Founder's Perspective: How Stress Shows Up in Your Body—And What Helped Me Manage It

Stress Awareness Month | Personal Reflections on Burnout, Resilience & Recovery

If you had asked me five years ago how I knew I was stressed, I probably would’ve said, “I don’t know—just overwhelmed, I guess?” Now? Oh, I know the signs. They show up like little red flags waving all over my life.

I snap at the people I love.

I grab a half-bag of Siete chocolate chip cookies instead of the five I usually shoot for.

I feel that tight, buzzing sensation in my chest—the one that whispers you can’t do it all.

And I know I’m not alone in this.

Whether you’re navigating postpartum recovery, balancing work and kids, or dealing with pelvic health issues like prolapse, stress isn’t just a mental thing. It shows up in your body. In your sleep. In your relationships. In your digestion, your hormones, even your pelvic floor. (Yes, really.)

So let’s talk about it. Not because I’ve figured it all out—but because I’ve learned a few things that helped me feel more like me again.

How Stress Affects the Body—Especially in Motherhood

Chronic stress is like background noise that never shuts off. And for many of us, it doesn’t show up as a single meltdown—it’s the slow build.

Here’s how it often shows up for me (and maybe you too):

• I feel irritable—like every little thing sets me off.
  
• I crave sugar and carbs… then feel sluggish afterward.
  
• My brain fog kicks in and simple decisions feel overwhelming.
  
• My body feels tight and tense, especially in my lower back and pelvic area.
  

If you’re managing something like pelvic organ prolapse, stress can make symptoms feel worse. Your muscles hold more tension. Your core doesn’t engage as well. You feel more out of sync with your body.

And yet—no one’s handing us a stress management toolkit at our six-week postpartum checkup, right?

What’s Actually Helped Me Manage Stress

I’ve tried a lot of things over the years—some helpful, some not-so-much. These are the practices I come back to again and again:

1. Movement + Fresh Air

Even when I don’t have time for a “real workout,” walking outside shifts something for me. Sometimes I put in a podcast or an audiobook. Sometimes I just listen to the birds and my own breath. Either way, it works.

2. Therapy

I cannot overstate this: having a professional space to say all the hard things out loud is healing in a way nothing else is. Even when I think I have nothing to talk about, I always leave feeling lighter.

3. Support From Specialists

Seeing a pelvic floor PT, chiropractor, and nutritional therapist helped me realize that stress isn't just mental—it lives in the body. They helped me rebuild strength and function so I don’t feel like I’m constantly running on empty.

4. Sleep (and What Happens Before It)

I’ve started taking my evening routine seriously. Less phone, more deep breathing and reading. I’m not perfect about it, but winding down instead of crashing makes a big difference.

5. Box Breathing + “Naming It”

Sometimes all I need is a reset moment: inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Repeat. And sometimes, it’s saying out loud: I’m feeling overwhelmed and that’s okay. Naming it takes away some of its power.

6. Small Joys on Repeat

• Time with my husband, Clint, where we’re not talking logistics.
  
• Snuggles with my girls where I’m actually present.
  
• An iced latte in the sunshine.
  

None of these are magic. But together? They help me come back to myself.

Why This Matters—Especially if You're Navigating Pelvic Health

Stress isn’t separate from your body. It can absolutely affect your pelvic floor, your core, your posture, and your pain levels. (There’s a reason pelvic floor physical therapists often ask about your stress levels during an eval.)

If you’re already dealing with symptoms of prolapse, postpartum recovery, or just a body that feels unfamiliar—adding stress on top of that can feel like too much.

So if you're noticing more symptoms when life gets hard, you're not imagining it. You're just human.

Let’s Redefine Resilience

Here’s what I’ve come to believe:

Resilience doesn’t mean powering through.

It means noticing when something’s off, and choosing—bit by bit—to take care of yourself anyway.

You’re not doing it wrong if stress still gets to you. You’re doing your best in a system that expects a lot from women and gives very little back.

So be gentle with yourself this month. Notice your red flags. And maybe try one small thing from this list—not to fix everything, but to start feeling a little more supported.

Have your own favorite ways to manage stress?

I’d love to hear them. Leave a comment or share your thoughts with me on Instagram.

You deserve care, too.