about recognizing that the mind and body are deeply intertwined. If you're facing persistent physical symptoms that don’t respond to conventional treatments, it might be time to explore subconscious and emotional roots.