'My body knew my relationship was toxic before I did.'

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For months, Rachel thought she hated sex. It wasn't enjoyable, so much so she never wanted to take part. She even considered whether she might be asexual.

Then, she broke up with her boyfriend, and realised just how far from the truth that was.

"Turns out, I hated sex with him," she told Mamamia.

The same weekend she moved out, her ongoing gut issues suddenly cleared up.

Watch: A snippet of a woman talking about how your body can 'reject' relationships. Post continues below.

Heidi's body had a more dramatic response. She broke out in a rash that spread across her entire body during her last relationship.

"It started as a cluster of three red welts that were on my abdomen and within hours had spread to my entire body," she told Mamamia.

After ruling out viral and fungal infections, her GP delivered a telling diagnosis: her body was reacting to significant stress.

"It wasn't until this happened that I realised how unhappy I was with this relationship."

Jane's warning signs were more subtle, but they were consistent. Her stomach would hurt every time her ex called.

"It was a toxic relationship and I finally listened to all of the signs telling me to end it," she said.

For Merryn, the message couldn't have been clearer. When she tried to "work on things" with her ex-husband, the stress gave her double vision for a week.

"My body very clearly said no," she said.

These women aren't alone.

Across social media and in conversations with friends, women are sharing stories of their bodies seemingly rejecting relationships that aren't right for them — mysterious rashes and digestive issues, headaches and insomnia that vanish the moment they leave an unhappy partnership.

But can our bodies actually reject relationships? And should we be listening more closely to these physical warning signs?

When the body says 'no'.

It's more complicated than a simple rejection, says clinical psychologist and couples therapist Phoebe Rogers.

While our bodies can't literally 'reject' relationships, they can certainly signal that we're under chronic stress via a number of physical symptoms.

Researchers found that relationship stress can alter our endocrine, cardiovascular and immune function, creating what researchers call "key pathways from troubled relationships to poor health".

Rogers explained that chronic relationship stress can send our bodies into survival mode.

"We may feel more alert, reactive, and hyper-vigilant, and are in a state of 'fight or flight'," she told Mamamia.

"Short term, if our body is preparing for danger, it engages in events such as stomach emptying and increased heart rate. Chronic stress can contribute to increased cortisol levels, which over the long term can contribute to physical symptoms, such as disturbed sleep and digestive issues."

Many people on social media also report their skin improving after leaving toxic relationships.

Research shows that cortisol levels correlate with acne severity.

Translation? If you already struggle with your skin, the stress from a bad relationship might not be helping, as cortisol ramps up oil production.

Longer term, sustained cortisol elevation creates even more problems, Rogers explained, contributing to ongoing sleep and gut disturbances.

"It means our sympathetic nervous system is in a state of prolonged activation and preparing for danger (fight, flight, freeze)," she said.

"We're not meant to stay in survival mode, and so this means poor sleep, increased anxiety, mood disturbances longer term, decreased interest in things that are usually a source of pleasure (including sex) and impaired ability to focus, concentrate and perform."

All the women Mamamia spoke to said their symptoms cleared up soon after leaving their relationships.

Rogers says this makes perfect sense.

"Being in an unhealthy relationship is so preoccupying and consuming," she said.

"When the 'threat' leaves, the sympathetic nervous system can relax, and over time, cortisol can reduce.

"I suspect it is also the realisation that something has been wrong for so long, that emotions can be expressed, rather than suppressed, and that restores health."

Trusting your gut.

What feels like your body 'rejecting' someone is actually your stress response system working exactly as it should — alerting you to an ongoing threat.

So when should we trust these physical warning signs?

Rogers' advice is straightforward: "If you can link the physical symptoms to constant relationship stress, and clear examples of feeling unsafe, then listen to your body."

But how do you differentiate between normal bumps in your relationship and something more serious?

Normal relationship stress is temporary and resolved through healthy communication — perhaps the odd sleepless night after a misunderstanding, but nothing chronic.

"If there's constant sleepless nights, disturbed appetite, physiological feelings of panic and anxiety, worries about the future, and feeling not enough within the relationship, it's worth getting help," Rogers said.

She said if there are signs of abuse, power and control in your relationship, take the signs seriously.

Rogers reminded us that our bodies are constantly trying to communicate with us.

"Unresolved pain, gastrointestinal, skin, or immunity concerns (without an identifiable physical explanation), may be attempting to alert you that your body is not feeling safe, whether emotionally or physically," she said.

Of course, if health issues worsen without clear triggers, it's worth checking with your GP to rule out underlying conditions. But don't dismiss the possibility that your body is giving you important information about your relationship.

Feature image: Getty.