I began this by looking up the definition for somatic disorders, this is what I found, keep in mind that is from the medical perspective. Somatic disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis applied to patients who persistently complain of varied physical symptoms that have no identifiable physical origin. Patients with somatic disorder will typically visit many doctors in pursuit of treatment.
Visceral Manipulation is massage of the internal organs. Internal organs are sacs of involuntary muscle which hold tension, just like skeletal muscles.Tension in the visera can cause abdominal pain, hip/leg pain, migraines, or pain pretty much anywhere. Trigger points can form in the tense muscle fibers, creating tension and /or referred pain in any other part of the body. Organs can become hardened, from lack of blood or form adhesions that inhibit their movement, and abnormally attach structure that should be separate. Organs are supposed to slide/up and down with each breath, getting a little massage each time you breathe.Tense, hardened, glued together viscera cement you into postural distortion. One square inch of adhesions can cause 2000 pounds of pressure. It can cause the upper body to stoop forward and the low back to deeply curve, tilting the pelvis, affecting the spine and causing bulging disc and pinched nerves. It is capable of dislocating ribs. All the physical signs are very apparent, but there are other forces going on that are not so easily visible. Organs have memory. They store emotions, stress, trauma. The Liver for instance stores anger and negative energy, the stomach fear and anxiety. The list goes on and on. When releasing the physical restriction on the organs you in turn release the energy stored inside. The release of the emotions within are caused by a response in the autonomic nervous system. Stress on your body causes the sympathetic nervous system, your fight or fight response to be activated. Prolong stress and or chronic pain put your body in a constant fight mode. Stress causes pain, pain causes stress it become a vicious cycle. Emotional pain and physical pain feeding off each others energy.
When that stress is removed your parasympathetic nervous system rest and relax is finally able to do its job. And it is ready willing and able.
Angela Qualls-Dugger LMT