Pelvic Pain and Mental Health

With May being Mental Health AND Pelvic Pain Awareness month, what better time to discuss the correlation between the two than now! Yes, if you suffer from chronic pelvic pain there’s a high probability you may experience anxiety and depression, which loops back around to exacerbate that pelvic pain. This cycle is easily treatable with the correct support and exercises, which we’ll touch on today.

Our wellbeing involves many important factors, such as physical, mental, emotional, and societal aspects of life that contribute to our quality of life. There are times when we have become so accustom to living with pain that we find ourselves accepting it as our lot even though that is far from the truth. Pain manifests in different areas of the body as a result of our mental and emotional state. This connection can be explained by the shared pathways in the brain that process both pain and emotions, as well as the impact of stress and trauma on the nervous system and pelvic floor muscles. When we bottle up past hurts and traumas, or when we have experienced a bad fall or an accident, neglecting proper care can hold that pain to our being in place for an extended time. The good news is healing is attainable!

Recovering from pelvic pain involves a multi-faceted approach, including medical treatment, a self-care program, and lifestyle adjustments. Identifying the root cause of the pain allows you to map out an effective treatment program for total healing, spirit, soul, and body. As issues of the heart begin to flow, be sure to have a trusted individual close by that you can confide in as you may notice the root being more emotional/mental than physical. We have a tendency to burry hurts deep down internally because it’s easier to ignore and forget than to face and forgive. Over time our bodies will begin to physically manifest what our souls are holding on to…it has to come out.

Some common approaches towards healing are:

1. Medical treatments such as physical therapy or medication.

2. Self-care strategies such as stretching, resting, inner healing.

3. Lifestyle adjustments such as stress management, exercise, healthy eating.

Over the next few weeks we’ll explore each of these approaches in detail in order to create an individual plan on how to heal holistically from pelvic pain and more.