Somatic Medicine
It is well recognized that psychological stresses can influence physical health—but equally important is how stored emotional energy in the body can contribute to persistent physical symptoms. When something feels off, it is natural to tune into bodily sensations. This awareness can be a key step in healing, especially when chronic symptoms are the body’s way of communicating unresolved emotional stress.
In somatic work, individuals are guided to explore the physical manifestations of emotion—such as tension, fatigue, digestive upset, or shortness of breath—not as imagined illness, but as meaningful signals of nervous system dysregulation. Rather than focusing on diagnoses like Somatic Symptom Disorder, this approach supports reconnection with the body as a source of insight and healing.
These physical symptoms may be triggered by unresolved stress or trauma, and can include abdominal discomfort, muscle tension, heart palpitations, fatigue, insomnia, and other non-specific symptoms. Somatic therapy helps create the space to process and release these sensations, which may have been stored in the nervous system for years.
While the conventional system often separates physical and emotional health, integrative practitioners like NP Danelle DeBye recognize the importance of restoring nervous system balance, addressing root causes, and supporting mind-body integration to reduce long-term suffering.
One emerging area of focus is the role of “leaky gut”—a condition of increased intestinal permeability that can lead to brain inflammation, anxiety, and widespread symptoms due to the gut-brain connection. Danelle DeBye integrates this understanding into her holistic Root & Rise program to support those struggling with chronic stress and burnout from the inside out. NP Danelle Debye discusses Leaky Gut.