Ever since entering this phase of uncertainty, I’ve become much more aware of how deeply the body and mind are connected.
Mentally, I kept telling myself that I was okay — that I was handling things well, staying positive, and moving forward the best I could. But my body seemed to be telling a different story.
It started subtly. I suddenly lost my appetite. After meals, I would feel a tightness around my chest and find myself constantly burping. Sometimes when I cried, it even felt difficult to breathe. That was when I realized: maybe my body had been carrying stress long before my mind fully acknowledged it.
It felt like my body was quietly saying,
“Hello, we are not okay.”
As I started researching my symptoms, I came across the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine and something called “Liver Qi Stagnation.”
In TCM, the liver is believed to help Qi — the body’s energy — flow smoothly. When we experience prolonged stress, emotional suppression, frustration, or tension, that flow can become stuck or restricted. According to this perspective, emotional pressure can manifest physically through symptoms such as chest tightness, digestive discomfort, appetite changes, or the sensation of something being “stuck” inside the body.
One explanation that stayed with me was this:
Think of the liver as an emotional house. When emotions become heavy or unresolved, the house tightens. When we feel safe, calm, or emotionally lighter, it softens again.
Whether viewed through TCM or modern stress physiology, I’m beginning to understand that the body often notices what the mind tries to push past.
Maybe healing is not only about convincing ourselves that we are okay.
Maybe it is also about learning how to help the body feel safe again.