The gut–brain axis
The two-way connection between the digestive system and the brain, along which stress affects digestion and digestion affects how you feel.
How it shows up
A stomach that tightens before an exam. Digestive trouble in periods of stress. The connection runs both ways, through the nervous system, hormones and the gut microbiome.
What this means
That it makes little sense to separate physical symptoms from mental state — but also that a doctor must first rule out physical causes.
See also
The therapeutic frame
The agreed rules of sessions — time, length, frequency, fee, cancellations, confidentiality.
High sensitivity
A characteristic in which a person processes stimuli from their surroundings more strongly and more deeply.
Transgenerational transmission
The passing of patterns, rules and unprocessed distress from generation to generation, mostly without words.
