Negative emotions and prolonged stress interfere with the body's ability to protect itself and can increase the likelihood of illness. The adult child of a client diagnosed with severe anxiety asks, "Do you think anxiety and physical illness are connected?" "Since my father's death, my mother has had shingles and the flu, but she's usually not one who gets sick.”. Which answer by the nurse best reflects current knowledge?

"You may be paying more attention to your mother since your father died and noticing more things such as minor illness.”.

"It is probably a coincidence. Emotions and physical responses travel on different tracts of the nervous system.”.

"So far, research on emotions or stress and becoming ill more easily is unclear. We do not know for sure if there is a link.”.

"Research shows a definite connection between stress and the body's ability to fight off illness.”.