IC Awareness Month Series Part 3: Is Your Nervous System Affecting Your Bladder?

September is IC Awareness Month, and I’m back with Part 3 of my four-part series all about interstitial cystitis.

In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most important pieces of my own recovery and something I wish I’d understood MUCH earlier: the nervous system.

I’m breaking down what neuroplastic pain actually means, how your brain can learn to become overly protective around bladder sensations, and why symptoms like burning, urgency, and pelvic pain can be very real even when your nervous system is contributing to them.

I’m covering:

• What neuroplastic pain is and how it can develop
• The connection between your brain, bladder, and pelvic floor
• Patterns that can suggest your nervous system may be contributing to symptoms
• How fear, symptom monitoring, and expectations can reinforce the symptom cycle
• What provocative testing can teach us about learned triggers
• How somatic tracking can help you respond differently to bladder sensations
• How graded exposure gives your brain new experiences of safety
• Why a little bit of symptoms doesn’t automatically mean you’ve failed
• What I’m learning through my Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) training
• Simple ways you can start teaching your brain that safe sensations and activities don’t require a five-alarm response

I also share some of the changes I’ve made in how I respond to my own bladder. Today, if I notice a random sensation, I can notice it and move on. And when you’ve spent years monitoring every little thing your bladder does, that’s a pretty big deal.

FREE MASTERCLASS: If you’re wondering whether your nervous system, pelvic floor, or other factors could be contributing to your symptoms, watch my free masterclass, How to Find the Root Cause of Chronic Bladder Symptoms. I’ll walk you through patterns that can help you understand what may be keeping you stuck in the flare cycle and how to start identifying your individual root cause.

Watch for free here!

THE IC CONNECTION: The Interstitial Cystitis Association is hosting The IC Connection virtually on September 26! Learn more and register here.