Sarah came to the clinic a while after she had her first baby. She wasn’t feeling like herself anymore, and not just physically: she reported feeling quite “worried” and fearful all the time about her newborn, her husband, and many other things. Sarah thought there was maybe something physically wrong with her that Osteopathy would be able to fix, so she came in, hoping that we’d be able to restore her to her normal laid back self.
After chatting with her and having examined her body, it was clear to me that her whole body was in a “fight or flight” state. The pregnancy, the birthing process, and the adjustment to her new life associated with sleep deprivation, might have brought it on. After all, anxiety is a protection mechanism where the body is convinced it has to face danger and protect itself.
Here’s a look at some of the physical symptoms that anxiety can create:
During the treatment, we worked both on the changing postpartum body that needs to find its new balance, and on the body parts the most affected by anxiety. For example, the diaphragm becomes very high and tight, and the base of the skull becomes very tense.
After the treatment, we talked about how to improve her sleep quality, take some time for herself, and how to be more mindful. She left with some exercises to improve her breathing and her chest mobility. Finally, we spoke about the other therapies that can also be helpful.
Sarah isn’t as laid back as she used to be in her twenties, but her efforts have paid off and she now feels more serene and can fully enjoy her little one!