When the body speaks what words can’t

 

Sometimes emotional distress shows up in the body. You might be dealing with chronic pain, fatigue, tension, digestive issues, or other symptoms that don’t have a clear medical explanation—or where medical treatment has helped only partially.

 

This can be frustrating, isolating, and at times confusing. It’s not “all in your head”—but unprocessed emotional conflict can show up through the body when it has no other outlet.

 

Therapy can help uncover the underlying emotional patterns behind physical symptoms, so your body no longer has to carry the weight alone.

 

 

Common psychosomatic symptoms

 

• Chronic muscle tension, headaches, or pain

• Gastrointestinal symptoms (IBS, nausea, etc.)

• Dizziness, fatigue or feeling physically “shut down”

• Shortness of breath or chest tightness

• Unexplained medical symptoms with no clear cause

• Flare-ups during periods of emotional stress

 

 

How ISTDP can help with psychosomatic symptoms

 

In Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), we work to uncover how unconscious emotional conflicts and past experiences may be held in the body. These conflicts can lead to real, physical symptoms—even when we’re not consciously aware of the underlying feelings.

 

Rather than focusing only on symptom management, ISTDP offers a path to get to the emotional root. Together, we can begin to process what’s been held in—often for a long time—with care, clarity, and respect for your pace.

 

This kind of work can be particularly helpful if you’ve tried other routes and still feel stuck or misunderstood.

 

 

This therapy may support you to:

 

• Understand the link between emotional stress and physical symptoms

• Reduce symptom intensity and frequency

• Increase emotional awareness and expression

• Feel more connected to your body in a safe and grounded way

• Develop a greater sense of emotional and physical freedom

 

 

In-person or online therapy available

 

I offer therapy for psychosomatic symptoms from my office in Nottingham, as well as online for clients across the UK and internationally. Whether you’re just beginning to explore this connection, or you’ve been searching for answers for a long time, you’re welcome here.

 

 

Let’s take the next step

 

If you’re living with physical symptoms that might have emotional roots, therapy can offer a way forward.

 

Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to ask a question or arrange a session—I’d be glad to hear from you.

 

Contact me here to enquire.