For people who suffer from chronic health conditions along with mental conditions, we can find ourselves wondering often which is it – physical or emotional? I know I do it all the time. The harder truth I’m learning to accept is that it’s always both.

There are two types of physical symptoms caused by mental issues: one where there are no physical findings to explain the symptoms, and one where the physical findings are caused by emotional ones. So that’s one way to look at it, but I’m learning that whichever one it is, we often forget that the mind-body separation is artificial. While it helps us make sense of things, we lose some of the truth there.

We are both those things – mind and body – and whether we like it or not, since they coexist within us, they have a relationship and affect one another. The best we can do is try to make it a good relationship. You don’t have to have chronic physical or mental conditions to have these relations exist within you. Your immune system responds to stress, and you respond to stress, involving all your parts.

It’s essential to recognize the interconnected nature of our minds and bodies, and be attentive to their mutual influence on our well-being. As we navigate through life’s challenges, let’s remember to support both areas and work towards creating a harmonious mind-body relationship.