Somatizations: The Lack of Balance Between the Life Drives and the Death Drives

Abstract

Physical symptoms are primarily encountered in patients diagnosed with conditions such as conversion disorder, anxiety, masochism, hypochondria, psychosomatic illnesses, and depression. Most etiological explanations for the emergence of these symptoms point to a disruption of the balance between the life drive and the death drive. However, the death drive is mainly experienced by individuals at the beginning or end of life. This explanation aligns with the recognition that psychotherapy and psychoanalysis may assist individuals with mild imbalances, but in cases of severe imbalances, where the influence of the death drive is strong, biological treatment cannot be avoided, and psychoanalysis is not suitable.