# Psychosomatic Itching **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychosomatic-itching/971403 "2022-09-11T20:28:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jakey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@Jakey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jakey)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychosomatic-itching/971403/1 "2022-09-11T20:28:29Z")
Why is it, when someone talks about e.g. their cat has fleas, do we suddenly feel the urge to scratch a previously nonexistent itch? Are we just becoming hyper aware of pre-existing itches or is it all in the mind? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychosomatic-itching/971403/2 "2022-09-11T20:59:30Z")
I very much suspect the latter, based on personal experience. It was definitely the latter when I read your post. I know because I was vaguely aware of the sensation, but only felt the need to scratch it after you said something. And I’ve had this experience before that. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychosomatic-itching/971403/3 "2022-09-11T22:32:48Z")
It seems to be hard-wired into our physiology. [The social contagion of itch](https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/scicurious-brain/you-scratch-i-scratch-the-social-contagion-of-itch/) That might address your question, which seems more about sympathetic itching than psychosomatic itching, by your description. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychosomatic-itching/971403/4 "2022-09-11T22:42:16Z")
Not relevant, but there is a peer reviewed medical journal titled _Itch_. [Itch](https://journals.lww.com/itch/pages/default.aspx)