121: Eating Disorders and Recovery for Perinatal Moms

If you’ve had any experience with eating disorders, then you know how difficult the recovery process can be. If you’ve ever been a new mom, then you know the perinatal period is crammed full of physical changes, emotional adjustments, and lifestyle challenges. Putting these two volatile situations together can be a recipe for disaster, mainly because of all the triggers and the constant fear of relapse. My guest today has been there. She knows the common triggers for those with eating disorders and how to cope; she’s here to share what she’s learned.   Linda Shanti McCabe is a licensed clinical psychologist in CA who has worked in the field of eating disorders, chemical dependency, anxiety, depression, and co-dependency recovery since 1999. She has served in a variety of settings as a therapist for women and their families, and she now is in private practice in San Francisco. Her doctoral research focused on reimagining the body, using expressive arts with women recovering from bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating. Doing work with eating disorders in the postpartum field is her true labor of love, especially since she has recovered from an eating disorder 20 years ago. She will tell us about her new book, The Recovery Mama Guide to Maintaining Your Eating Disorder Recovery in Pregnancy and Postpartum, which is coming out in February, 2019, and available for pre-order now!   Show Highlights:   What we should know about relapses and shame around eating disorders in the perinatal period The culture of “fat chat” in perinatal circles The societal myths and pressure around thinness Common body image struggles in the perinatal period Eating-related stress and body image problems that exist even in those not officially diagnosed with an eating disorder How hormone shifts and sleep changes set new moms up for difficulties  The disruption of hunger and satiety clues for new moms How former eating disorders are triggered How Linda’s own journey has led to connection and understanding for others “You can’t keep it unless you give it away, and you can’t give it away unless you have it.” Common triggers for those with eating disorders include body image changes, relapse into mood disorders, past abuse triggers, lack of sleep, food cravings, nausea, and new hunger cues The myth that eating disorders are limited to straight, white, adolescent women The truth: eating disorders affect people of all genders, sexual orientations, and ages Eating disorders are usually the result of trying to work throught some sort of trauma Why people don’t realize that talking about their struggle will be what gets them through the struggle What an eating disorder really is and the different types How perfectionism and rejection play into eating disorders An overview of chapter topics in Linda’s new book More information about the telesummit next year Hopeful messages about recovery (Are you an orchid or a dandelion?) Action steps: get support, decrease isolation, and lower the bar on your expectations   Resources:   www.drlindashanti.com Find her on Instagram: @Dr.LindaShanti Find her on Facebook: “Recovery Mama”    The Recovery Mama Guide to Maintaining Your Eating Disorder Recovery in Pregnancy and Postpartum by Linda Shanti McCabe--available in February and pre-order now!   www.ellynsatterinstitute.org Helpful resource for parents!