The Quiet Cry of Your Body: Signs You’re Disconnected and How to Tune In

With the winter season approaching and colder weather, common colds and viruses start peeking through. If you ask the masses, the most common thing would be to get sick at some point. And that would be defined as normal. People blame the weather, argue our immune system is not strong enough to fight all the bacteria and viruses that spread all around us, or simply say people who are sick aren’t mindful enough and spread the threat, and so on and so forth. We’ve eventually gotten so used to it that we never question the “why”; we just expect the “when”. What if I tell you, it’s not normal to get sick in colder weather? Our organism’s usual response isn’t to catch cold once the environment has changed, nor are we supposed to be so tenderly sensitive to the changing conditions.

As the winter gloom starts to fill the horizon, the energy of most people starts to decline. We feel less inspired, less motivated to do anything, and certainly not at our best capacity. It’s typical to attribute this to the lack of sunlight, shorter days, and colder nights. The body’s natural rhythm differs compared to summer days: all the signals point to slowing down, being less social, more introspective, and more focused on our deeper world inside. I believe we all feel that change and it’s not arguable that our whole being and needs shift once winter is approaching. We need to be mindful of the changes, however, it’s not a must we feel so low, sick and tired all the time.

Where has your energy gone? (common signs of disconnection)

This big introduction was all about how we make excuses for feeling like we do and never actually act upon those particular downsides we experience. We use phrases like “It’s cold outside,” “I’m tired all the time,” “I don’t want to do anything,” or “I’m too lazy right now.” As if we don’t mind how bad it is, because it gives us a reason to do less. Being on the low side of energy has its perks, because no one expects much from us. We won’t be productive, simply because we don’t have the capacity. And all of this might be true at some point, and we should listen to our bodies and give ourselves time to rest. However, if it continues the same way for weeks, or even months, then we’re in trouble. We’ve accepted a disconnected state as our normal. This should be enough of a clear sign something is not right. We’re either disconnected from the body, or we’re malnourished, or maybe we aren’t taking good care of our mental health. It’s all related to feeling good and replenished, high on energy, and enthusiastic about life.

My personal roller-coaster of events

Let me tell you a story. Almost three years ago I departed on a journey called “therapy” and self-help. One of the main reasons was that for the last couple of years before, I had started to get sick very, very often. Every month or so I’d catch a cold. Every two or three months I’d catch something harder to beat. I’d take antibiotics, have all kinds of inflammatory diseases, and they kept coming. I’d treat one, and once I started to feel slightly better, the next one would knock on my door. I’d heal the new visitor from the bacteria world, only to have my immune system so ruined that the next one was waiting around the corner. I also had developed some major allergies at the age of 18 and had various skin problems over the years – rashes, sensitivity against the sun, insects’ bites made my skin go crazy, many uncontrollable and unexplainable reactions to food, the environment, you name it. At some point this became too much and it started to affect my quality of life. You can image how deeply frustrated I was.

On top of everything, I actually considered myself a person who leads a healthy lifestyle. And I did. I tried to do everything “right.” I ate no junk food, almost no sweets and sugar, I trained my body often (3-4 times a week), I was having enough physical activities, and I took care of all external factors. I also started supplementing with vitamins and everything I could find in order to boost my immune system, to feel stronger, to stop this vicious cycle. Nothing worked, or at least not for the long run. And I honestly didn’t understand… What was I not doing right? Why didn’t it make a difference? What was the missing piece?

Well, I’d completely forgotten to take care of my mental health – my inner world and emotions were a mess.

The profound wisdom of the body we sometimes don’t understand

I eventually came to the resolution that it was not at all because of my habits or way of living, nor was the food or environment to blame. The key realization was something I was not seeing. It was something I didn’t allow myself to feel. Something deeper. Firstly, I figured out I was completely disconnected from my body and all those inflammations and different discomforts were signs to wake up. My body was screaming for help; it was desperate for me to hear its signals, to look deeper, to tune in. And all I did was stay on the surface. I took the easy measures – pills, supplements, food, sometimes rest, sometimes even more sports than I had the energy to do. “Playing sports must be good for you, right?” I covered it all up under my intention and belief I was doing it all. I was doing myself good.

However, I had completely ignored a major factor – I didn’t actually give my body what it really needed. Moreover, I was so disconnected with my inner world and my soul’s purpose that I didn’t understand what it needed. What I needed. I lacked freedom of expression and emotional stability, and all of those misalignments lead to my body getting sick all the time.

Of course, it turned out it’s all connected: my inner world was a mess, so the outer shell (my body) was being destroyed little by little. I’m so very lucky I opened my eyes when it wasn’t too late and I didn’t have too serious a condition or disease. However, it gets me wondering how many people wait to actually take care of themselves before it gets too late? I’d love to help shift this percentage, so we all become a little more conscious of the damage we do upon ourselves.

Once I started to take care of my mental health and rearrange the pieces of my life’s puzzle, and once I stopped being afraid of my darker side, of my shadow, I finally started to feel better overall. Personally for me, the right path was going to therapy and opening up the well-hidden skeletons in my closet in that safe space, where everything I talked about stayed private. However, that’s not the only way. I know many people are scared of that process or not ready yet, and that’s completely fine. You can try healing by yourself.

