More and more people passing through doctors offices, mental health professionals, different specialists, and ending up meeting a wall called “Somatoform Disorder”. The term ‘Somatoform’ replaced the older description ‘Psychosomatic disorder’. And was first officially recognized in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980.

‘Somatoform’ is a definition which does not give people answers to what is really happening to them, so people don’t get answers that direct them to the right action plan that will get them out of it. It is a kind of a washed-up word, adopted by the medical communities, that is often used instead of simply saying “Well, we have no idea what’s going on”.

There is nothing more frustrating than the confusion of knowing something is wrong, but you can’t tell what it is, or even where to start in order to improve the situation. Even in the leading private institutions, the information given is that “Somatoform disorders are manifested by physical complaints for which no physical cause can be found.” But is it, really? Are they even looking in the right directions before making such a bold statement?

And the narrative continues with – “the term ‘Somatoform’ means symptoms that take shape (soma) at the body level. However, the cause of the symptoms is not found in the body.“

There are answers, and the answers aren’t illogical, surprising, or complicated – Toxins, Viral load, and Adrenaline.

There are tests in order to detect accumulation of toxins in our bodies, but those tests aren’t being offered as part of the public health system. The viral aspect started gaining traction recently, after the explosion of ‘Long Covid’ cases since the pandemic. Even more advanced neurotransmitters testing or gut analysis is mostly done privately. No one should compromise for answers which aren’t answers, and that’s where our personal responsibility is coming into play. 

There’s also the risk of being led to invest resources (time, money & energy) into ineffective directions. For example, talk therapy can be a burden for someone with already weakened nervous system. And although it can be helpful in some situations – psychotherapy cannot offer a direct solution for such cases. Compassion, support and understanding are all wonderful things, but the root causes must be understood and properly addressed.

Yes, of course that emotional traumas and life stressors have an influence on our physicality. But the way out from such situations is by working with a rich diet that is liver friendly, and with supplements that can help strengthen and detoxify the body. Rest and optimized energy management cannot be underestimated, as well as learning methods for internal regulation to keep a calm and regulated nervous system.

If psychotherapy is taking place, it must be done responsibly – Repeating and focusing on emotional hurts from the past can weaken the adrenals. Working on problem solving, as well as establishing regulation in the body and a sense of safety can be more relevant.

Do our thoughts, emotions and behaviors matter? Yes, to a great extent. But in most cases, it doesn’t start there. Exposure to toxins influences who we are and changes how we perceive and engage with the world. And while not impossible, it’s much harder to change that without addressing the central underlaying issues : Strengthening the liver, Improving adrenal function, and getting rid of toxicity. 

If someone hears a diagnosis that they have a ‘Somatoform disorder’, what they’ll find on the internet when looking it up would be along the lines of “Somatoform disorders are a set of psychological conditions where a person experiences bodily symptoms that cannot be accounted for by a medical or neurological diagnosis”. It’s not only disempowering, it is false information.

This kind of misinformation can even lead to doubts and disbelief among the support system of the  diagnosed individual, fueling ongoing conflicts that can make recovery slower and more difficult. It isn’t uncommon that families are torn apart by such misunderstandings, yet all of that could be avoided if the correct root causes would be in the center of attention, and all traces of the psychiatric theory will get off the table.

When someone is concerned about their symptoms – it ain’t preoccupation, it ain’t exaggeration, and it’s definitely not the problem. It is crucial to listen to the signs coming from our bodies. The body is programmed to alert us when something is wrong. Labeling someone with a mental health disorder for listening to their body is not just a mindfuck but a complete medical malpractice.

It goes even further, where those who were brave enough to look for the right answers, and are actively invested in their healing – are again labeled with mental issues. 

This has to change. And it will only change when no one will allow any grounds for this misleading theory.