A reflection guide, not a diagnosis

Somatization Map

Understand your body's patterns. Without guessing the cause.

You have seen three doctors. The tests came back fine. And still you wake up with a stiff back or a tight stomach, with reflux flaring up and a tiredness that does not go away.

Once a doctor has ruled out medical causes, it can help to ask a different question: what is my body reacting to? The Somatization Map is a calm, step-by-step guide to notice the link between what you feel and what your body does.

  • Doctor first
  • Not a diagnosis
  • Free guide
  • No experience needed
1 2 3 4 5
Jaw and throatNeck and shouldersChestStomachLower back
Quick answer

What is the Somatization Map?

The Somatization Map is a free, step-by-step reflection guide that helps you notice how emotions, stress and body sensations may be connected. It is not a diagnosis or a treatment and it does not replace your doctor. See a doctor first, and use the map afterwards, alongside medical care.

Is this for you?

It may help if

  • Your medical tests came back normal, or doctors found no clear cause.
  • The same sensations keep returning: tight stomach, stiff back, jaw or shoulder tension, reflux, tiredness.
  • You have been told “it is stress” but nobody showed you how to work with that.
  • You are ready to pay quiet attention to your own patterns, with no experience needed.
  • You are in your 40s or 50s, your periods or sleep have changed, and your symptoms may be linked to perimenopause or menopause (see your doctor first).

Please see a doctor first if

  • A symptom is new, severe or getting worse.
  • You have not had a medical check-up for it yet.
  • You are looking for a diagnosis or a replacement for treatment.

How the map works

Three simple moves you repeat at your own pace.

Notice

Where does your body react, and when? Pause for one minute and describe the sensation in plain words.

Name

What was happening just before? A conversation, a decision, something you did not say. Write down the feeling that sits nearby.

Respond

Choose one small, kind action: a slow breath, a walk, a boundary, a talk with someone you trust, or a visit to a professional.

Places where many people notice tension

1 2 3 4 5
  • 1Jaw and throat
  • 2Neck and shoulders
  • 3Chest
  • 4Stomach
  • 5Lower back

This is not a medical chart and it does not point to a cause. It is a prompt for your own observation.

Perimenopause and menopause

Many signs of this life stage look like stress: poor sleep, a racing heart, aches, tension, low mood, brain fog. It is easy to blame stress, or to ignore them. A doctor can tell the difference, and the map can help you notice your own pattern.

Common signs (they vary a lot)

  • Periods that change: shorter, longer, heavier, lighter or missed
  • Hot flushes and night sweats
  • Sleep problems
  • Palpitations, anxiety, irritability, low mood
  • Brain fog, memory and concentration problems
  • Muscle aches, joint pain, headaches
  • Some women have few symptoms, others have many

Perimenopause is the transition before the last period and can last several years. Menopause is confirmed after 12 months without a period, most often between 45 and 55.

What to do

  • See your doctor first: other causes, such as thyroid or iron problems, can look similar.
  • Bring a short note: your symptoms, your sleep and any change in your periods.
  • Ask about all options. Hormonal and non-hormonal treatments exist, and talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can also help. The choice is yours, with your doctor.
  • Use the map alongside care, to notice patterns between sleep, stress, relationships and body sensations.
  • Pregnancy is still possible until 12 months after the last period, so ask about contraception.

Talk to a doctor soon if

  • You have palpitations (a fast, slow or noticeable heartbeat)
  • Your periods are heavier than before
  • You have any bleeding after 12 months without a period
  • Your low mood does not lift, or you think about harming yourself
  • Chest pain, breathing problems or fainting: call 112 now

This map does not diagnose perimenopause or menopause and does not replace medical or hormonal care. Sources: NHS: menopause symptoms · WHO: menopause fact sheet · NICE: menopause guideline

Programs

Short seven-day programs, one theme each. They are educational and reflective, not therapy or treatment.

01

Body Awareness Reset

Free 7-day introduction: notice sensations, see what shapes them, tell observation from interpretation, journal and review.

FreeAvailable now
Start free
02

Hard-to-express emotions

Name emotions, build a feeling vocabulary, find words for your needs, notice what shifts.

9 €Available now
Buy for 9 €
03

Frustration and anger

Spot early signals, the gap between impulse and reaction, limits, assertive communication, regulation exercises.

9 €Available now
Buy for 9 €
04

Sadness and loss

Recognize feelings, self-care, social support, routines and journaling. No promise to treat depression or trauma.

9 €Available now
Buy for 9 €
05

Stress and boundaries

Overload, too many requests, personal limits, priorities, pauses and how to say no.

9 €Available now
Buy for 9 €

Inside each paid program

Four 7-day programs, one theme each. Here is exactly what you get before you pay.

