Pelvic Floor & Mental Health

Studies have shown that patients with pelvic pain and discomfort are more likely to suffer from psychological issues such as stress, depression and anxiety.

Although research on pelvic dysfunction is forever ongoing, one thing is clear: Anxiety and stress have a role to play in your pelvic health. Your body is connected. Your mental health and physical health directly affect one another. If your shoulders and jaw feel stressed, your pelvic floor also feels that stress. Women (and men) who have pelvic floor dysfunctions can also have high levels uncertainty that leads to depression, low mood, and emotional unhappiness. All of which impacts quality of life.

Your mental health and your pelvic floor are deeply interconnected.

The association between emotional stress levels and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction are common. A pelvic floor that suffers from weakness and/or tightness makes life difficult. Period.

Your day can become unpredictable. Your routine is disrupted, relationships suffer, and our ability to participate in activities becomes hard. The stress from not being able to control your body activates the central nervous system (CNS) - human bodies go into the “fight or flight” … we no longer need a bear charging toward us to activate our nervous system - we just need a stressed out pelvis.

Whether it is a bear chasing you or a pelvic floor issue, it can and it will take a toll on your emotional well-being.

It's your body - and it is letting you know it needs attention. Your head needs to listen, not fight it.

Working with a professional, both in mental health and physical therapy, can help ease the burden of pelvic floor dysfunction. Finding practitioner who is knowledgeable and you are comfortable working with is key.

Learning to help heal your pelvic strength and function, while empowering your emotions will allow your mind and body to connect. By practicing movement techniques that connect your awareness to your pelvic floor will allow your body to work as whole. Your nervous system will be able to regulate - allowing anxiety to ease.

If you have made it this far - take a breath. Breathe deeply into the bowl (bottom) of your pelvis. Feels the muscles contract and then release.

Keep your shoulders out of it and your mind and breath into it.

Let all that your pelvic floor is holding onto - go.