Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) Health Exam

Which reaction signifies a psychosomatic response?

1. Injury pain

2. Stress-induced headache

3. Fatigue from exercise

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: Stress-induced headache

A psychosomatic response occurs when psychological factors, such as stress or anxiety, lead to physical symptoms or exacerbation of physical conditions. The correct answer, which is the stress-induced headache, exemplifies this phenomenon well because it highlights how emotional tension can manifest physically. In this case, stress can trigger tension in the muscles around the head and neck, leading to pain, thus showing a direct link between mental states and physical symptoms. In contrast, other options like injury pain are typically localized responses to specific physical damage rather than a manifestation of psychological stress. Fatigue from exercise is a normal physical reaction due to muscular exertion and is not directly influenced by mental health or stress levels. Thus, while all choices involve some form of body response, the stress-induced headache distinctly represents a psychosomatic reaction by connecting mental stress with physical illness.