The eating disorder thoughts have gotten louder since having the baby, and lately they’re harder to push aside. I can be exhausted, trying to feed the baby or get a few minutes of rest, and suddenly my brain is focused on calories, my body, or what I “should” be doing. It feels really out of place, but it still takes over.
I’m trying not to treat these thoughts like instructions. Some days that works better than others. I’ve also been avoiding mirrors and certain conversations because I don’t trust myself not to spiral, which probably isn’t helping. The guilt is rough too, especially when I know I’m supposed to be recovering and taking care of someone else.
I think I need to tell my doctor or therapist more clearly how bad it’s becoming, instead of downplaying it. Has anyone found a way to ask for help without feeling like they’re failing at postpartum recovery?
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The part about not trusting yourself around mirrors and certain conversations makes sense to me. I found it helped to write down the exact thoughts and how often they were happening, then hand the note to my doctor instead of trying to explain everything while upset. It made the problem harder to minimize.
Asking for help isn’t failing at recovery. It’s giving your doctor useful information so they can help protect both you and the baby. If you feel at risk of restricting, purging, or harming yourself, tell someone today and contact your doctor or emergency support right away.
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Writing it down and handing it over is such a practical idea. When I’m upset, I can minimize things without even realizing it, so having the words already there would make it harder to backtrack.
I also appreciate you being direct about getting help quickly if restricting, purging, or self-harm feels possible. That kind of clear warning can cut through the guilt and make the next step easier to see.
@Randy_Brennan, telling your doctor plainly sounds like the right move, especially since the thoughts are showing up during feeding and rest. I’ve found it easier to say, “I’m having eating disorder thoughts more often, and I’m worried they may affect how I eat or care for myself,” instead of trying to explain the whole story.
One concrete thing that helped me was putting the request in writing before the appointment and asking someone I trust to sit with me while I sent it. That made it feel less like admitting failure and more like reporting a health problem that needs treatment. You deserve support too, not just pressure to hold everything together.