Show Notes
In this episode, I’m talking about uncertainty tolerance, why your brain hates it so much, and why learning to tolerate uncertainty is actually one of the most important skills required to heal chronic pelvic pain.
If you deal with anxiety, OCD tendencies, reassurance-seeking, flare fear, or constantly wondering “What if this doesn’t work?”, this episode is for you.
We’ll talk about:
Why anxiety and OCD are really attempts to create certainty
Why your brain keeps searching for guarantees (and why that never works)
How intolerance of uncertainty keeps your life smaller and more fear-driven
What uncertainty tolerance looks like in both the long-term and the day-to-day
Why allowing the possibility of a flare is part of how healing actually happens
What most people are missing when fear spikes and symptoms return
I’ll also share why so many people feel like they’re “starting over” again and again, and how having a clear framework for moments of fear and uncertainty changes everything.
Free Workshop Invitation
If healing has been feeling like two steps forward and one step back, and every flare makes you feel like you’re starting over, Rachel invites you to join her free live workshop:
How to Stop Starting Over 🗓 Monday, January 26th ⏰ 12 PM Eastern
In this workshop, Rachel will:
Help you understand what’s actually happening in your nervous system during flares
Show you how to respond differently in the moment of fear or symptom spikes
Introduce the Rewiring Recovery Roadmap, her framework for building and sustaining momentum even when symptoms fluctuate
Help you assess what’s been working, what hasn’t, and what to do next
You’ll leave with clarity, direction, and tangible next steps.
👉 Save Your Seat!
Healing is possible for you. You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep starting over.
Learn More About My New Coaching Program: https://thepelvicpaincoach.com/healing-program
Add Yourself To The Waitlist For My New Coaching Program: https://thepelvicpaincoach.myflodesk.com/m4wq35ssfl
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
More from Heal Your Chronic Pelvic Pain
What can you do when a pain flare is loud, uncomfortable, and not something you can make stop in the moment? A building fire alarm kept going off for two weeks, sometimes during coaching calls and sometimes in the middle of the night. The experience reminded me of what it was like to live with chronic pelvic pain: knowing what was happening didn’t make the sensations disappear, and I couldn’t always change the situation right away. In this episode, I share how I supported myself through those moments, from putting in earbuds so I could keep coaching to noticing the comfort of my bed while I waited for the alarm to turn off. We talk about acknowledging discomfort without pretending it isn’t there, choosing what might support you, and considering whether you want to take a values-aligned action or rest. There’s no right or wrong choice. For me, showing up for the things I cared about, even when my symptoms were intense, supported my sense of agency. Your choice may look different. The invitation is to ask what you need and how you want to spend the time while you wait for the flare to pass. In this episode: Why knowing a symptom is a false alarm doesn’t always make the discomfort go away
If you've ever frozen on the exam table, or spent the drive home replaying everything you wish you'd said, this episode is for you. For so many of us with chronic pelvic pain, gynecologist visits are part of the recovery journey. And they can be really hard, both physically and emotionally. Many providers aren't trained in trauma-informed care or familiar with conditions like vaginismus and vulvodynia, which means it often falls on us to speak up for what we need. In this episode, I'm sharing the things I didn't know I could ask for when I was healing, so you can walk into your next appointment feeling more prepared and a little more in control. In this episode: Why telling your provider about pain with penetration out loud matters (even if it's already on your intake form)
When I was living with chronic pelvic pain, I believed that if I had symptoms, I was suffering. It felt impossible to enjoy my life or loosen my urgency to heal while pain was still there. Because I felt like I was always suffering.
Do you have to quit your job, leave your relationship, move, or completely restructure your life in order to heal?
Even though no one can do the healing work for you, that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.