Idioms of Distress: Psychosomatic Disorders in Medical and Imaginative Literature

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Focusing on psychosomatic disorders, this study explores their representation in both medical literature and notable literary works from the 19th and 20th centuries. Analyzing six key texts, it delves into how hidden sources of physical ailments stem from complex intra- and interpersonal conflicts, including guilt and familial tensions. The selected works—ranging from Hawthorne to Barker—serve as case studies that reveal the intricate connections between emotional struggles and physical health.