Somatic Signs Your Body is Holding Stress

Written By Moon Bloom

Psychological and emotional stress activates the body’s sympathetic aka “fight or flight” response which triggers a cascade of different physiological responses in the body. This stress doesn’t have to be a literal threat of danger- often in our modern world we can feel very real, constant stress from things like financial worries, loneliness and alienation, identity crisis, and major life upheavals (positive and negative!) like a job transition, relationship ending, new marriage or baby, or a big move. Here are some ways that stress can show itself in the body:

1. Musculoskeletal System

  • Chronic neck, shoulder, or jaw tension

  • Tension headaches or migraines

  • Back pain without a clear structural cause

  • Teeth grinding or jaw clenching (often during sleep)

2. Nervous System

  • Tingling or numbness (especially hands, feet, face)

  • Feeling lightheaded or “shaky”

  • Restlessness or feeling “on edge”

  • Pain that seems to “migrate” or feel diffused

  • Sensitivity to light, sound, and touch

3. Cardiovascular System

  • Chest tightness (not due to heart disease)

  • Elevated blood pressure

  • Cold hands or feet (from blood vessel constriction)

4. Gastrointestinal System

  • Stomach pain or cramping

  • Nausea or appetite changes

  • Worsening of conditions like IBS

5. Respiratory System

  • Shortness of breath not related to asthma

  • Shallow or rapid breathing

  • Frequent sighing or yawning

  • Sensation of a lump in the throat

  • Chest tightness related to anxiety

6. Immune and Inflammatory Responses

  • Frequent colds or infections

  • Slower healing

  • Flare-ups of inflammatory conditions

  • Increased allergies or skin reactions

  • General sense of physical “run-down”

7. Skin and Hair

Stress hormones directly affect skin and hair growth cycles.

  • Acne breakouts

  • Eczema and psoriasis flare ups

  • Excessive sweating, especially at night

  • Hair thinning or shedding

  • Hives or itching without clear cause

8. Sleep and Energy Regulation

Stress disrupts circadian and hormonal rhythms.

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep

  • Non-restorative sleep

  • Feeling “tired but wired”

9. Hormonal and Reproductive Effects

Stress affects endocrine signaling.

  • Worsening PMS symptoms and cycle irregularities

  • Changes in libido

It’s not all in your head.

When the nervous system is dysregulated, stress hormones are released, blood vessels constrict, and the body goes into survival mode. Your brain structure and function shifts, and learns this state of being, and will repeat the same patterns, in order to try to protect you.

The good news? The learned brain-body patterns (neuroplasticity) that cause these symptoms to keep manifesting can be shifted- your nervous system can be taught regulation that allows the body to feel safety, be at ease, and function in a much healthier way. When you can leave the state of survival, your mind, capacity to feel, and the world around you expand. Healing isn’t just about relief; it’s about growth.

Moon Bloom https://moon-bloom.com