When Your Body Speaks, Consider the Triangle

The next time something feels off, pause and ask:  What has changed structurally, chemically, or emotionally?  Which side of my triangle needs attention today? Start with one manageable step: a movement break, a nourishing meal,  or a conversation with someone you trust.

When someone comes into my office with pain, I look at how their body moves, where there is tension, and what may be contributing to their discomfort. I also consider what is happening in their daily life. A useful way to organize this information is to picture a triangle with three sides: structural, chemical, and emotional.

These influences interact every day. Understanding them can help us recognize patterns in how we feel and decide where we might need support.

The structural side includes our muscles, joints, movement patterns, and physical demands. Prolonged sitting, repetitive tasks, injuries, and muscle weakness can affect how comfortably we move. Spending hours in one position may contribute to stiffness or discomfort. This side invites us to consider movement breaks, appropriate strengthening, adjustments to our workspace, and care for an injury.

The chemical side includes nutrition, hydration, alcohol, hormones, and medications. Good nutrition begins with vegetables, fruit, adequate protein, fiber-rich foods, and healthy fats, while limiting highly processed foods high in added sugar. The type of fat matters, too. Partially hydrogenated oils contain artificial trans fats, which can promote inflammation. Healthier choices include olive oil and omega-3 fats from salmon and sardines. The EPA and DHA found in fish and good-quality fish oil help regulate the body’s inflammatory response. If a supplement is appropriate, choose one independently tested for purity and potency with guidance from your healthcare provider. Hydration, hormonal changes, alcohol, and medications also deserve attention when considering how we feel each day.

The emotional side includes stress, grief, worry, and the pressures we carry. Emotional distress can affect sleep, appetite, muscle tension, and our experience of pain. Recognizing this connection helps us care for the whole person. 

I experienced it personally after my mother passed away. My left hip became so painful that walking was difficult. The morning after I delivered her eulogy, I woke up feeling much better. That experience stayed with me and deepened my appreciation for how closely our emotional and physical lives can connect. 

In practice, I have noticed shoulder or hip pain in some patients navigating the loss of a loved one, including a beloved pet, or going through a divorce. As they move through grief or settle into life after divorce, some report feeling better physically, too. These observations remind me to ask what someone is carrying emotionally. Grief has no fixed timetable. 

The triangle also helps us recognize cycles. Pain may lead us to move less, feel discouraged, and change our eating or drinking habits. Those changes can influence how we feel. Giving attention to several sides may help us move forward.

The next time something feels off, pause and ask: 

• What has changed structurally, chemically, or emotionally? 
• Which side of my triangle needs attention today?

Start with one manageable step:

• a movement break,
• a nourishing meal, 
• or a conversation with someone you trust.

Persistent, severe, or unexplained symptoms deserve professional evaluation. Let the triangle guide reflection and conversation, helping you approach your body with greater awareness and compassion.