The Ancients said that the animals are taught through their organs; let me add to this, so are men, but they have the advantage of teaching their organs in return.

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In the Western world, we’ve been taught to think of the mind and body as separate. Your thoughts, your emotions, your sense of self those belong to your brain, right? And the rest?

The truth is, your body and mind are in constant conversation, and understanding this relationship may be the key to healing trauma, regulating emotions, and even improving physical health. Research from neuroscientists and psychotherapists like Dr. Dan Siegel, Alan Schore, and pioneers in somatic therapy suggests that our nervous system is both the storyteller and the healer of our deepest wounds.

The Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets

Somatic therapy, which integrates the body into psychotherapy, teaches us that trauma is not just something that happens to us it’s something that happens inside us. When we experience stress, loss, or danger, our nervous system reacts instinctively. If we cant fight or flee, our body stores these experiences in the form of tension, dysregulation, and even chronic illness.

Alan Schores research on affect regulation and attachment shows that early relational trauma like neglect or emotional unavailability’s can shape the way our nervous system responds to stress for the rest of our lives. These patterns aren’t just psychological; they live in the body, influencing everything from immune function to heart health.

The Science of Feeling Safe

Dr. Dan Siegels work on interpersonal neurobiology highlights the importance of co-regulation our nervous systems ability to find safety and balance through connection with others. When a caregiver soothes a crying baby, for example, they’re not just offering comfort; they are literally shaping that child’s ability to regulate stress in the future.

For those of us who didn’t receive that kind of attunement, healing often requires learning how to rewire these patterns. This is where somatic practices come in—breathwork, movement, and mindfulness can all help recalibrate the nervous system.

Dr. Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory explains this beautifully. Our vagus nerve, which runs from the brainstem to the heart, lungs, and digestive system, acts as a kind of internal surveillance system. When we feel safe, it allows us to relax, digest, and connect. When we perceive danger (even if it’s just an overwhelming email), it can trigger a fight, flight, or freeze response. The good news? We can train our nervous system to shift back into a state of safety through practices like deep breathing, humming, or even spending time with loved ones.

The Role of Emotions in Physical Health

It turns out, shaking things off isn’t just a figure of speech a biological necessity. Studies in psychoneuroimmunology (the science of how thoughts and emotions affect the immune system) have shown that chronic stress leads to inflammation, while emotions like joy and gratitude can boost immune function.

Alan Schore’s research suggests that unprocessed emotional pain can manifest as chronic illness, and neuroscientists like Candace Pert have found that emotions are stored in neuropeptides throughout the body. When we suppress our feelings, we are not just ignoring them we’re physically embedding them into our tissues.

This is why somatic therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises), and even practices like yoga and dance can be so powerful. They help the body process what the mind might not have words for.

The Future of Healing

Modern medicine is finally catching up to what ancient traditions have always known: healing is not just about fixing a symptoms it’s about restoring balance to the whole system. Whether through psychedelic-assisted therapy (which has shown promising results for PTSD and depression), breathwork, or somatic experiencing, the future of mental health may be more embodied than we ever imagined.

As we learn to listen to our bodies, we may discover that healing isn’t about escaping our pain, but about integrating it’s about teaching our organs, just as Goethe suggested, and allowing them to teach us in return.

So the next time your chest tightens or your stomach flutters, pause. Take a breath. Your body is speaking are you listening?