Anxiety/stress leading to illness?

Very possible: Anxiety and stress reduce your immune system and can lead to increase in susceptibility to viral and bacterial attacks. A common example is shingles - commonly appears in people who are under stress - ie financial issues, family member dying, suffering an illness or even on chemotherapy. Recommend eat right, exercise, smile, laugh and surround yourself with positive people.

Anxiety/stress: Involves numerous hormones that stimulate the autonomic nervous system, increase blood volume and blood pressure, stimulate the adrenal glands, affect metabolism of sugar, fat and protein, affect the immune system, etc. In other words, anxiety/stress affect virtually every part of your physiology and when chronic can contribute to many illnesses.