Most of us know that stress can give us headaches, ruin our sleep, or make us feel anxious. But did you know there’s a lesser-known condition that can quietly develop in your body due to chronic stress? It’s called psychogenic fever, and it’s more common than you think — yet few people know it even exists.
Psychogenic fever is a real, physical condition where your body temperature rises due to psychological stress rather than any infection or virus. In other words, your mind is so overwhelmed that your body reacts by increasing its internal temperature — almost like your emotions are “boiling over.”
Unlike the fevers we get from flu or infections, this one doesn’t respond to paracetamol or antibiotics. That’s because it isn’t caused by germs. It’s your nervous system activating your body’s heat-producing mechanisms as a stress response. In some people, the fever is mild, around 99–100°F, while in others, it can rise much higher — sometimes as high as 104°F. Scary, right?
What makes psychogenic fever hard to identify is that it mimics other conditions. People may go through endless tests for infections, autoimmune diseases, or hormonal imbalances — but all results come back normal. That’s because the root cause isn’t physical, it’s emotional.
This type of fever tends to affect people who experience high levels of anxiety, pressure, emotional trauma, or chronic burnout. Teens during exam season, adults under constant work deadlines, and even caregivers dealing with long-term stress may suddenly develop unexplained fevers. The body is simply trying to cope in the only way it knows how.
The good news is: psychogenic fever isn’t usually dangerous if caught and managed properly. The key is to recognize it and treat the stress, not just the temperature. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, meditation, therapy, and sometimes medication for anxiety can all help lower the body’s stress levels and bring the fever down.
But ignoring this issue can lead to long-term health problems. Constant stress not only causes psychogenic fever but also weakens your immune system, disrupts digestion, and increases the risk of heart disease and mental health disorders. It’s a warning sign — your body telling you it’s time to slow down and take care of your emotional well-being.
So, the next time you feel feverish for no clear reason, and your tests show nothing wrong — don’t brush it off. It might just be stress wearing a mask. Listen to your body. Sometimes, it speaks louder than words.