When Your Body Hurts, So Does Your Heart: How Physical Pain Impacts Mental Health (and Why That Awareness Is a Win)
Let’s be real—healing isn’t just about physical recovery. It’s also a mental game, and sometimes the quietest battles are the ones happening inside your mind while your body is doing its best to heal.
I had major surgery last week. And while I expected some pain, I wasn’t prepared for how it would affect everything else. My energy. My mood. My patience. My ability to string together a coherent sentence. (Seriously—bless anyone who’s had to decipher my texts lately.)
But here’s the win:
I noticed.
I didn’t shame myself.
I didn’t try to power through like the old me might have.
I gave myself grace.
🧠 When Your Body Is in Pain, Your Mind Feels It Too
Physical pain isn’t just about sore muscles or surgical incisions. It affects our sleep, our emotional bandwidth, and even our self-worth. You might find yourself feeling:
Extra irritable or anxious
Overwhelmed by small decisions
Unmotivated or detached
Unkind toward yourself for “not doing more”
But none of that means you’re weak.
It means you're human.
And it means your nervous system is working overtime just to function.
💡 Recognizing the Mind-Body Connection Is a Huge Victory
One of the most powerful things we can do is pause and say:
“My body is in pain, and that’s affecting how I feel emotionally.”
That kind of awareness isn’t just a good insight—it’s a healing moment.
It creates space for grace.
It tells your inner critic to take a seat.
It opens the door for compassion to walk in.
And trust me, compassion is a way better roommate than perfectionism.
💗 How to Offer Yourself Grace During Physical Healing
If you're walking through pain right now—whether it’s surgery recovery, chronic illness, or even a mystery ache that Google says is definitely something terrifying (thanks, WebMD)—here are some gentle reminders:
Lower the bar. This isn’t your season for hustle. It’s your season for healing.
Celebrate small wins. Getting out of bed. Drinking water. Laughing once. These count.
Let others in. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. Honest connection heals.
Speak to yourself like someone you love. Because you are someone worth loving.
🌱 Your Call to Action: Practice Grace, Not Grit
This week, I challenge you to notice what your body is telling you—and honor it with compassion.
No shame. No guilt. Just truth and tenderness.
➡️ Write down one way your physical state has affected your mental state lately.
➡️ Then, write a short note to yourself as if you were a dear friend going through the same thing.
If you’re struggling to find that grace or need someone to hold space while you sort through it—I’m here. This is the work I do with my clients, and I’d be honored to support you.
💕 Ready to start healing your heart (and honoring your body in the process)? Click here to book a free clarity call with me.
Because you don’t have to do this alone.💛
✨Get your free Heart-Healing Checklist at the link below:
✨ Not ready to book? Then reach out and say hi on Instagram. Let’s talk, heart to heart.