There is no question that pain triggers a stress response and often causes anxiety.
When people struggle with pelvic pain , bowel bladder and sexual dysfunction there is a huge impact on quality of life which often winds up the nervous system to the anxious state.
Pain during pregnancy or pain after birth ( during postpartum recovery) can be distressing to new moms.
People struggling with painful bladder, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, prostatitis, incontinence, constipation and/ or IBS has a huge impact on quality of life.
Getting a diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse or diastasis recti (abdominal separation) can lead to fear and stress.
Even those with tailbone pain that have to sit for many hours at a time for work can struggle with the anxiety of finding a comfortable , non-painful sitting position.
I am always trying to come up with the best ways to help my clients ease that anxiety because the body cannot heal in the anxious state.
I was feeling anxious myself this afternoon , overwhelmed with the week ahead and all of the projects I wanted to get done.
So I did what I always try to do to try to defuse my anxiety… the one strategy that always helps me the most......I went outside for a run....
However, today I had a major "aha" moment about why my long runs calm my nerves so well......
I always thought that I felt great after a run because it increased my heart rate and releases endorphins ....
I’m sure that’s part of it but today I realized that’s not what does it for me....
When I run I have my best meditations, it is a time when I am able to reflect and think.... Oddly , I tend not to think about my to do list, my projects or work ....
I usually end up reflecting on my family that I love so much, I reflect on the wonder of nature, how beautiful the sky is, the magnificent formation of the clouds, the countless variations of palm trees and their beauty.
In other words.... I end up reflecting on all the things that I am grateful for.
Gratitude is what calms my nervous system!!!!
- Gratitude shifts the nervous system into the rest, digest and repair mode.
- It activates dopamine, neurotransmitter that makes you feel good.
- gratitude increase activity in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which positively impact functions of the body, memory, and emotions.
- practicing gratitude can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and reduce biomarkers for inflammation.
- gratitude has been shown to improve sleep which is imperative for healing.
My favorite ways to practice gratitude:
- Writing in a Gratitude journal
- Thinking of things that bring you joy
- Connecting with a loved one
- Any form of meditation
- Simply reflecting on a memory that brought you joy , being on the beach, a vacation, a sunset
We all have things in our lives that we are grateful for, let's tune into them to calm the anxious mind and facilitate the healing journey.