The Day My Body Screamed
For years, health professionals were trained to “listen” to the body with stethoscopes, blood tests, and MRIs. But there’s another language the body speaks—and it’s often ignored.
It’s the language of stored emotions, unprocessed traumas, lived stories that become imprinted in muscles, organs, and nervous systems.
The Science Behind the Mind-Body Connection
Have you noticed how:
- Your stomach “churns” before an important presentation?
- Your shoulders tense when you’re anxious?
- You become “breathless” in moments of panic?
This isn’t coincidence. It’s psychoneuroimmunology—the science that studies how thoughts and emotions affect the nervous and immune systems.
Fascinating Discoveries
1. The gut as the “second brain”
- 90% of serotonin (happiness hormone) is produced in the gut
- Gut microbiota influences mood and anxiety
- Direct connection via vagus nerve between gut and brain
2. Traumatic memory in the body
- Traumas can be “stored” in the nervous system
- Manifest as chronic pain, tension, autoimmune diseases
- The body “remembers” even when the mind forgets
3. Stress and inflammation
- Chronic stress activates inflammatory response
- Chronic inflammation linked to: depression, heart disease, diabetes, cancer
Signs Your Body Is Speaking
Common psychosomatic symptoms:
- Recurrent tension headaches
- Digestive problems without organic cause
- Chronic muscle pain
- Unexplained fatigue
- Persistent insomnia
- Palpitations without heart problems
Important: Psychosomatic does NOT mean “made up” or “imaginary.” The pain is real. The cause is multifactorial.
Learning to Listen
Practical mind-body connection exercise:
1. Body scan (5 minutes daily)
- Lie comfortably
- Bring attention to each body part, from feet to head
- Just observe, without judgment: “Where is there tension? Where is there lightness?”
2. Symptom and emotion diary
- Note physical symptoms
- Alongside, record: “What was happening? How was I feeling?”
- Look for patterns over weeks
3. The powerful question
- When you feel a symptom, ask: “What is my body trying to tell me?”
- There isn’t always an immediate answer, but the question opens internal dialogue
Integrative Therapeutic Approaches
Scientifically proven:
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Reduce cortisol, improve immunity
- Yoga and Tai Chi: Integrate movement, breathing, and awareness
- Somatic Therapy: Works with trauma through the body
- Acupuncture: Recognized by WHO for various conditions
- Art Therapy and Music Therapy: Non-verbal expression of emotions
When to Seek Professional Help
Seek a professional if:
- Physical symptoms persist despite normal tests
- There’s a history of trauma or intense stress
- You notice a clear relationship between emotions and physical symptoms
- Conventional treatments aren’t sufficient
Professionals who work integratively:
- Physicians with integrative medicine training
- Psychologists specialized in psychosomatics
- Physical therapists with body-mind approach
- Certified somatic therapists
Your Body Is Your Ally
For a long time, we learned to see the body as an enemy when it gets sick. The biopsychosocial perspective teaches us differently: the body is a wise messenger.
That back pain might be saying: “You’re carrying too much weight.” That gastritis might be whispering: “You need to digest not just food, but emotions too.” That insomnia might be alerting: “Your mind needs rest from worries.”
Conclusion
Listening to the body isn’t mysticism—it’s cutting-edge science. It’s recognizing that we are integrated systems, where each part affects the whole.
Start today: stop for five minutes. Breathe. And ask your body: “What do you need to tell me?”
The answer might surprise you.