Is there benefit in meditation and mindfulness when managing Pelvic Pain symptoms?
Breathing is essential for healthy living. I definitely prefer my patients to be breathing when I see them! Breathing is something we all do each and every day. It can however be used to greater effect in recovery from symptoms of Pelvic Pain.
Meditation or mindfulness focuses on the in breath and out breath help calm the mind and body. It is very easy to worry about future events and/or wish for things to be how they used to be before the onset of pelvic pain symptoms. This catastrophic thinking can leave us feeling really anxious and lead to a viscous spiral of negative thoughts and increased sensitivity. Using the breath can be incredibly beneficial for focusing on the now and helping to soothe the nervous system.
5 of the most recognised books on the recovery from pelvic pain ALL mention the benefits of breathing through mindfulness and/or meditation. There is no surprise here really:
- Heal Pelvic Pain by Amy Stein
- Headache in the Pelvis by David Wise and Rodney Anderson
- Pelvic Pain Explained by Stephanie Prendergast and Elizabeth Rummer
- Pelvic Pain by Susie Gronski
- Ending Male Pelvic Pain by Isa Herrera
Meditation and mindfulness are free to do. They require no special equipment. They don’t require training. They can be carried out anywhere. Even 2-3 minutes of mindfulness can be beneficial!
Bevis Nathan is a specialist in pain and post-traumatic disorders, using Osteopathy, Somatic Experiencing, Breathing-and Affect-Retraining based in the UK; who agrees that abdominal breathing can drastically help to improve symptoms of CP and CPPS:
“Diaphragmatic breathing mimics deep sleep breathing, which promotes a relaxation response by various routes. The relaxation response as a whole will facilitate pelvic floor muscle relaxation as part of a global parasympathetic picture. Abdominal in-breath puts a gentle pressure on the pelvic floor that enhances one’s ability to become aware of it.”
For more on Mindfulness and Meditation to manage CPPS/CP join us on Thursday 28th February at 7pm GMT for our first ever online CPPS/CP support group. See below for full details. Also, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming newsletter on 5 points to consider when using Mindfulness to manage pelvic pain
The online CPPS & CP support/success groups aim to provide support for men across the world.
Do you have Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome or Chronic Prostatitis symptoms?
Join us on Thursday 28th February for the first ever online support/success group. Guest Speaker Henri Astier will be presenting on how he overcame his pelvic pain using mindfulness and meditation
Henri wrote a very frank and honest account on his recovery from CPPS and Prostatitis which appeared on the BBC’s website in July 2018. Henri wants to raise awareness of the condition and promote the message that patients can recover from these symptoms
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. COME AND JOIN US ON THURSDAY 28th February at 7pm GMT
The event will take place via Zoom. Once you sign up I will send you link to the support group which will become live just before the start of the group
Spaces for this event are limited. To reserve your place on the support group please email karl@thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk
The cost is £10