Since I am about to start my own physical healing, I thought I would share some of the information I am using to base my own series of exercises. Please remember as you read my posts and the information on the web, that no one knows better than the actual professionals. I AM NOT A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. Not of any kind. I have learned from my own OBGYN, doctor, and therapist, and through careful consideration of information on medical websites. If you have any doubts or questions for yourself or someone you know, feel free to reach out to me, but always ask your doctor if you can. These are issues that will be difficult to express, but if you have a good professional, they should be supportive and comfortable helping you find the tools you need.
I am starting out with kegel exercises (see post Physical Check In: Part I). I did not do these during my last attempt at healing from vaginismus, because I never knew they could help. I had thought to myself, "why would I want to strengthen the muscles that cause all the problems in the first place?!" But now I know that if you have vaginismus, your purpose in doing kegel exercises is not to strengthen, but is to teach your conscious mind how to control the pelvic floor muscles that have been unconsciously controlled throughout life. This means moving forward when you are experiencing tightness, you will have the power to relax your own muscles. As we've discussed, most women have no idea where their pain is coming from, because they are completely unaware that their muscles are clenched. Kegel exercises develop the awareness we never had! You are getting the physical control and trust needed in the relationship between your vagina and brain.
Here are some helpful websites!
The following links talk about the pelvic floor muscles and exercises to get control of them for purposes other than vaginismus, but I found helpful.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000141.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/kegel-exercises/art-20045283
I like the following link for its diagrams, showing what a tightened kegel muscle looks like and how that causes vaginismus.
https://www.vaginismus.com/faqs/vaginismus-questions/what-is-vaginismus/
Feel free to reach out mailto:healingvaginismus@gmail.com
I am starting out with kegel exercises (see post Physical Check In: Part I). I did not do these during my last attempt at healing from vaginismus, because I never knew they could help. I had thought to myself, "why would I want to strengthen the muscles that cause all the problems in the first place?!" But now I know that if you have vaginismus, your purpose in doing kegel exercises is not to strengthen, but is to teach your conscious mind how to control the pelvic floor muscles that have been unconsciously controlled throughout life. This means moving forward when you are experiencing tightness, you will have the power to relax your own muscles. As we've discussed, most women have no idea where their pain is coming from, because they are completely unaware that their muscles are clenched. Kegel exercises develop the awareness we never had! You are getting the physical control and trust needed in the relationship between your vagina and brain.
Here are some helpful websites!
The following links talk about the pelvic floor muscles and exercises to get control of them for purposes other than vaginismus, but I found helpful.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000141.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/kegel-exercises/art-20045283
I like the following link for its diagrams, showing what a tightened kegel muscle looks like and how that causes vaginismus.
https://www.vaginismus.com/faqs/vaginismus-questions/what-is-vaginismus/
Feel free to reach out mailto:healingvaginismus@gmail.com