How to treat somatization of anxiety disorder
Nov 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Introduction
Treatment methods for somatization of anxiety disorders include etiology-targeted therapy, cognitive-behavioral regulation, symptomatic interventions for somatic symptoms, relaxation training, and psychological support therapy. Both mind and body should be treated simultaneously, addressing both symptom relief and underlying causes. If somatic symptoms persistently worsen or interfere with daily functioning, timely medical evaluation is recommended to establish an accurate diagnosis. Anti-anxiety medications should be used to target the core pathological mechanisms of anxiety.
Anxiety disorder with somatization can be treated through etiology-targeted therapy, cognitive-behavioral regulation, symptomatic management of physical symptoms, relaxation training, and psychological support. Effective treatment requires integrated mind-body approaches that simultaneously alleviate symptoms and address underlying causes. If physical symptoms persist or worsen and interfere with daily life, timely medical evaluation is recommended for accurate diagnosis.
1. Etiology-Targeted Therapy: Anti-anxiety medications are used to target the core mechanisms of anxiety by regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine. This helps reduce anxiety at its source, thereby indirectly alleviating somatic manifestations like palpitations and chest tightness.
2. Cognitive-Behavioral Regulation: This approach helps patients recognize the connection between physical symptoms and anxiety, correct catastrophic thinking about symptoms, and break the vicious cycle of anxiety and physical discomfort through behavioral experiments, thus reducing symptom reinforcement.
3. Symptomatic Management of Physical Symptoms: For specific physical complaints such as headaches or gastrointestinal discomfort, after ruling out organic diseases, physical therapies or symptomatic medications may be used to rapidly relieve discomfort and enhance confidence in treatment.
4. Relaxation Training: Techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and biofeedback help reduce sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, relieve physical responses like muscle tension, hand tremors, and sweating, and improve the body’s self-regulation capacity.
5. Psychological Support Therapy: Individual or group psychotherapy provides an outlet for emotional expression, helps patients identify and manage stressors, strengthens psychological resilience, and reduces the conversion of anxiety into physical symptoms.
In daily life, regular mild exercise such as tai chi or jogging is recommended. Avoid excessive focus on bodily sensations, maintain a light and balanced diet, adhere to a regular sleep schedule without staying up late, and adopt positive lifestyle habits to support improvement of somatic symptoms.
