From Page to Practice: It’s Not Just in Your Head (It’s in Your Gut)
Many of us know the feeling of a nervous stomach. That churning, unsettled sensation before a hard conversation. The tightness that comes with uncertainty. The "gut feeling" that something's off.
But what if these signals aren’t just emotional metaphors? What if they’re the body remembering?
In When the Body Says No, Dr. Gabor Maté shares research on the link between gut disorders and chronic stress. Conditions like IBS, Crohn's, and ulcerative colitis don't just exist in the gut—they're deeply entwined with the nervous system and emotional memory. And emerging research in psychoneuroimmunology (the study of how the mind, brain, and immune system interact) is backing this up.
For example: people with IBS show different brain activation than those without symptoms. When anticipating or experiencing gut-based discomfort, they show heightened activity in the prefrontal cortex—a brain area linked to emotional memory and threat interpretation. It's not a conscious reaction. It's the nervous system doing what it learned to do: stay hyperaware in order to stay safe.
This state of vigilance isn't limited to the brain. The vagus nerve—the communication superhighway between the gut and the brain—plays a major role in digestion, pain perception, and emotional regulation. When the nervous system is dysregulated, the gut often feels it first.
The result?
Heightened sensitivity to sensation (even normal digestion can feel like distress)
A lower pain threshold
That sense of "bracing" even when nothing is wrong
These reactions are real. And they are physiological.
How Bodywork Can Help
Massage and somatic work don’t claim to cure digestive disorders. But they do support the system holding the pattern.
Through safe, attuned, and responsive touch, the nervous system begins to soften. Massage activates the parasympathetic state (rest and digest), helping the body shift out of hypervigilance. Somatic work helps increase awareness, so clients begin to notice these patterns instead of being ruled by them.
When the body learns it's safe to rest, everything else begins to recalibrate.
Over time:
The system builds capacity
Responses become less intense
Sensations become less alarming
It doesn't happen overnight. But it does happen.
Simple Practices to Start
If your gut has been carrying more than just digestion, here are a few gentle ways to begin creating safety and support from within:
Start with breath awareness. When your stomach feels tight or unsettled, notice your breath—not to change it, but to simply observe. Bringing gentle attention to the breath can shift the nervous system toward regulation.
Rest your hand on your abdomen. A light hand placed over the belly can send a message of safety to the nervous system. The gut responds to cues of connection, even from yourself.
Track your environment. Notice moments when your body feels a little more at ease—after a walk, in nature, or when lying under a weighted blanket. These small cues help the body learn what safety feels like.
Choose support that centers regulation. Whether it’s massage, body-based therapy, or simply slowing down, choose what helps your system shift out of survival and into rest.
Our bodies are wired to protect us. But they’re also wired to heal. With support, presence, and patience, that healing can start to unfold—even in the gut.