  • 7 days, about 10–15 minutes a day
  • Each day: a short read, one practice, two reflection questions, one small action
  • Every task is optional, go at your own pace
  • Private link, yours to keep, works on phone and computer
  • Nothing is stored on our servers: your notes stay in your browser
  • Educational only, not medical advice
For you if you feel more than you can say

Hard-to-express emotions

Many people feel more than they can say. This program builds a simple feeling vocabulary and lets you try words in safe, small steps. Every task is optional and takes 10 to 15 minutes.

The 7 days

  1. Day 1Notice where words get stuck
  2. Day 2Start a feeling vocabulary
  3. Day 3Body first, label second
  4. Day 4Observation or interpretation
  5. Day 5What do I need
  6. Day 6Say one small thing
  7. Day 7Review and next steps
For you if irritation arrives before you can think

Frustration and anger

Frustration and anger are normal signals, not flaws. This program helps you notice them earlier, pause, and say what you need without harming yourself or others. It does not replace professional help for anger that feels unsafe.

The 7 days

  1. Day 1Know your early signals
  2. Day 2The gap
  3. Day 3What is under the anger
  4. Day 4Release safely
  5. Day 5Say it assertively
  6. Day 6Limits and consequences
  7. Day 7Review and plan
For you if low mood or heaviness shows up in your body

Sadness and loss

Sadness is a normal response to loss and change. This program is a quiet space for recognition, care and connection. It makes no promise to treat depression or trauma and is not therapy.

The 7 days

  1. Day 1Allow what is here
  2. Day 2Name the loss
  3. Day 3Body care basics
  4. Day 4Small routines
  5. Day 5Reaching out
  6. Day 6Gentle meaning
  7. Day 7Review and care plan
For you if stress sits in your shoulders, stomach or sleep

Stress and boundaries

Stress builds when demands outgrow resources. This program helps you see the load, choose priorities and set limits that you can keep. It is educational and does not replace medical or psychological care.

The 7 days

  1. Day 1Map the load
  2. Day 2Body stress signals
  3. Day 3Real pauses
  4. Day 4Priorities
  5. Day 5The kind no
  6. Day 6Boundaries with time and people
  7. Day 7Review and sustain
Saves 7 €

Pack of four programs

All four programs, one private page, 29 € instead of 36 €.

Prices

Start free. Pay only when you want a full program.

Free

0 €
  • Two-minute check-in
  • 7-day guide with 9 chapters
  • Tracker and review
Start free

Single program

9 €per 7-day program
  • Seven days of exercises
  • Journal prompts
  • Printable sheets and a final review
Choose a program below
Best value

Pack of four

29 €programs 2 to 5
  • All four themes
  • Everything in each program
  • Save 7 € against single programs
Buy the pack, 29 €

Library

12 €per month, later
  • Exercise library
  • Journal and personal summaries
  • Only once there is enough new content
Notify me

Launch prices, one-time payment, no subscription. Digital content with immediate access: at checkout you tick a separate box to ask for immediate access and to acknowledge that you lose the 14-day withdrawal right once access starts. Adults only (18+). Educational content, not medical advice.

Free preview: Day 1 of “Hard-to-express emotions”

This is how every day of a program is built: short, clear, and always optional.

Day 1 · Notice

Find the situations where it is hard to say what you feel.

  1. Read1 min

    Many people feel something clearly and still cannot say it out loud. Today we only notice where that happens. Nothing to fix.

  2. Practise3 min

    Think back over the last three days. List up to three moments when you wanted to say something and did not.

  3. Journal3 min

    What did I feel in those moments, one word each? What did I do instead?

  4. Action1 min

    Pick one moment and write the sentence you would say if it were safe. Do not send it.

  5. Recap1 min

    Tomorrow we build a feeling vocabulary. Stop at any point if a question feels too much.

Why I am building this

I am Alex Iliescu. For more than ten years I have studied NLP and the psychology of relationships as a passion, and I work on my own emotional patterns. This project starts from my own experience. I am not a doctor or a therapist, and I will never ask you to skip medical care.

Alex Iliescu · Strategic Flow

When to see a doctor, today

Do not use this map instead of medical help. Get medical advice promptly if you have:

  • chest pain, trouble breathing or fainting
  • blood in vomit or stool
  • unexplained weight loss or a fever that does not go away
  • difficulty swallowing, or symptoms that are new or getting worse

In an emergency in Spain or elsewhere in the EU, call 112. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call emergency services or a local crisis line right away.

Frequently asked questions

What is somatization?

Somatization is when psychological stress shows up as physical symptoms such as pain, tension, digestive discomfort or fatigue. The symptoms are real, not imagined. The Somatization Map helps you observe the pattern, it does not diagnose it.

Is the Somatization Map medical advice?

No. It is an educational reflection guide. It does not diagnose, treat or cure any condition and it does not replace a doctor or a licensed therapist.

