Swelling. Redness. A wave of white blood cells rushing to the scene.
Most people recognize what inflammation looks like. Fewer could explain why the same response meant to protect the body could become a risk to the mind as well.
Here’s a primer on how inflammation works, and why it matters beyond infection and injury.
Click the image to enlarge
– Source: Anna Marsland, PhD, RN –
Some immune cells, like macrophages, monitor their surroundings for signs of infection or damage.
Often, they find nothing out of the ordinary.
But when the immune cells detect pathogens or damaged cells, they release chemical messengers like cytokines to start an inflammatory response.
The inflammatory response causes blood vessels to become more permeable. Fluid then moves into surrounding tissue and causes swelling.
Immune cells are also able to move more efficiently and arrive at the affected tissue.
Blood vessels widen, which brings more blood to the affected area and also causes redness.
While all that is happening, immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils are also very busy, engulfing intruders and clearing away debris.
Inflammation is essential to our health – it’s the body’s natural defense response to injury and infection. But those aren’t the only triggers of inflammation.
Chronic stress, poor sleep, excess body fat, and other ongoing physical and emotional stressors can also activate inflammatory signaling in the body. And when these signals don’t fully switch off . . .
Over time, they can settle into chronic, low-grade inflammation, which is linked to a range of long-term health problems.
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This infographic is a good reminder that the mind and body aren’t running two separate systems.
The same inflammatory response that heals a splinter can also be triggered by ongoing stress. Left unchecked, that response could quietly raise the risk for both physical and mental health concerns.
I’ll have more to say about this soon. But in the meantime, I’d love to hear what stands out to you.
Please leave a comment below.
Alison R, Coach, XX, MA, USA says
Great graphic! I would have liked the last phrase to include, “…long term health problems such as…”
Thanks!
Thama Logan, Clergy, Columbus, Ohio, OH, USA says
I appreciate the graphics and simple explanations given in the above diagram. It’s something I can download and print and post in a convenient place to remind me how my body’s immune system works. It’s very useful information, and I will keep it in mind, as I navigate through my journey to health. I’m more inclined to deploy holistic approaches to wellness and use doctors as needed. Thank you.
Jamie Heavey, Counseling, Dallas, TX, USA says
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for the infographics. They are a wonderful way to learn, understand and remember technical information quickly.
Jamie Heavey
Teona Amble, Psychology, Buckley, WA, USA says
This infographic provides a helpful and easy-to-follow illustration of an essential physiological process, making it less abstract. I could see using this in sessions with clients when I discuss the impact of stress on their health and disease risk factors. Thanks for sharing!
Catherine Folio says
Chronic stress also activates the Mast Cells in the skin, the throat, and all the way down the digestive tract. Mast cells release incredible amounts of histamines through granulation in times of stress. These histamines cause muscles in the throat, esophagus, stomach, intestines and rectum (even around the heart!) to painfully spasm until the proper meds are taken. In the skin, mast cells activate extreme itching and painful hot spots. Most physicians (including psychiatrists) are not familiar with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and order all types of useless tests. If a therapist notices such symptoms in an anxious client, they should refer them to a doctor or allergist familiar with MCAS for proper diagnosis, meds and stress-reducing methods.
Annabelle Breuer-Udo says
I love this infographic. Especially because I’m seeing it through the lens of integrative health and functional and integrative nutrition. I’m very interested in the connection between psychology and nutrition and nutrition can also be a big stressor for our body AND mind. Thanks for creating and sharing this with us!
~Annabelle
Angelina Carpenter says
Dear Ruth & the team @ NICABM-
I have been following your work for some while. The topics you focus on are the most important ones IMHO for growth & healing.
This one is a particular interest personally. My chronic inflammation has led to a serious disease. I have a big part of this disease (now in remission) behind me, but i’m still dealing with fall out from it. I look forward to a deeper dive into the subject from a holistic point of view.
As Teresa speaks below, i totally subscribe to the Mind/Body connection. I would also add spiritual. It is all interconnected. We are all interconnected.
Kym says
I had no idea that stress could cause inflammation- Thankyou for the explanation of how it does
Pat MacKay says
Thank you for the infographic! It’s so helpful to have a simple tool to show a client who has not yet been able to link their levels of stress to bodily changes that cause them discomfort. Which, of course, then creates a cycle of comfort seeking…
Teresa Lane says
Because I am a family NP and psych CNS, my nursing background and holistic approach have trained me to look at the patient/person as a whole. Not as separate. When one part is hurt the entire body, mind, soul, spirit is affected. Reducing inflammation is pivotal in a journey to health. Diet, exercise, sleep and healthy habits and not having negative thinking are essential to happiness. I already incorporate the story of inflammation into my sessions and if medication is needed that is an adjunct.
Sheila says
I hope you’ll also look into how this affects people with virus induced autoimmune issues – like long covid – and how many people started developing MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) type issues, where the Mast Cells (Immune Cells) start releasing so many inflammatory chemicals, like histamine and cytokines.
Could this be due to viral sanctuaries in the body?
Let’s find out!
It’s great to see more people try to understand what is happening medically to a large percentage of the population … even when the medical system doesn’t make this a priority.
Angelina Carpenter says
I agree Sheila. It is great to see a new way of attending to help emerging.