3 simple ways to reconnect and tune in

Stop explaining, start feeling

It’s very easy to fall into the trap of rationalizing, trying to find explanations and solutions to all your problems without ever tuning into your actual emotions and intuition regarding the situation. Very often physical discomfort is a sign of something bigger. We sometimes relate physical sensations to certain emotions: a tight chest is fear or worry, a lump in the throat is a boundary or opinion we couldn’t express, a tingling sensation in our upper body – hands and head – is anger building up, and so on. This goes the other way around: specific pain in the body, or more serious conditions, could be related to psychological burdens or trauma. Focus on perceiving that discomfort in the body (tension, stomach ache, fatigue) not as a problem to solve with a pill, but as an emotional message. Ask yourself: “What am I avoiding right now?” or “Which emotion is my current physical state tied to?”

Sit with yourself and start to feel. Try to connect with your inner wisdom, to hear what your state is trying to tell you. Identify the signal: which part of the body is it coming from? Tune in with your intuition and let it decipher. The truth will unveil once you give up on the rationale and let it fully unfold – as unbelievable as it might be. Don’t let your limitations or concrete beliefs blur it. Don’t be judgmental or too harsh with yourself, no matter the answers. No matter how much you like or dislike what’s revealed. Just pay attention and accept. Sit with it as long as you need. Day by day, time by time, it will get easier. You will become more open and accepting. You will feel more free.

There are many body-awareness practices you can also try, such as yoga, mindful movement, dancing, or breathwork, etc. Find what suits you best, a place and a group where you feel seen and comfortable to be yourself. Build up your discipline and start regularly going to such classes, or practice at home by yourself. Whatever you find works best for you. Just pay attention to the body. How do you feel? Where are the sensations? What’s changing with time and repetition? Create that safe space for the body’s signals and spare at least 5 minutes daily to tune in. Even if you’ve skipped the yoga class, take some time before going to bed to revisit your day: were there any intense emotions, did you express them, where in your body might they have found shelter if not expressed? Ask some questions to elaborate on any tension left in the body and mindfully release it with a few deep breaths.

Honor your rhythms and stay adaptable to change in energy

Acknowledge the winter slowdown and your own need for rest. Give yourself permission to say “no” to social events and stay at home. Try every now and then to replace the high-intensity exercise with gentle movement. It’s impossible to always be at the high of the tide, have endless to-do lists, play various sports, practice a bunch of hobbies, and find time for yourself and loved ones. Every once in a while, try to spend more time “just being.” Find the beauty of slow mornings and enjoy every bite of your breakfast, every sip of the warm coffee, and pay closer attention to every word that you write down in your morning journal sessions.

Take a moment for a simple, short meditation, or a breathing practice when you find the need to unwind your thoughts and balance the rhythm within. Spend a weekend with no plans and no to-do lists, only following your instincts and your body’s needs. Allow yourself to act upon spontaneous ideas, or to skip every invitation for a while. There are multiple ways to honour your need to slow down and replenish your energy. The approaching winter is a wonderful sign it’s time to take care of yourself, to stay in your cocoon, and nourish your heart for a deeper connection within.

Find your emotional outlet

To find emotional freedom and a deeper understanding of the self, start journaling, or therapy, or both. Start writing down 5 things you’re grateful for every day and then tell them out loud. Allow yourself to cry when the emotion comes. Find your type of creative outlets to allow the “inner mess” to surface without it manifesting as physical illness: drawing, writing, painting, coloring, dancing – whatever you find amusing, light, and fun.

Freedom of expression is an essential part of the healing journey, because when we release emotions and feelings externally, the body doesn’t need to find ways to store them. Therefore, they won’t materialize as any physical discomfort in the long run. The body remembers, and it’s wise enough to have built the mechanisms that keep us safe from those excessive feelings that would ruin us. It contains them and keeps them away from the psyche that couldn’t handle them. However, once we build up our capacity to deal with everything and are ready to expand, it will gladly let them go. It will let them out. And it might lead to some tough times, but it’s going to be for the better.

A better understanding for a greater life

The journey back to your body isn’t a race; it’s a conversation. It’s a long and sometimes complex process that needs your attention and patience. It requires slowing down enough to hear the whispers of your body before they turn into screams of illness. But trust me, it’s worth every second you devote to understanding its patterns and tuning in with its needs. Because it’s all related to your well-being, elevating your spirit, and experiencing life at its fullest. Once you integrate your mind, body, and spirit, you don’t just stop getting sick – you start living with true, boundless energy. What is your body trying to tell you today?

Journal Prompts

Stop Explaining, Start Feeling

• What is your recurring physical discomfort trying to tell you?
• What emotion surfaces when you focus on your stomach tension (or other specific pain)?
• What is the rational excuse you use to avoid listening to your body’s signal?

Honor Your Rhythms and Stay Adaptable

• What is your mind’s biggest fear about truly slowing down?
• What one activity can you replace with gentle movement this week?
• What non-negotiable boundary will you set today to protect your energy?

Find Your Emotional Outlet

• If your inner mess was a color, what color would it be?
• What is the hardest emotion for you to fully express right now?
• What burden is your body asking your mind to finally release?