Should I see a doctor before using it?

Yes. Medical causes should be checked and ruled out first. Use the map afterwards, alongside any care your doctor recommends.

Who is it for?

Adults whose tests came back normal, or who were told their symptoms are linked to stress, and who want a calm way to notice what their body is reacting to.

Do I need any experience?

No. You do not need experience with psychology, meditation or coaching. The guide uses plain words and short exercises.

How much does it cost?

The 7-day guide and the check-in are free. Each 7-day program costs 9 € and the pack of four programs costs 29 € instead of 36 €. You pay once, with no subscription. A monthly library at 12 € may come later and is not on sale yet.

Does it replace therapy?

No. If you feel overwhelmed or your distress is heavy, please talk to a licensed mental health professional.

What is the difference between the free guide, a program and the pack?

The free guide is a 9-chapter introduction with a two-minute check-in and a 7-day tracker. Each paid program takes one theme (hard-to-express emotions, frustration and anger, sadness and loss, stress and boundaries) and guides you through seven days of reading, practice and journaling. The pack of four gives you all four programs for 29 €, which is 7 € less than buying them one by one.

What happens right after I pay?

Stripe takes you straight to your private program page, so you can start immediately. At the same time you receive an email from noreply@strategicflow.tech with the same link, so you can come back later. If the email does not arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder or write to strategicflow@proton.me.

Do I need an account or a profile?

No. There is no account and no password. Your guide link or program link is your access. Your check-ins, notes and progress are saved only in your own browser, on the device you use.

How long does each day take?

Plan 10 to 15 minutes a day: a short reading, a practice, two journal questions and one small action for the day. Everything is optional, and you can pause or repeat any day.

Where are my notes stored, and is my data private?

Your notes stay in your browser and are never sent to us. That also means they do not move between devices, so use the copy button on the program page if you want to keep a copy. We only receive your email if you pay or if you ask us to send you the guide, and we use it only for that. Details are on the Terms and privacy page.

Can I get a refund?

Programs are digital content with immediate access, so at checkout you agree that the 14-day withdrawal right ends once access starts. If a page does not open or does not work as described, write to us within 30 days and we will fix it or refund you.

How do I pay, and is it safe?

Payment is handled by Stripe, a major payment processor. You see the final price at checkout and can pay with the methods Stripe shows for your country. We never see or store your card details.

Can I share my link with someone else?

Your link is for your own use. Please do not post it publicly or resell it. If someone close to you would benefit, they can start with the free guide or get their own program.

Can I do the programs in any order, and can I repeat them?

Yes. The four programs are independent, so start with the theme that fits you now. You can repeat a program or any day as often as you like. Your progress stays in your browser until you delete it.

What if an exercise makes me feel worse?

Stop. Every exercise is optional and you do not need to push through discomfort. Slow your breathing, look around you and take a break. If strong feelings stay or grow, talk to a doctor or a mental health professional.

Is it suitable for everyone?

It is written for adults who want to reflect on stress, emotions and body sensations. It is not suitable as the only support if you are in crisis, have thoughts of harming yourself, or have severe or sudden physical symptoms. In those cases contact your local emergency services or a doctor first.

Who created it, and is the creator a doctor or therapist?

It was created by Alex Iliescu, founder of Strategic Flow, who has studied behavior and communication, including NLP, for many years. He is not a doctor or a psychologist, and the programs are educational reflection tools, not treatment.

Can the map help with perimenopause or menopause?

It can help you notice how sleep, stress, hot flushes, mood and body tension change from day to day, and what makes them better or worse. It does not diagnose or treat menopause. See your doctor first, especially if your periods have changed, and use the map alongside any care you choose.

How do I know if it is perimenopause or stress?

You cannot tell on your own, because the symptoms overlap: poor sleep, palpitations, anxiety, brain fog, aches. A doctor can look at changes in your cycle, your history and other possible causes, such as thyroid or iron problems. Both can be present at the same time. Keep a short note of your symptoms and any period changes to bring to the visit.

Get the free guide

The guide is ready and free: read it now, no sign-up. Questions, a refund request or news about the library? Write to us.

or read it right now

Get the free guidestrategicflow@proton.meEmail

Privacy and data

  • No account and no tracking on this page. Fonts are served from our own site.
  • Your check-ins and tracker stay in your browser. We never receive them.
  • We see your email only if you write to us, ask for the guide by email, or pay. We use it to reply, send the guide link and deliver your purchase.
  • To delete your notes, clear this site’s data in your browser. Please avoid writing your full name or other identifying details in the tracker.
  • Somatization Map is an educational reflection tool. It is not a medical device and gives no diagnosis.
  • Payments are handled by Stripe. We do not see your card details. Your program page is a private link: keep it to yourself.