How will I ever accept my body?

[fredandphe]

I’m a young mum of 2, had my first at 20 and I’m 24 now. Pregnancy left me with a lot of loose skin on my stomach as well as stretch marks, and I have been to therapy around 3 times now to try and help with my body image issues but nothing is working. I feel so disgusting, and I feel bad coming on here saying this as I know this isn’t an uncommon thing but I just don’t know what else to do.

Every single day my stomach is a heavy weight on my shoulders. I see a lot of people my age in crop tops and bikinis and it makes me feel so disgusted in myself. I know it carried my babies, and I know I shouldn’t be feeling this way but this stupid body standard of a flat smooth stomach is so deeply ingrained into my head that I worry I will never be able to get over it. I’m scared nobody will ever find me attractive again and I will be alone forever. It’s so exhausting :(

I don’t have any advice but didn’t want to read and run, and hopefully you’ll get more traffic from the response.
I’m sorry you’re feeling this way and angry on your behalf that we’ve been socialised to see these things as abnormal rather than being proud and grateful for our bodies and the amazing things they can do 😢

When did you have your second? Is it just loose skin? Or some podge too? Because if it's the latter you don't have to accept it. If it is just skin and you've not long had your second it may well tone up a bit more anyway.

If it's only loose skin would surgery be an option? You don't have to accept it, and I don't see why you'd need therapy for wanting to change some loose skin, it's not like you want to cut of your arm.

You do not have to think too much about it. It takes time and eventually when you will put in effort, then things will settle and you will get back to shape as well.