Do you recognize these symptoms?
Do you have physical complaints for which there seems to be no clear explanation? Or do you notice that stress, tension, or emotional burden influence how you feel? Psychosomatic complaints are physical symptoms where the body and mind influence each other.
These complaints are real and can have a significant impact on daily life.
Common psychosomatic complaints include:
- Persistent fatigue
- Headaches or pressure in the head
- Neck, shoulder, or back complaints
- Muscle pain or tense muscles
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath or a feeling of agitation
- Sleep problems
- Concentration problems
- Restlessness or irritability
You may notice that your body constantly gives off signals, while taking rest does not seem to help enough. Or you feel continuously tired, tense, or overloaded without knowing exactly why. Many people with psychosomatic complaints experience frustration because they feel their symptoms are not properly understood. Uncertainty about the cause can also create additional tension.
What do these complaints mean in daily life?
Psychosomatic complaints can affect almost all aspects of daily life.
At work, you may notice that:
- Concentrating requires more effort
- You become fatigued more quickly
- Work pressure feels heavier
- You have less energy for your tasks
Within the family, complaints can lead to:
- Less energy for social activities
- Reacting more irritably
- Less patience
- Difficulty finding balance
Hobbies and relaxation can also come under pressure. Some people stop exercising, meet with friends less often, or have difficulty truly unwinding. Additionally, sleep problems and fatigue can prevent the body from recovering sufficiently, which can create a vicious cycle.
Possible causes
Psychosomatic complaints often have no single, clear cause. Usually, multiple factors play a role simultaneously.
Possible factors include:
- Long-term stress
- High work pressure
- Emotional burden
- Tensions in private or work situations
- Perfectionism
- Lack of recovery moments
- Prolonged fatigue
- Significant life events
- Insufficient balance between exertion and relaxation
For many people, a situation arises where the body gives signals over a long period that the load is greater than the capacity to cope. Psychosomatic complaints do not mean that symptoms are “all in your head.” The physical complaints are actually present. However, there can be an interaction between physical, mental, and emotional factors.
What can I do myself?
There are several steps you can take yourself:
- Take physical signals seriously.
- Consciously plan rest moments throughout the day.
- Ensure sufficient sleep and recovery.
- Continue to move regularly within your capabilities.
- Look critically at sources of stress in your daily life.
- Practice relaxation, for example through breathing exercises or walking.
- Discuss concerns and tensions with people you trust.
The most important thing is often not to ignore complaints, but to learn to better recognize which factors may be influencing your well-being.
How can Leonardus provide support?
At Energetic Center Leonardus, we look at the person as a whole. With psychosomatic complaints, it is often valuable to include both physical and mental factors.
Depending on your situation, support may consist of:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can help to gain insight into:
- Posture and movement
- Muscle tension
- Breathing
- Load capacity
- The relationship between physical complaints and daily load
Energy Therapy
Energetic therapy can offer support with:
- Relaxation
- Awareness of tension patterns
- Increasing body awareness
- Finding a better balance between exertion and recovery
Combination of both
For many people with psychosomatic complaints, a combination of physiotherapy and energetic therapy may be appropriate. This looks at both physical and mental load and their influence on daily functioning.
The guidance is always tailored to your personal situation.
Why do people choose Leonardus?
People choose Leonardus because we:
- Look at the big picture
- Take time for personal attention
- Do not see body and mind as separate entities
- Work with an individual approach
- Offer possibilities for combined guidance
- Have an eye for both complaints and underlying factors
We believe that every situation is unique and therefore deserves a customized approach.
What does a treatment process look like?
Introduction and intake
We will discuss your symptoms, daily activities, health history, and expectations.
Discussion of symptoms and goals
Together, we will identify what is hindering you and the goals you wish to achieve.
Investigation of potential causes
We examine factors such as movement, physical load, lifestyle, recovery, and potential sources of tension.
Personalized treatment plan
Based on the intake, we will create a treatment plan that aligns with your specific situation.
Progress evaluation
We will regularly review your progress together and determine if any adjustments are required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Psychosomatic complaints are physical symptoms where physical, mental, and emotional factors influence each other. Examples include fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, dizziness, or tension-related complaints. The symptoms are real and can have a major impact on daily functioning. Often, multiple factors play a role at the same time, which is why a broader approach can be valuable.
Not entirely. Stress can be a major factor in psychosomatic complaints, but it is usually not the only cause. Lifestyle, recovery, emotions, work pressure, and physical load can also have an influence. Therefore, we often look at the big picture rather than one individual cause.
Yes, many people experience physical complaints such as neck pain, shoulder pain, back complaints, muscle pain, or headaches. Fatigue, dizziness, and sleep problems also occur regularly. These complaints are not imagined but are actually felt. There is often an interaction between body and mind.
That is not always easy to determine. When physical complaints are present for a long time and factors such as stress, tension, fatigue, or emotional burden seem to play a role, they may be psychosomatic complaints. A professional assessment can help to gain insight into potential influencing factors.
Burnout is often seen as a state of long-term exhaustion due to prolonged overloading. Psychosomatic complaints are broader and can also occur without burnout. However, both situations can overlap and present similar symptoms, such as fatigue, concentration problems, and physical tension.
Physiotherapy can provide support by focusing on movement, breathing, muscle tension, and load capacity. Additionally, insight can be gained into the influence of daily load on physical complaints. Which guidance is appropriate varies per person.
Energetic therapy focuses on relaxation, awareness, and recognizing patterns that may influence how someone feels. Many people experience this as a moment to reflect more on themselves and their balance between exertion and recovery.
This varies greatly per person. Factors such as the nature of the complaints, their duration, lifestyle, load, and recovery capacity can all have an influence. Some people experience change relatively quickly, while others need more time to develop new patterns.
Experiences of others
“I had been struggling with fatigue and physical tension for a long time. At Leonardus, I felt heard and they looked at more than just my symptoms. That gave me insight and peace of mind.”