Those of us with somatoform/somatic symptom disorders (Conversion disorder, pain disorder, somatization disorders, etc) don't really have a place to post. I'd like a forum for that. There are a lot of things fairly specific to somatoform disorders - not being taken seriously by doctors./friends/relatives, how do you manage your life if your symptoms worsen when you're active, things like that. And having a somatoform disorder is fairly lonely, because not a lot of people have it or are open about having it. I think it would be good to have a place to connect with each other.

It is a good idea.
I see some humour here. Just the way somatophorm is a kind of pain for which no apparent symptom can be traced and yet it is there; same goes for a somatophorm section on PC which is there broadly on PC as you can post about it under other sections but still not quite there as there is no specific section.

[Gus1234U]

for those not familiar with somatiphorm, or somatic symptom disorder as it's now being called, here is the excerpt from Wiki Dicci:

A somatic symptom disorder, formerly known as a somatoform disorder,[1][2][3] is a mental disorder characterized by physical symptoms that suggest physical illness or injury – symptoms that cannot be explained fully by a general medical condition or by the direct effect of a substance, and are not attributable to another mental disorder (e.g., panic disorder).

[4] In people who have a somatic symptom disorder, medical test results are either normal or do not explain the person's symptoms, and history and physical examination do not indicate the presence of a medical condition that could cause them. Patients with this disorder often become worried about their health because doctors are unable to find a cause for their symptoms. This may cause severe distress. Preoccupation with the symptoms may portray a patient's exaggerated belief in the severity of their ill-health.[5]

Symptoms are sometimes similar to those of other illnesses and may last for several years. Usually, the symptoms begin appearing during adolescence, and patients are diagnosed before the age of 30 years.[6] Symptoms may occur across cultures and gender.[6] Other common symptoms include anxiety and depression.[6] In order for an individual to be diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder, they must have recurring somatic complaints for several continuous years.[6]

Somatic symptom disorders are not the result of conscious malingering (fabricating or exaggerating symptoms for secondary motives) or factitious disorders (deliberately producing, feigning, or exaggerating symptoms) – sufferers perceive their plight as real. Additionally, a somatic symptom disorder should not be confused with the more specific diagnosis of a somatization disorder. Various laboratory tests, physical examinations, and surgeries on these individuals show no evidence supporting the idea that these exaggerating symptoms are present.[6]

Mental disorders are treated separately from physiological or neurological disorders. Somatic symptom disorder is difficult to diagnose and treat since doing so requires psychiatrists to work with neurologists on patients with this disorder.[6] Those that do not pass the diagnostic criteria for a somatic symptom disorder but still present physical symptoms are usually referred to as having "somatic preoccupation".[5]

Somatic symptom disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

i hope you get your forum~

Any word on this proposal?

[LavenderGreen]

Hello- I'm new to PC forums. Is there another place to read about/post about somatic symptom disorders?

Thank you.

[DocJohn]

Sorry for the delay in creating this forum based upon your suggestions. It is now available:

Somatic Disorders - Forums at Psych Central

Best,
DocJohn

[MissMoody87]

I wonder if I have this disorder ... the symptoms sound like me. Almost 30 and no diagnosis for all my weird physical issues.