When Symptoms Speak: What Is Your Body Trying to Tell You?
Picture this: Your body develops pain, fatigue, inflammation, or any form of discomfort. What's your first reaction?
If you're like most of us, it's fear.
That fear is completely understandable—symptoms threaten our sense of control, disrupt our plans, and remind us of our vulnerability. But here's the paradox: the fear response itself can become part of the problem.
The Fear Response Trap
When fear strikes, our sympathetic nervous system floods our body with stress hormones. These chemicals, designed to help us escape immediate danger, can actually amplify the very symptoms we're trying to alleviate.
Think about it: When you're in fight-or-flight mode, your body diverts precious resources away from restoration and repair, focusing instead on immediate survival. Healing requires the opposite state—one of calm, regulated nervous system function where your body can focus on repair and restoration.
The Middle Path: Aware but Not Consumed
What if there's another way? What if we could transform our relationship with these bodily signals?
There exists a middle path between ignoring symptoms (denial) and being consumed by them (anxiety). This path involves cultivating what I call "witnessing presence"—observing our symptoms with curious attention rather than fearful resistance.
Here are 5 practical ways to practice this when symptoms arise:
1. Pause and Breathe Just three deep breaths can begin shifting your nervous system from sympathetic to parasympathetic activation. This simple act creates space between you and your fear response.
2. Name the Experience Without Judgment Instead of "This pain is terrible and means something awful," try "I notice tension in my shoulders" or "I'm experiencing fatigue right now."
3. Get Curious About the Sensation What are the qualities of this symptom? Does it move, pulsate, or change in intensity? Approach it like a gentle scientist rather than a worried patient.
4. Listen for the Message Sometimes symptoms are your body's way of asking for rest, nourishment, emotional release, or gentle movement. What might yours be requesting?
5. Respond with Compassion Rather Than Fear Ask yourself: "How would I care for a loved one experiencing this same symptom?" Then offer yourself that same kindness.
Beyond the Battlefield
Our culture often frames illness as a battle and symptoms as enemies to be conquered. This metaphor itself generates stress and resistance.
What if we approached our symptoms as we would approach a crying child—with presence, patience, and a genuine desire to understand what they need?
This doesn't mean passive acceptance of suffering. Rather, it means engaging with your healing process from a state of regulated calm instead of anxious resistance—creating the internal conditions where true healing becomes possible.
The Truth About This Work
I won't lie to you—none of this is easy. I know because I lived in chronic pain and inflammation for many years. There were days when curiosity felt impossible, when fear seemed like the only rational response.
But here's what I discovered: When we learn to partner with our bodies instead of fighting them, everything changes. Symptoms become teachers. Pain becomes a pathway to deeper healing. And our bodies remember how to restore themselves.
Ready to transform your relationship with your symptoms?
If you're struggling with chronic or mystery symptoms and feel like you've tried everything, you don't have to navigate this journey alone. I'm here to help you decode what your body is trying to tell you and create a personalized path back to vibrant health.
Reach out today—your healing journey is waiting.
With compassion and hope,
Dr. Dr Sherri
P.S. Did this resonate with you?
