How the Gut, Nervous System, and Emotions Are Connected
In holistic health and mind body coaching, we see the body as an integrated system, where self-healing begins with understanding and gentle awareness. Many sensitive people —especially women living with long-term stress — experience symptoms like fatigue, restlessness, digestive issues, or brain fog, often without a clear diagnosis. This can be frustrating, but in reality, through these symptoms, your body is often trying to communicate something important to you.
The Language of the Brain, the Gut, and Emotions
The gut is often called “the second brain” because of its complex network of nerves —this is what is called “the enteric nervous system”. This system communicates closely with our central nervous system via the vagus nerve. In practice, most signals actually travel from the body up to the brain, not just the other way around. When you feel stress-related symptoms or anxiety and tiredness without a diagnosis, it’s often your body’s way of letting you know your nervous system needs regulation and care.
The vagus nerve bridges the gut, brain, and our limbic system, where emotions like anxiety, safety, and joy are processed. If you experience long-term stress or suppressed emotions, it can impact both your digestive system and your emotional balance. It’s not unusual to experience issues like colitis, IBS, or other gut symptoms when you have perhaps also felt overwhelmed, sensitive, or exhausted for a longer time. There can, of course, be a time lapse between suppressed emotions and the expression of physical symptoms. That is also why we typically do not connect them directly.
A Self-Reinforcing Feedback Loop
When the gut is affected by inflammation, imbalance, or stress, signals are sent up the vagus nerve to the brain, where the limbic system processes them. This can create a sense of inner unease, sadness, or feeling “out of yourself.” At the same time, your mental state—such as chronic worry, suppressed emotions, or overwhelm—can send signals back down to the gut via the same nerve, amplifying symptoms.
This is where the true revolution in modern holistic health and consciousness coaching lies: By working with nervous system regulation and emotional intelligence, you can create new pathways for self-healing and physical calm. Body-based coaching, breathwork, and gentle awareness practices are some of the most effective ways to interrupt this cycle.
An Exercise for Gut, Emotion, and Calm
One simple exercise you can try is gently connecting with your belly, breath, and feelings:
- Sit or lie somewhere comfortable for 3-5 minutes.
- Place a hand gently on your belly.
- Close your eyes and slowly breathe in through your nose. Notice how your hand rises and falls with your breath.
- Let your attention rest beneath your hand. Ask yourself:
- What sensations do I notice in my belly right now?
- What emotions are present, if I simply notice them without judgment?
- If thoughts arise, gently bring your attention back to your breathing and your hand on your belly.
- Finally, imagine sending calm and warmth into your belly through your hand, perhaps silently saying, “I’m listening to you.”
This is a gentle starting point, but it’s worth knowing there are many other exercises that can support the nervous system and help you work with both bodily and emotional layers. Which exercises or approaches will be most helpful can vary greatly from person to person—depending on symptoms, sensitivity, and life circumstances. It can often be valuable to have support in finding the practices that suit you best.
Coaching for Sensitive People who want to move into self-healing
Mind body coaching and consciousness-based coaching offer an alternative to traditional symptom treatment and medication. Here, we work with both the body and the emotions to achieve lasting inner balance and healing. It’s not about “thinking yourself well,” but about understanding and collaborating with your body—and receiving the messages it sends.
Would you like help understanding your body and symptoms, or are you seeking coaching for women with stress and sensitivity?
You’re welcome to contact me for an insightful conversation about how you can return to yourself—without pushing through or ignoring your body’s signals.
Is this for me?
Consciousness coaching may be a good fit if you:
Are highly sensitive and seeking balance in body and life
Have symptoms that feel stress-related but are hard to explain
Long for personal growth with depth, gentleness, and meaning
Want to learn new ways to regulate your system and gain resilience
Are ready to live more authentically and create lasting change from within
Begin with a free session
You don’t have to be ready for a full program.
You’re welcome to book a free, no-obligation call where we explore your current needs and whether this approach feels right for you.
Book your first session for free here
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NB. These articles are made for educational purposes and do not replace advice from your medical doctor.
