Psychosomatic disease is not “all in the mind”. Instead, psychosomatic (psycho = mind & soma = body) diseases are real, diagnosable, and physical (J. S. Greenberg, 2017). The root of psychosomatic illness stem from the mind making the body more vulnerable.
So, for example, the common cold is considered a psychosomatic disease. Psychological stress decreases the effectiveness of our immune system to fight viruses, making us more vulnerable to the common cold.
But the mind’s effect on the body goes much further than making us susceptible to the common cold.
How the Mind Affects the Body
Mental issues, such as stress, not only lowers our defense against viruses but also increases inflammation and decreases the immune system’s elimination of waste and cancer cells. Thus it is suspected that many physical diseases, such as asthma, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis, could have been caused by emotional stressors, although there are other causes and gene disposition that contribute as well (J. S. Greenberg, 2017).
Thus, when working with someone with a psychosomatic disease, as well as any chronic disease which also are shown to be partially caused by our mind (stressors, emotions, grief, etc) consider addressing their psychological and emotional stressors. These can be key contributors in the causation of their disease and symptoms and a factor in regaining health.
Reference: J. S. Greenberg (2017), Comprehensive Stress Management. McGraw-Hill Education, NY, NY