My physio's theory is that a heap of pain he treats (mostly back pain, but can extrapolate anywhere) is stress related (essentially psychosomatic); less about b

My physio's theory is that a heap of pain he treats (mostly back pain, but can extrapolate anywhere) is stress related (essentially psychosomatic); less about being under stress, more about not having an outlet for that stress. He says that Italians don't get back pain as they're always shouting at each other. Funny thing is the stress manifests itself in real physical problems, but mostly treating the physical problem will cause the symptom to move somewhere else. Was definitely the case for me (2 months after starting a new job, under high stress, had crippling should pain; worked itself out once I got the ropes and relaxed into it; obviously this is only an anecdote). His joking 'cure' is to go punch your boss in the face. More seriously, read some Dr John Sarno.