When the Tests Say You're Healthy But You Feel Broken

"Maria sat across from me, her medical chart showing encouraging numbers - normal blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. By medical standards, she was healthy. But her eyes told a different story. "I've done everything right," she said. "I exercise five times a week, I eat organic food, I take all my vitamins. But I feel empty, like something is wrong - and I'm tired all the time.""

"As we talked, Maria's story came out. A successful realtor, she had achieved everything society values: money, status, and physical fitness. But what the tests hadn't measured were some major changes in her life. Six months earlier, her best friend had moved across the country. Maria's parents, who lived several hours away, were in their 80s and starting to need help she couldn't easily give. She had been too busy to plant her annual vegetable garden or attend church regularly, like she used to."

"Maria's situation showed me something I've seen many times in my decades as a doctor: Health is not just the absence of disease. Her physical needs were met, but other key elements of a healthy existence were missing. Research tells us that exercise and time in nature boost our mood and help us relax. 1,2 Social and spiritual connections are also deeply important. By "spiritual connection," I don't mean organized religion, but a sense of finding greater meaning in life."

A patient can have normal medical metrics yet experience persistent fatigue and emotional emptiness despite healthy behaviors. Major life changes such as loss of close relationships, growing caregiving responsibilities, and loss of routine meaningful activities can erode wellbeing. Physical needs alone do not capture overall health; social connection, time in nature, exercise, and a sense of spiritual meaning all contribute to mood, relaxation, and resilience. Reintroducing valued activities and prioritizing social and spiritual needs can improve wellbeing. Communicating what matters most to healthcare providers can help align care with the full range of health needs.

Read at Psychology Today