Recalibration™
“Where to?”
— Another perspective, Part 2 — The evolution of MUS and a bridge toward sensory recalibration —
From “Hysteria” to MUS — A Shift in Concepts
As with PPPD discussed on the previous page, bodily discomfort that cannot be explained by precise testing or visible structural abnormalities (“hardware failure”) is common across all fields of medicine—not only dizziness, but also chest pain, headaches, abdominal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and more.
Historically, such symptoms were often dismissed with vague labels such as “hysteria,” “conversion symptoms,” “psychosomatic,” “somatisation,” or “psychogenic (‘just in your mind’).”
However, from the late 1990s onward, especially in primary care and liaison psychiatry in the UK and US, these conditions began to be organized under the terminology MUS (Medically Unexplained Symptoms).
However, from the late 1990s onward, especially in primary care and liaison psychiatry in the UK and US, these conditions began to be organized under the terminology MUS (Medically Unexplained Symptoms).
In 2017, “Medically Unexplained Symptoms” was formally added to MeSH, the standard indexing vocabulary of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
More recent classifications use terms such as Persistent Physical Symptoms, Functional Symptoms, or Somatic Symptom Disorder,
reflecting ongoing academic efforts to properly recognize the physical suffering experienced by patients.
More recent classifications use terms such as Persistent Physical Symptoms, Functional Symptoms, or Somatic Symptom Disorder,
reflecting ongoing academic efforts to properly recognize the physical suffering experienced by patients.
Criticism of “Wastebasket Diagnosis” and the Sensations Left Behind
At the same time, medical literature and clinical practice have raised concerns that MUS may become a “wastebasket diagnosis”—a convenient category into which symptoms without a clear disease name are simply thrown.
In everyday clinical settings, outdated explanations such as “hysteria,” “just stress,” or “it’s all in your mind” still persist.
When precise tests show “no abnormality,” being labeled “medically unexplained” can leave patients feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or placed into a “dustbin,” creating deep loneliness or helplessness.
In everyday clinical settings, outdated explanations such as “hysteria,” “just stress,” or “it’s all in your mind” still persist.
When precise tests show “no abnormality,” being labeled “medically unexplained” can leave patients feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or placed into a “dustbin,” creating deep loneliness or helplessness.
The Role Recalibration™ May Play as a “Bridge”
Medical diagnosis alone cannot fully express the bodily sensations a person experiences in daily life.
This is not a failure of modern medicine, but a reflection of the difference between structural abnormalities (“breaks”) and functional perception (“fluctuations”).
This is not a failure of modern medicine, but a reflection of the difference between structural abnormalities (“breaks”) and functional perception (“fluctuations”).
Recalibration™ does not simply present terms like MUS or persistent physical symptoms as labels,
nor does it place individuals into predefined categories.
Instead, it offers a perspective for quietly revisiting the “gap between medical diagnosis and one’s own bodily sensations”—without stepping away from medicine,
and without rushing to fill the gap with uncertain psychological explanations.
nor does it place individuals into predefined categories.
Instead, it offers a perspective for quietly revisiting the “gap between medical diagnosis and one’s own bodily sensations”—without stepping away from medicine,
and without rushing to fill the gap with uncertain psychological explanations.
Rather than attributing causes to external stress or constructing psychogenic narratives (which deepen external or internal bias),
Recalibration™ encourages returning awareness—through one’s own intelligence and sensitivity—to internal feedback mechanisms such as gravity perception and gaze.
Recalibration™ encourages returning awareness—through one’s own intelligence and sensitivity—to internal feedback mechanisms such as gravity perception and gaze.
The historical trajectory leading to MUS raises important questions.
Recalibration™ aims to place a gentle, soft bridge between those questions and each person’s autonomous bodily stability.
Recalibration™ aims to place a gentle, soft bridge between those questions and each person’s autonomous bodily stability.
Next Page
The next page explains, through the metaphor of Foucault’s pendulum, how Recalibration™ encourages returning attention to your forward gaze and the grounding of your feet—rather than continually chasing the “sway” of the outside world.
The next page explains, through the metaphor of Foucault’s pendulum, how Recalibration™ encourages returning attention to your forward gaze and the grounding of your feet—rather than continually chasing the “sway” of the outside world.