How Conflict Can Make You Sick: The Physical Toll of Emotional Stress

We all know that stress can take a toll on our mental health, but did you know it can also manifest physically? From persistent colds to unexplained aches and pains, unresolved conflicts and emotional distress can leave your body feeling drained and vulnerable.

Malavika Sen, a Dubai-based homemaker, experienced this firsthand. After a growing rift with her husband, she developed a persistent fever that doctors couldn’t explain. Even after their separation, the fever lingered. “It finally subsided after two weeks of visits to doctors and countless medications, but no one could ever pinpoint the cause,” she recalls. Even today, hives appear whenever she’s reminded of her marriage.

Beth Jonathan, a media professional based in Abu Dhabi, faced a similar experience. A devastating argument with her partner fractured their relationship beyond repair, leaving her emotionally and physically drained. She felt a constant wave of nausea, a physical manifestation of her emotional turmoil.

These stories highlight a powerful truth: conflict doesn’t just affect our minds; it deeply impacts our physical well-being.

The Emotional Toll of Conflict

When we’re in conflict, our nervous system perceives it as a threat, triggering a cascade of physiological changes aimed at ensuring survival. Stress hormones flood our bodies, and our sympathetic nervous system remains activated, leading to a state of constant hypervigilance or, at times, hypo-vigilance. This constant state of stress takes a toll on our immune system, making us more susceptible to illness.

Nusrat Khan, a clinical psychologist at Human Relations Institute & Clinics in Dubai, explains, “When we’re in conflict, our nervous system perceives it as a threat. This sets off a cascade of physiological changes aimed at ensuring survival. Stress hormones flood the body, and our sympathetic nervous system remains activated in a constant state of hypervigilance or, at times, hypo-vigilance…”

Chronic stress from interpersonal conflicts, especially toxic relationships, can lead to numerous health problems, from disrupted menstrual cycles and diabetes to immunosuppressant reactions.

“The mind and body are deeply interconnected. Our emotional state influences physical health, and vice versa. For example, unresolved interpersonal stress impacts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, triggering the release of cortisol, which can suppress immune function and promote inflammation,” explains Devika Mankani, Chief Positive Psychologist of Fortes Education, Dubai.

The mind-body connection is undeniable, and unresolved emotions from conflict manifest physically.

When we’

Cortisol and Adrenaline: A Double-edged Sword

According to Louisa Grace, a clinical psychologist in Abu Dhabi, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline play pivotal roles in the body’s response to perceived threats. While this response is beneficial in short bursts, it becomes harmful when stress lingers over time. As Grace points out, “The persistent stress overwhelms the body, leading to physical symptoms like pain, slow-healing injuries, and digestive issues.

Maria Youssef, an endocrinologist in Abu Dhabi and Nas Al Jafari, Co-Founder & Group Medical Director – DNA Health &amp

Cortisol increases blood sugar for quick energy and suppresses the immune system to prioritise immediate survival. But when cortisol remains elevated, it decreases the production of lymphocytes, the white blood cells responsible for fighting off infections. “While acute cortisol release limits excessive inflammation, prolonged high cortisol levels can dampen the body’s ability to respond to infections effectively,” explains Al Jafari.

With fewer white blood cells circulating, the body’s ability to ward off viruses and bacteria is severely impaired. Cortisol also inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, proteins that facilitate communication between immune cells. This suppression makes the body more vulnerable to infections and slows recovery from illness or injury, says Youssef.

How Stress Affects Your Immune System

And so, the immune system, already weakened by stress, struggles to defend the body against even mild viruses, causing colds to linger. Mankani explains, the study from Carnegie Mellon University, which found that interpersonal stress, such as frequent family arguments, was associated with a higher risk of colds and flu, as stress reduced the body’s ability to fight infections. Mankani says, The Ohio State University, which highlighted that negative interactions can delay healing and impair immune responses, she says.

Stress can even impact digestion, and issues, bloating, or irregular bowel movements can be linked to emotional turmoil, as the body’s fight-or-flight response is activated, directing resources away from processes like digestion.

And so, the emotional toll of unresolved stress is linked to physical manifestation of illness.

Low-grade Inflammation: The Hidden Toll on Health

As cortisol levels surge, they trigger inflammation, leading to symptoms like swelling and a weakened immune response. Over time, this activation makes it difficult for the body to heal or protect itself. Khan explains, “The body’s activation makes it difficult for the body to heal or protect itself.

High emotional distress can impair the system, leading to a state of chronic activation. As a neuropsychiatrist explains, at the heart rate, along with the blood pressure. There’s tension in the and area, leading to headaches.

The Role of the Vagus Nerve

As Chandran, a neuropsychiatrist explains, at the heart rate, along with the blood pressure. There’s tension in the and area, leading to headaches.

The physical pain after emotional trauma, such as a breakup or loss, can be felt as tension in the chest, headaches, or even pain. This is because emotions like and can affect the system, causing inflammation and pain. The physical pain is not ‘imaginary’ but rather a tangible expression of the struggle the person is experiencing.

It is essential to recognise that unresolved conflicts and physical symptoms like fatigue, or even pain. These are the body’s way of signaling that something needs healing.

• Listen to your body:

• Prioritise self-care:

• Address conflict:

• Establish boundaries: