Joomla! demo site

Dreaming of having your pre-baby body back? Think again…

Are you a new mom? Do you feel overwhelmed by pressure to “return to your pre-baby” body and “lose the baby weight?” Do you find yourself getting increasingly more stressed when your body does not seem to be cooperating despite exercise and dieting? Believe it or not, if you are finding this quest next to impossible, it is not due to a failure on your part. The truth is that the notion of “returning to your pre-baby body” is, in and of itself, an unrealistic and impossible goal.

Pregnancy is an incredible experience, and one that not only gives you the gift of a precious baby, but also the gift of a new body. It is an illusion that your body can “go back to the way it was” – how could it after going through the process of creating another human being? Continuing to feed the illusion that this is possible deprives you of not only valuable time with your new baby, but also takes an incredible toll on your self-esteem at a time when you are trying to define your new identity as a mother. Unfortunately, this impossible quest can often become incredibly self-destructive; women feel plagued with sadness and anxiety so intense, that they believe that extreme dieting and excessive exercise are their only options to regain a sense of self-esteem, and therefore, life satisfaction.

It can seem impossible to believe that acceptance of your new body, rather than working to change it in some way, is actually the key to a happier and a more calm existence. This kind of acceptance is difficult, and is something that takes a great deal of practice. Often we think of the goal of therapy as being to change something about ourselves in order to make us happier and healthier. In this case, you may find yourself believing that in order to feel at peace in your life and be a good mother, your body needs to look different. A more realistic goal of therapy is to change your perception of your body, not your body itself. When we are able to let go of the belief that we are inherently flawed as is, and therefore need to change to be loved and accepted, than true happiness and life satisfaction become possible. Therapy can be a journey that helps you to explore such goals, and find a way to enjoy this amazing time in your life for what it is, rather than what it is not.

For more information and to discuss this topic further, you may contact Dr. Brill through the following email link: Dr. Cristina Brill