So what's the difference between somatoform disorder and symptoms of anxiety?

[guitarpants]

Somatoform disorders are supposed to be a physical manifestation of psychological issues. It is supposed to be a chronic mental mental illness that does not respond well to medication since the symptoms are not organically or physically based. For example, if someone has pain or a headache, a pain reliever will do little or nothing to help.

Now on the other hand, I notice a lot of people here complain about similar physical problems stemming from anxiety. Are these the same thing? If a person does not feel anxious or in a situation where they feel uncomfortable, but have long lasting physical symptoms which have no apparent cause, is it still anxiety?

How would a doctor or psychiatrist even be able to tell the difference between the two?

Has anyone been diagnosed with this?

[guitarpants]

Wow no one ever answers these, I don't know why.

[Utility]

Hi

Is it just a case of humans like to give everything a name?

Whether it is anxiety, somatoform disorder, panic attacks, health worries or whatever - it all seems to result in visits to our GP's or hospital to be assured that what ever we have is not life threatening.

That's where the comfort is for many.

[Gazman]

From my understanding so far (which could be wrong lol) People are given the label of Somatoform Disorder when they have been suffering for a long time and the symptoms are usually quite severe.

I read about a woman that had a particular form of somatoform disorder called conversion disorder where she had nothing wrong with her organically yet she couldn't walk and was in a wheelchair for weeks then she would feel better mentally and could walk again but as soon as she started to got worried / stressed etc she would be back in a wheelchair again.

My doctor has told me (and several others now too) that he strongly suspects i am suffering from Somatization Disorder and i am awaiting an assessment by a specialist and he gave me this website to take a look at: http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Somatization-and-Somatoform-Disorders.htm