Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) is a condition where a person becomes excessively worried or preoccupied with physical symptoms—such as pain, fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath—even when medical tests may not show a serious issue. The distress they feel is completely real, and the thoughts and behaviours surrounding the symptoms can make everyday life very challenging.
SSD is not about faking symptoms. Instead, the person genuinely believes something is wrong and feels overwhelmed by their physical sensations, health concerns, and constant fear of illness.
How Somatic Symptom Disorder Is Diagnosed
A person may be diagnosed with SSD when they experience:
One or more physical symptoms that are troubling or interfere with daily life
Excessive thoughts or anxiety about these symptoms, such as:
Constant worry about serious illness
High levels of health-related anxiety
Spending too much time checking symptoms or seeking reassurance
Long-term symptoms, even if their intensity changes over time
People with SSD often visit multiple doctors and may find it hard to accept reassurance that nothing dangerous is happening. The condition commonly begins before age 30.
Treatment Options
The goal of treatment is to reduce distress, manage symptoms effectively, and improve overall functioning. Treatment plans often include:
1. Regular Follow-Ups With a Trusted Healthcare Professional
Having scheduled visits helps avoid unnecessary tests, reduces anxiety, and provides consistent support and monitoring.
2. Psychotherapy
Talk therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), can help individuals:
Change unhelpful health-related thoughts
Reduce anxiety and fear
Develop healthier coping strategies
Improve daily functioning despite symptoms
3. Medications (When Needed)
If the person also experiences anxiety or depression, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed to support the treatment process.
Related Disorders
Illness Anxiety Disorder
A condition marked by extreme worry about developing a serious illness, despite having mild or no physical symptoms. Therapy is highly effective.
Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)
In this condition, a person may experience neurological symptoms—such as numbness, paralysis, tremors, or difficulty walking—without a physical cause. Symptoms often appear suddenly and may be linked to stress or emotional conflict.
Factitious Disorder
Here, individuals deliberately create, exaggerate, or induce symptoms in themselves or someone else. This includes factitious disorder imposed on another (previously known as Munchausen by proxy).
Support Is Available
Living with Somatic Symptom Disorder can feel overwhelming—physically, mentally, and emotionally. But with proper guidance, reassurance, and structured treatment, people can regain control over their thoughts, reduce anxiety, and improve their quality of life.
If you’re struggling with persistent health worries or unexplained physical symptoms, reaching out to the right expert can make all the difference.
Dr. Vatsal Suchak offers compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your needs. His calm, understanding approach helps patients feel heard, supported, and empowered on their journey to recovery.
FAQs
Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) is a condition in which a person becomes excessively worried about physical symptoms like pain, weakness, or fatigue. Even if medical tests don’t show a serious problem, the distress and anxiety the person feels are real.
The symptoms are very real. SSD does not mean the person is faking or imagining their symptoms. The issue lies in the intense worry, fear, and focus on the physical sensations.
The exact cause is not known, but factors such as stress, past trauma, anxiety, depression, personality traits, and a tendency to worry about illness can contribute to SSD.
A diagnosis is made when a person has distressing physical symptoms along with excessive thoughts, anxiety, or behaviours related to those symptoms. The symptoms usually last for several months.