“It’s Not All in Your Head”: Understanding the Mind-Body Connection in Therapy

Have you ever noticed your body reacting to stress in unexpected ways—like feeling run down, getting sick more often, or just not feeling like yourself? You're not imagining it. Emotional stress, anxiety, and overwhelm don't just affect our thoughts—they can also take a serious toll on the body. Many people are surprised to discover just how deeply stress can affect the body. Whether it shows up as frequent illness, persistent fatigue, chronic pain, or a general sense of being “off,” the physical impact of emotional stress is often underestimated.

Mental Stress = Bodily Stress / Bodily Stress = Mental Stress

Emotional overwhelm doesn’t exist solely in the mind—it has a direct, measurable effect on the body.  When stress becomes chronic, it can weaken the immune system, disrupt sleep, and contribute to symptoms such as inflammation,[1] digestive issues, and increased sensitivity to pain.[2] Similarly, physical health challenges can influence emotional wellbeing, leading to increased irritability, anxiety, or depression.[3] For instance, someone recovering from a long-term illness like Lyme disease might experience persistent fatigue and pain that limit daily activities. Over time, these physical limitations can lead to feelings of frustration and irritability, and the uncertainty about recovery can contribute to heightened anxiety or episodes of depression The connection between mind and body is not just real—it’s foundational.

How Therapy can Help

In therapy, we often explore how emotional patterns like chronic stress, suppressed emotions, or unresolved trauma can manifest physically. For example, a client who has carried unresolved grief for years might notice chronic tension in their shoulders and neck, recurring headaches, or digestive discomfort. As they begin to process the loss and express long-suppressed emotions, those physical symptoms often start to lessen, reflecting the body’s response to emotional release. Research supports this connection: chronic stress and unresolved emotional distress have been shown to trigger measurable physiological changes—including inflammation, immune dysregulation, and increased pain sensitivity. [1, 4]

It’s a cycle—and the good news is, it can work in both directions. Just as mental and emotional stress can wear down the body, supporting your mental health can also enhance physical resilience and recovery. Building emotional awareness, learning healthier ways to cope with stress, and processing what’s been held inside, many people experience not just relief, but also improvements in sleep, energy, digestion, immunity, and even an increased connection with their partner.

Therapy is more than conversation—it’s a recalibration of your entire system. It strengthens your body’s ability to regulate stress, recover from strain, and re-establish deep connection—both with yourself and with others. Over time, many clients describe feeling rooted in their own skin, fully present in their daily lives, and unmistakably clear about what nourishes them at the deepest level.

If you’ve felt out of sync—like you’re constantly pushing through stress while your body sends subtle (or not-so-subtle) warning signs—you’re not alone. So many people are quietly coping with emotional burdens that are showing up physically, without realizing how interconnected these systems truly are.

Therapy can be an invitation to slow down and listen to what’s really happening beneath the surface. It’s a space to get curious—not judgmental—about your symptoms, patterns, and needs. And it's a place to learn tools and practices that support your whole self: emotionally, mentally, and physically.

About the Author

Lily Eckstein, LMSW, is a psychotherapist at Lexington Park Psychotherapy, specializing in couples therapy, trauma, and therapy for chronic illness. Her research has appeared in Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, Pediatrics, The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, and other leading journals in the field.

References

[1] Alotiby, A. (2024). Immunology of stress: A review article. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(21), 6394. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13216394

[2] Mikocka-Walus, A., Knowles, S. R., Keefer, L., & Graff, L. (2016). Controversies revisited: A systematic review of the comorbidity of depression and anxiety with inflammatory bowel diseases. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 22(3), 752–762. https://doi.org/10.1097/MIB.0000000000000620

[3] Daré, L. O., Bruand, P. E., Gérard, D., Marin, B., Lameyre, V., Boumédiène, F., & Preux, P. M. (2019). Co-morbidities of mental disorders and chronic physical diseases in developing and emerging countries: A meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 19, 304. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6623-6

Rivat, C., Becker, C., Blugeot, A., Zeau, B., Mauborgne, A., Pohl, M., & Benoliel, J. J. (2010). Chronic stress induces transient spinal neuroinflammation, triggering sensory hypersensitivity and long-lasting anxiety-induced hyperalgesia. Pain, 150(2), 358–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2010.05.031

[4] Irwin, M. R. (2019). Sleep and inflammation: Partners in sickness and in health. Nature Reviews Immunology, 19(11), 702–715. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-019-0190-z