Imagine what happens in your body when you feel really stressed out.
Your heart speeds up
Your pupils dislocate some
Your muscles tense to be ready to fight or run if needed, which is called your fight or flight response.
Your pelvic floor muscles are no exception. Those muscles also tighten when stress is present.
While these physical responses to stress are essential for short term stressors like running from a bear, they can be detrimental to your health and well being in the long term.
Chronic stress leading to a hypertonic pelvic floor (a pelvic floor that is too tight) can cause:
Pelvic pain
Pain with sex or tampon insertion
Incontinence
Feelings of heaviness in the vaginal canal
Constipation
Low back pain
Here are some ways to relax the pelvic floor :
Stretching
Certain poses to open up the pelvic floor such as Happy baby and deep squats
Breath work
Now relaxing the pelvic floor only get you so far. Without addressing the underlying stress, it’s kind of like putting a bandaid over the problem.
Some ways to manage your stress can include:
Mediation
Prioritizing sleep
Deep breathing
Going for a walk
A hug from a loved one (or a self hug)
Exercise
Practicing gratitude
Asking for help
Doing something you enjoy
Listening to a podcast or music
Talk with friends, family and/ or a trusted professional