The Body Remembers…..

Our body remembers fear, stress, pain, shame, embarrassment, and “bad” experiences or memories. It is a protective mechanism that typically serves us well. It causes our muscles to clench (specifically our jaw, pelvic floor, hands, brow, and upper traps), our heart to beat faster, and it puts our body into a fight or flight response. Ready for battle.

But what if this reflexive reaction causes unwanted symptoms. What if this reflexive contraction restricts tampon use, gynecological exams, or sexual activity?

This is true for patients with Vaginismus—A medical condition defined by a cluster or symptoms. It is not a disease. Your body is not broken. It can occur in Women at any age, and at any stage of life. Often times Women realize it when they try to use a tampon for the first time and they can not. But I have also treated women in their 60’s.

So how do we fix it? …….. By tapping into our neuromuscular system. It is a perfect blend of using our executive function ( our brain) with what we are feeling.

We have to rewrite what our body remembers (fear, pain, shame) with positive memories, and gentle, safe, pleasurable touch. You have to be in control.

Of course there is also physical lengthening and relaxation in the tissues that are needed. After all, these tissues and muscles have likely been in a shortened state ( due to clenching) for quite a while.

If you are suffering from Vaginismus, Vulvodynia, or Vestibulodynia. Please know you have done nothing wrong, and you can reverse the changes associated with vaginismus.