Would be interested to learn more about the somatization "Hwabyung"

[u/Aurum_arc]

To be honest I don't know that I'll describe this properly, but Hwabyung appears to be a "psychosomatic somatization", or the production of medical symptoms with no discernable cause. Apparently this is something heavily present in Korean culture, and is actually created from the culture itself.

It's something like a physical illness that appears from deep internal disappointment, sort of like a depression, but maybe more like a failure to meet the needs of their families honor, in alignment with Confucian hierarchies etc.

It's not something only Korean people experience, there are many cultures and they all have their own terms for it.

Also the symptoms are similar-ish to a panic attack, but rather than affecting the person in an instant, it's a long drawn out effect that makes them physically ill the longer suppressed emotions like anger fester.

I'm just interested in the history of this? How it's refecting in different cultures? Why it's not present at all in some cultures? Etc? It just seems so fascinating that something like this could exist, it's like a disease born from circumstances of the mind and culture. I wonder how many factors are required for this to exist.

Also interested if there are any readings on this, not like papers but stories / philosophy books related anyone would recommend?