The Emotional Burden of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Healing from the Inside Out:
Welcoming a new baby into your life can be such a fun, exciting, and joyful next step, but it can also bring many physical and emotional challenges - many that you may have never seen coming. One of the most common yet often overlooked issues that new moms and parents face is pelvic floor dysfunction. It can be a crippling physical and emotional burden that 1 in 7 women face in their lifetime.
As a licensed psychotherapist trained in perinatal mental health, I’ve seen the crushing impact that pelvic pain has on people, especially those postpartum. It’s often at intersection of pelvic floor health and mental well-being where I start my work with folks, but something that not many people consider. What an important AND often stigmatized topic. This blog will explore how addressing pelvic floor concerns can alleviate not only physical discomfort but also improve mental health immensely, hoping to aid you in a smoother pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
Understanding Pelvic Floor Concerns
It might be obvious, but pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role during pregnancy and childbirth. In addition to helping keep your baby safe and secure during pregnancy, they also support the bladder, uterus, and bowel and help control urination and bowel movements. Pregnancy and delivery can weaken these muscles, leading to long term issues such as incontinence, pelvic pain, and prolapse. These physical symptoms can significantly impact a postpartum person’s quality of life, making it even more difficult to deal with any baby blues, postpartum depression or anxiety, or stress management.
The Mental Health Connection
The physical discomfort of pelvic floor issues can significantly exacerbate mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and stress. For many new moms and parents, the frustration and embarrassment of incontinence or pelvic pain can lead to feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and even shame. The pelvic floor and sacral region are sensitive and so important for healing both physically and emotionally. These emotional responses can further complicate the postpartum period, a time when mental health is already vulnerable.
When to See a Pelvic Floor Physcial Therapist after Birth (University of Utah):
Treatment from a pelvic floor specialist can help improve your postpartum symptoms:
Aching in your vagina that worsens at the end of the day or during a bowel movement
Feeling a bulge from your vagina
Frequent urination or the need to urinate quickly which may cause leakage
Stress incontinence (leaking pee when you cough, sneeze, or laugh)
Painful sex
Vaginal heaviness
How Mental Health and Trauma Can Exacerbate Pelvic Floor Issues
Increased Muscle Tension:
Chronic stress and anxiety can lead to increased muscle tension throughout the body, including the pelvic floor. This heightened tension can worsen pelvic pain and contribute to dysfunction.
Heightened Sensitivity to Pain:
Emotional distress can amplify physical pain perception. Trauma, particularly related to past abuse or childbirth experiences, can make pelvic floor discomfort feel more intense and persistent.
Avoidance of Care:
Mental health issues such as depression or PTSD can lead to avoidance of seeking help or adhering to prescribed treatment plans. These conditions make the hard things… well, harder. This can delay recovery and worsen pelvic floor symptoms over time.
Impact on Sexual Health:
Anxiety, depression, and trauma can affect sexual health, leading to issues like vaginismus (involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles) and dyspareunia (painful intercourse). These conditions are closely linked to pelvic floor dysfunction and can negatively impact your relationships without treatment. Finding a certified sex therapist, as well as a pelvic floor physical therapist, can help your recovery if your sexual health has been impacted.
5. Emotional Strain and Recovery:
The emotional strain of dealing with pelvic floor issues can create a vicious cycle, where stress and worry exacerbate physical symptoms, which in turn increase emotional distress. Addressing both aspects simultaneously is crucial for holistic healing. Finding a pelvic floor physical therapist and psychotherapist who is trained in perinatal health to help you in recovery is essential.
How Mental Health Treatment Can Help
Holistic Approach to Healing:
Mental health treatment for new moms and parents should include a holistic approach that addresses both physical and emotional well-being. Collaborating with pelvic floor therapists can provide comprehensive care that alleviates physical symptoms and promotes mental health.
Therapeutic Techniques:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help new moms reframe negative thoughts associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. Techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation exercises can reduce anxiety and stress, improving overall mental health.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can help moms and parents heal past or birth trauma that may be affecting your pelvic floor health. This approach will incorporate your body and mind and is especially helpful for those who have experienced any sexual trauma in the past.
Support Groups or Self-Education:
Joining support groups with other new moms and parents experiencing similar issues can provide emotional relief and reduce feelings of isolation. Sharing experiences and coping strategies can be empowering and comforting, while experiencing healing in community.
Learning more about pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic or vulvar pain, and other pelvic disorders can help you understand and connect with others. Check out some of these resources:
Podcasts:
Tight Lipped: https://www.tightlipped.org/podcast
The Pelvic Health Podcast: https://thepelvichealthpodcast.podbean.com/
At Your Cervix: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/at-your-cervix/id1530617581
Physical Therapy Integration:
Integrating physical therapy into mental health treatment plans can accelerate healing. Pelvic floor exercises, guided by a trained therapist, can strengthen the muscles and alleviate physical discomfort, leading to improved mental health.
Pelvic Floor Specialists in Western North Carolina:
Amanda Hayes Fugate, MPT at Pelvic Forward
Stepping Stone Rehab
Dr. Alyssa Brussee with FemWell Women’s Health:
Trauma-Informed Care:
Providing trauma-informed care ensures that therapy is sensitive to past traumas and avoids re-traumatization. This approach can be especially beneficial for new moms who have experienced past abuse or traumatic childbirth experiences.
Addressing pelvic floor concerns is vital for new moms' physical and mental well-being. By recognizing the link between these issues and mental health, we can provide more effective and compassionate care. If you're a new mom or parent struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction and its emotional toll, seeking integrated mental health and physical therapy can be a transformative step towards healing from the inside out. Remember, you're not alone, and help is available to support you on this journey to recovery.
We specialize in perinatal mental health and would love to help you heal. Reach out today to schedule your consultation with Kailani Morse Therapy at 864-214-6741 or kailanimorse@gmail.com.
