Understanding the Connection Between Stress and Illness
Stress is more than just a mental or emotional strain — it has measurable impacts on the body. Chronic stress, in particular, is associated with weakened immune function, increased inflammation, and greater vulnerability to illness. But it’s not just the presence of stress that harms us — the way we respond to stress also matters.
In this article, we’ll explore the biological consequences of chronic stress, the impact of people-pleasing and placating behaviours, and what decades of research tell us about the mind-body connection.
The Link Between Chronic Stress and the Immune System
The human stress response is designed for short bursts — to help us flee danger or rise to a challenge. However, when stress becomes chronic, it keeps our nervous system in a constant state of arousal. Elevated levels of cortisol and adrenaline over time can suppress immune function, decrease infection-fighting white blood cells, and slow the body’s healing process.
How Stress Makes You More Vulnerable to Illness
1. Stress and the Common Cold
A study by Cohen et al. (1991) exposed healthy adults to the cold virus. Those experiencing higher levels of stress were significantly more likely to develop symptoms.
2. Chronic Stress Suppresses Immunity
A meta-analysis by Segerstrom & Miller (2004) reviewed over 300 studies and found consistent evidence that chronic stress reduces immune function, increases inflammation, and impairs antibody response.
3. Stress Slows Physical Healing
Research by Kiecolt-Glaser et al. (1995) demonstrated that caregivers under emotional strain healed from surgical wounds 40% slower than non-stressed individuals, highlighting the impact of stress on physical repair.
People-Pleasing and Placating: How Submissive Coping Hurts Health
While being agreeable and accommodating can support relationships, chronic people-pleasing, emotional suppression, and conflict avoidance can come at a cost to your physical and mental health. These behaviours often stem from trauma, conditioning, or a need to maintain peace — but they can quietly erode your well-being.
Supporting Research on People-Pleasing and Health
Emotional Suppression Triggers Physical Stress
Suppressing emotional expression activates physiological stress responses, including elevated heart rate and blood pressure, even in the absence of conflict (Gross & Levenson, 1997).
Submissiveness and Cardiovascular Reactivity
Unassertive behavior during conflict is linked to greater cardiovascular strain and long-term heart disease risk (Smith et al., 1992).
The Fawn Response and Trauma
Chronic people-pleasing, rooted in early trauma, keeps the body in a heightened state of hypervigilance and stress, leading to emotional burnout and immune dysregulation (Walker, 2013).
Weak Boundaries and Immune Function
Long-term psychosocial stress caused by blurred boundaries can reduce the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, weakening the immune system (Kemeny & Schedlowski, 2007).
Self-Silencing and Depression
Suppressing your voice and needs is strongly linked to depression, particularly in women — and over time, depression itself increases inflammation and suppresses immune resilience (Jack & Dill, 1992).
What This Means for Your Health
Chronic stress — especially when reinforced by patterns like people-pleasing, emotional suppression, and avoidance of conflict — has a measurable, negative impact on your physical health. From weakened immune defenses to heightened inflammation and heart strain, these coping patterns can put your body at long-term risk. Healing begins with awareness, boundary-setting, emotional expression, and support.
Need Support? We’re Here to Help
If you’re struggling with chronic stress, burnout, or patterns like placating and people-pleasing, our skilled and compassionate counsellors can help.
At Trauma and Stress Counselling, we offer evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy to help you:
- Reduce emotional and physical stress
- Rebuild assertiveness and self-worth
- Set boundaries without guilt
- Improve your health and energy through healthy coping strategies
Can stress make you sickYou don’t have to do this alone. Reach out today to book a session or learn more about how we can support you on your healing journey.
References
- Cohen, S., Tyrrell, D. A. J., & Smith, A. P. (1991). Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. New England Journal of Medicine, 325(9), 606–612. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199108293250903
- Segerstrom, S. C., & Miller, G. E. (2004). Psychological stress and the human immune system: A meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychological Bulletin, 130(4), 601–630. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601
- Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., et al. (1995). Slowing of wound healing by psychological stress. The Lancet, 346(8984), 1194–1196. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(95)92498-4
- Gross, J. J., & Levenson, R. W. (1997). Emotional suppression: Physiology, self-report, and expressive behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(1), 224–237. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.224
- Smith, T. W., et al. (1992). Hostility and cardiovascular reactivity during marital interaction. Health Psychology, 11(5), 269–276.
- Walker, P. (2013). Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. Azure Coyote Publishing.
- Kemeny, M. E., & Schedlowski, M. (2007). Understanding the interaction between psychosocial stress and immune function in humans. Nature Reviews Immunology, 7(3), 213–219.
- Jack, D. C., & Dill, D. (1992). The Silencing the Self Scale: Schemas of intimacy associated with depression in women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 16(1), 97–106.
