Intensity of painful symptoms is also associated with the presence and intensity of stress. Not only can stress be exacerbated by endometriosis, but so can endometriosis symptoms be exacerbated by stress, in a never-ending cycle.
Treatment of endometriosis can be complex and often requires a multidisciplinary approach, including physio, acupuncture, naturopath, and psychology. The main purpose of treatments should be pain control, improvement of the quality of life, prevention of disease recurrence, fertility preservation and reduction of anatomical damage.
Women with endometriosis have often experienced stigma, invalidation and dismissal from health professionals. Feelings of pain invalidation by medical professionals have been shown to increase shame and depressive symptoms.
Intensity of painful symptoms is also associated with the presence and intensity of stress. Not only can stress be exacerbated by endometriosis, but so can endometriosis symptoms be exacerbated by stress, in a never-ending cycle.
Speaking with a psychologist is an important step to learning how to manage health and emotional wellbeing. A psychologist can help with the following emotional and physical symptomology of endometriosis:
- Pain management strategies
- Positive coping strategies
- Finding ways to manage stress – relaxation exercises, mindfulness, deep breathing, visualisation
- General life adjustment to the chronic health condition
- Relationship – communication between a couple, managing mood fluctuations, and intimacy issues
- Processing medical trauma
- Communication strategies to assist in advocating for care
- Improving social support
Research into the psychological distress and coping strategies of women with endometriosis has found that increasing knowledge of the condition and treatment options helped women gain control back over their health leading to improved health outcomes. In conclusion, therapeutic approaches that perceive endo treatment from a bio-psycho-social perspective should be applied to reduce the negative impact of endometriosis on women’s daily lives.
Resources:
- Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving women’s health across Australia through every life stage.
- Endometriosis Australia endeavours to increase recognition of endometriosis, provide endometriosis education programs, and help fund endometriosis research.
- QENDO Mentor Program
Ashlee Wells is a Registered Psychologist, the Founder of Wells Psychology, a Qualified Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Clinician, Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) Facilitator, and a mother of two young babies. She works in a women’s health clinic and has a passion for supporting women with the unique set of mental health challenges they may face. Ashlee offers a space for women to safely share their experiences without judgement.
Visit the Wells Psychology website to find out more about the services Ashlee offers, and join her on Instagram and Facebook.
