Psychosomatics: how stress and emotions affect the human body and healthKuznietsova Olena
There are almost no people on the streets of Kyiv despite the pleasant spring weather. The city seems half-alive, everywhere there are signs of inexpressible sadness and decline. But when you enter a hospital, it feels like you step into another world. Everything is bustling here: many people, busy medical staff, numerous patients. This picture makes you think about the connection between sad thoughts, constant stress, and the physical reactions of the body. And this has a name — psychosomatics.
Let us take a closer look at what happens in the body when we live “on the edge” of our emotional and physical capacities.
How Stress Affects the Body
When we experience strong emotions, the body запускає the stress response:• cortisol levels increase;• heart rate accelerates;• blood pressure changes;• muscles tense;• the immune system is suppressed.
Short-term stress is a normal reaction. But chronic stress exhausts the body and creates conditions for illness.
There is another important psychosomatic mechanism: when we experience strong emotional pain, the psyche tries to protect us. In some cases, the body seems to “shift attention” from mental suffering to physical suffering. A bodily symptom becomes a way to signal an internal conflict while simultaneously distracting from emotional pain. In this way, physical suffering can temporarily push mental suffering into the background so a person can cope with experiences gradually.Psycho-emotional factors that harm health
Chronic stress can lead to:• hypertension;• cardiovascular diseases;• insomnia;• digestive problems.
Suppressed emotionsWhen a person does not allow themselves to feel anger, sadness, or fear:• muscle tension appears;• headaches arise;• irritable bowel syndrome develops;• chronic fatigue appears.
Anxiety and fearA constant state of “danger” exhausts the nervous system and hormonal balance.
Psychosomatic symptoms are real. They are not imaginary, but they have a psychological trigger.
Most often, psycho-emotional factors are present in:• gastritis and ulcers;• hypertension;• bronchial asthma;• dermatitis and psoriasis;• migraines;• back and neck pain;• irritable bowel syndrome.Psycho-emotional state and cancer: what science says
This is an important and delicate topic. Cancer does not arise only because of emotions.
Oncological diseases have a complex nature: genetics, lifestyle, environment, and random cell mutations.
At the same time, research from the National Cancer Institute confirms that the psycho-emotional state can influence risk, disease progression, and recovery.How stress is connected with oncology
The immune system destroys potentially dangerous cells every day. Chronic stress leads to weakened immunity and suppresses this protection.
Long-term stress triggers inflammatory processes that create a favorable environment for tumor development.Behavioral factors
Stress often leads to:• smoking and alcohol use;• sleep disorders;• overeating;• lack of movement.
These factors are directly linked to cancer risk.
So what should be done in such a situation? Of course, hospitals, pills, procedures — these are consequences, while the cause still remains: our psyche is in danger. While our soul is ill, it makes the body suffer as well.
You may ask: what should we do when events unfold around us that we can hardly influence? First, there are still some things we can influence — each within the limits of our own life and possibilities. Second, we have an inner world that we can always influence, talk to, and in which only we can create change, even if it seems that everything outside is collapsing.
In such times, turning to your inner world and finding support within yourself seems the most effective path. Our inner “self” will tell us how to survive, how to preserve health, and how to care for our loved ones.
In my practice, I have noticed how people are oriented toward others and at the same time how inattentively and carelessly they treat themselves. The universe in which we seek help is inside each of us. We need to communicate with it: ask ourselves — what should I do? How can I preserve and improve my life?
And your “self” will certainly respond if you are patient and sensitive to yourself.
What does it actually mean to “turn to yourself”? Let me explain.
If a thought appears in your head, for example a negative one, try asking yourself: is this an accomplished fact or just an assumption? Most of our thoughts are assumptions that we often unconsciously form in a negative way. But it is important to remember: these are only assumptions, not reality.
And here a choice appears. Can we form another scenario instead of the automatic negative one — a more supportive one? Try making a positive assumption not as an illusion, but as an inner direction, as a possible scenario that also has the right to exist.
When we change our focus, a sense of inner resource often appears. The mind begins to direct attention to other possible developments, the body gradually calms down, and the nervous system shifts from threat mode to a more balanced state.
Receiving a more constructive task, the brain begins to work differently — it naturally searches for ways out of the situation, even on a subconscious level. This process starts when we stop unconditionally accepting negative scenarios as the only possible reality.
It is important not to deny negative thoughts, but to question them: “Is this a fact or my interpretation?” And at the same time allow yourself to see alternatives — more supportive, resourceful options for development.
Over time, this affects not only the inner state but also behavior, decision-making, and even interaction with others.Conclusion
The psyche and the body are a single system.
Chronic stress, suppressed emotions, and anxiety can influence the development and course of many diseases, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and even oncological ones.
Taking care of psycho-emotional well-being is not a luxury — it is disease prevention.
Psychotherapy, particularly CBT, helps break psychosomatic cycles, reduce stress levels, and improve quality of life and physical health.
Every day of our life is unique and will never repeat again. Tomorrow we will be one day older. And how we live today determines our tomorrow.
That is why it seems so important to live each day in a way that we do not regret lost time, what we could have done, or, on the contrary, what we did not allow ourselves — to stop, rest, and recover.
When we feel the need to restore ourselves, we should listen to ourselves. Allow yourself simple things that bring comfort, calm, and a sense of safety. This is always beneficial.
This is respect for yourself. This is caring for your health.
Do not be afraid to allow yourself joy in simple things today. Allow yourself a little pleasure, a little warmth, a little rest — even if it seems like “small things.” They are what build inner resources.
We have responsibility both for our thoughts (psyche) and for our body (soma).