Your body is talking to you – are you listening?

Hello! Welcome to another edition of ABC of Mental Health, your partner in the journey to better mental health, one newsletter at a time.

“Where do you feel it in your body?” Ever wondered why or how? The answer lies in interoception, our body’s internal sensing system, a signal that something in you is reaching for safety, rest, or connection. These subtle signals can influence our moods, decisions, and “gut feelings” long before thought arrives. So let’s explore how we can tune into our body cues.

If you like what you read here, click to share this newsletter via WhatsApp today! 😊 

One relevant recommendation:

The Body–Mind Dialogue

1. Sit comfortably. Take a few slow breaths. Gently scan your body from head to toe: notice any sensations, tension, or areas that feel quiet. There’s no need to change anything. Just observe.

2. On a sheet of paper, draw two columns or two simple figures — one for Body, one for Mind.

   1. What is your Body communicating right now? (e.g., “I feel heavy,” “My chest is tight,” “I’m calm.”)

   2. How does your Mind respond? (e.g., “We don’t have time for this,” “Relax,” “Why am I feeling this?”)

3. Allow a few exchanges. Be curious, not critical.

4. Close your eyes and notice — how does your body feel after expressing itself? How does your mind feel after being heard? Write one compassionate statement that both can agree on. 

Two Quotes on The Link Between Body and Stress:

Bessel van der Kolk, a Dutch psychiatrist and an author, talks about how the body stores what our mind may forget:

“The body remembers what the mind forgets.” 

Kelly McGonigal, a psychologist, talks about healthy stress:

“Not all stress is the enemy. Some of it is your body preparing you for what you’re capable of.”

Three TherapyShorts from TST

1. Did My Body Stop Speaking?
   Sometimes it may not feel like our body is speaking! Numbness, fatigue, or disconnection can take its place. It’s our body’s way of protecting itself when life feels too much for too long. Our nervous system doesn’t distinguish between then and now; it only asks, “Am I safe?” And if the answer isn’t clear, it stays alert. Like any relationship, learning our body’s language takes time and energy. You can start by asking “What might this quiet be protecting?” or “When was the last time I heard my body speak?”

2. Is My Body Saying Pause or Grow?

   Not every sensation means stop. Pain and discomfort can feel similar, yet they serve different purposes. Both deserve respect but not the same response. A certain kind of stress known as “eustress” can actually be healthy. It motivates us and helps our body adapt and grow. Listening to our body isn’t passive or one-sided, it's an active dialogue. Without this, we can slip into hypervigilance or worry or frustration and awareness without action can become stagnation. The goal lies in balance: knowing when your body is saying pause and when it’s saying grow, and when to just listen, and when to listen and respond.

3. Listening to our body: What next?
   Once we start listening, the body needs a response. Responding doesn’t always mean big change. Sometimes it’s a deep breath, a small stretch, saying “no,” scheduling rest, or simply checking in. These micro-responses communicate safety, completing the loop between signal and care. Over time, this creates a pattern: signal → attention → compassionate response → shift. Each time you respond, you strengthen your body’s trust in you. So what is one small change you can make to show your body you are listening!  

A QUICK QUESTION…

What does your relationship with your body’s signals feels most like? Vote here!

Last week, we asked you how you know when its time to slow down, and the responses were… (drumroll please)…

With care and compassion,

The Social Therapist

P.S.: Where do you feel your feelings in your body? 

You’re receiving this email because you showed an interest in therapy, mental health, and/or well-being at The Social Therapist. If at any point you’d like to stop receiving this weekly newsletter aimed at improving mental health, please feel free to unsubscribe below. We’d hate to see you go, but we completely respect your decision to leave :)