How Your Nervous System is Impacting Your Pelvic Health
Did you ever think that maybe the root cause of your pelvic floor issues may actually be outside of the pelvis, Dana,?
Those leaks, that sensation like you could run to the bathroom all the time, constipation, hemorrhoids, prolapse symptoms, painful intercourse, or chronic pain - certainly all include a muscular component, but that’s rarely the only solution.
What if I told you the root cause was in your head?
And no, I’m not suggesting that the issue is imaginary, made up, or exaggerated.
The command center of the brain, the nervous system, is always scanning your life answering the question, “Is this going to kill me?!”
This phenomenon, specifically known as the sympathetic “fight or flight” nervous system, is ready to react to a dangerous situation such as bracing for a potential car accident or fighting off an attacker.
This system is deeply reflexive, controlling basic functions like slowing gut motility and increasing heart rate and respiration, all for the sake of protecting the body from threat.
An equally important, but opposite response is the parasympathetic nervous system. It signals a sense of safety in the body, and promotes resting functions such as digestion and slows down heart and respiration rate.
When our brain senses stress or threats, our bodies react. When it senses safety, our bodies also react.
The question is where does your brain and body tend to live? Many of us live in more of a constant state of stress, unable to tap into or effectively use the parasympathetic system.
Ok cool. But how does this relate to my pelvic floor?
Guess what drives your bowel and bladder function?
You got it! Your magnificent nervous system.
Specifically, the parasympathetic system. Our mental state radically impacts bladder and bowels. If we’re stressed out and going 100mph, our ability to pee and poop can be affected. This is similar with pain too.
Your nervous system is also responding to your pelvic floor issues. Bladder and bowel concerns often bring up stress, fear, shame, frustration, and lack of control.
It can become a bit of a snowball effect. If you’ve been dealing with symptoms for some time, the symptoms and the body’s response to the symptoms can take on a stress-symptom cycle.
So sometimes we have to think outside the pelvic bowl space and tap into bigger systems. By promoting a sense of safety, control, and homeostasis in the body, we’re able to use a different approach to those pesky bladder & bowel concerns.
It’s always interesting to me that beyond the “fixing” of the physical muscles, my clients report symptom outcome improvement when they understand their bodies and feel like they have a better ability to handle what life brings.
THAT is what it’s all about: being able to build up the resiliency armor to support the body and respond to whatever comes your way.
Ways to incorporate nervous system-based interventions
Integrate things you love in your day, and do them daily. I know I know. This may sound obvious. If I were reading this email I may roll my eyes, but before you do remember that your body is always low key scanning your world, and responds to a sense of safety - including to the things you truly enjoy. So do more of them! These can be nourishing routines as simple as lighting a candle of your favorite scent when you get home from work or getting outside during your lunch break. It can be a call with a friend during your commute or a hot shower after putting the kids to sleep. Consciously and thoughtfully incorporating things that make you happy into your day is regulating for your nervous system and positively impacts your pelvic health.
Breathwork. Your breath is the guide into your nervous system and the foundations of pelvic floor therapy. When you’re holding your breath or shallow breathing, your nervous system is upregulated. 3D breathing/rib cage breathing stimulates that parasympathetic nervous system response AND accesses your core and pelvic floor. Double win!
Join Mindhackers. Starting in February, I’m diving into this in a big way! Mind Hackers is a 4-part series that gets deep into the nervous system.
What exactly is it
How to read your own system to spot the first signs of stress, burn out, and anxiety
How to integrate sensory somatic ‘hacks’ into daily routines to build resilience.
This is an incredible complement to pelvic floor therapy, especially if you’ve been working on your symptoms for some time and have hit a plateau.
It is also geared as a potent self-learning tool for anyone looking to master their nervous system to take on stress, anxiety, or burn out.
Love + Strength,
Dana