psychosomatic

14 7.7

A physical symptom, like a headache, that stress or strong feelings cause

adjective
/ˌsaɪkoʊsəˈmætɪk/

Specialized

: psicosomático

He learned that many of his headaches were actually psychosomatic, caused by anxiety about work deadlines.

And he stopped doing it because he said most back pain is, I don't want to say it's psychosomatic because the pain is real.

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Examples

After conducting tests, the doctor concluded that her chronic pain was psychosomatic, stemming from her unresolved stress.
The doctors had told her that she was fine, that her ills were psychosomatic.

Academic text (2002)
To be honest, I think what we have here is a clear case of some psychosomatic disorder.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Home situation and type of school were less strongly related to psychosomatic complaints.

Academic text (2004)
He said it was a psychosomatic reaction.
To decrease the anxiety that results in psychosomatic symptoms, stress management groups for men and women have been developed.

Academic text (1990)
Some of the women appear to suffer from psychosomatic illnesses.

Academic text (1997)
His paralysis is entirely psychosomatic.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
If these negative effects cannot be prevented, the mental health of the students will deteriorate, or psychosomatic disorders can occur.

Academic text (2010)
Um, Roslyn, if the gynecologists have told you that there's no physical reason for you not to be able to conceive a child, then the problem is most likely psychosomatic-- in your mind.

Psych:9 (2010)

Synonyms

psychogenic

vspsychosomatic

Specialized

4 9.3

Happening because of the mind or feelings rather than the body

includes cases where mental factors worsen physical illness rather than only cause it

psychogenetic

vspsychosomatic

Specialized

1 9.9

Caused by the mind or emotions, not by the body

focuses on present physical symptoms caused or worsened by mental factors

Compounds

psychosomatic disorder

Specialized

1 6.6

Physical symptoms caused by stress or strong emotions without a clear medical cause

How Psychological

psychosomatic

Specialized

14 7.7

psychological

543 4.5

physiological

Specialized

45 5.3

Surface Forms

psychosomatic positive

Morphology

psychosomatic = somatic (semi-transparent) = psycho + soma + ic

The word is formed by adding psycho- to somatic, but the resulting medical sense is somewhat specialized and not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

The word psychosomatic comes from two Greek parts: psyche 'mind', as in psychology, and soma 'body'. So a psychosomatic illness is one where the mind affects the body, which is why stress can cause real physical symptoms.