| Abstract [eng] |
Traumatic experiences and psychosomatic symptoms are closely related phenomena. Although quantitative studies show that individuals who have experienced trauma are more likely to experience various psychosomatic symptoms, there is still a lack of deeper understanding of how people themselves perceive these symptoms, how they interpret them, and what meaning they assign to them within the context of their lives. The aim of this study was to understand and systematically describe how individuals who have experienced traumatic events perceive their psychosomatic symptoms. The study involved 8 adults who had experienced traumatic events and were currently experiencing psychosomatic symptoms. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis revealed five main themes: 1) the experience of living with psychosomatic symptoms; 2) moving from medical to psychological explanations of psychosomatic symptoms; 3) psychosomatic symptoms as a bodily expression of psychological experiences; 4) the need for holistic treatment; and 5) learning to live with psychosomatic symptoms. The findings of this study may contribute both to the theoretical understanding of the psychosomatic symptom experiences of individuals who have experienced trauma and to mental health and healthcare professionals seeking to create a more person-centered and holistic support process. |
