“I Will Force Myself to Feel Sexy”: Struggling Mom Posts Raw Photos, Begs Women to ‘Normalize the Mom Bod’

These pictures are some of the hardest I have ever posted.

So why post them? I hope I can help other women the way a few women have helped me.

Back story? Of course!

For as far back as I can remember I have cared too much about how others perceive me. Surprise right? (I know most people have experienced this) I mean inside I still get embarrassed about things I did in elementary school. But I have never wanted people to see that. I want to appear confident, strong, out going and good-looking. That’s a normal thing too, I know that. But when I was 18 I got in a terrible car accident that left me broken in so many ways. I now struggle with PTSD every single day.

I have found ways to manage this, I work with it to make me stronger. For the sake of my life I had to surrender. (Dramatic much? Yes and no) over many years I put aside how others might perceive my mental health and I embrace it! It has been so freeing! (If you struggle with anxiety, depression, bipolar, PTSD , etc. please feel free to share your story with me) Embracing it does not mean I just admit that I have it, I work constantly to better myself and to become mentally healthy.

Now I may feel like I have a grip on my mental health but I placed all those insecurities on my body. I wanted people to see me as cute, pretty, beautiful and sexy. And if I couldn’t pull off a look, I wouldn’t post the picture, I wouldn’t even go out in public. Right before I got pregnant with James was the first time I felt confident in my body, I looked good! I ate healthy and worked out all the time. I was skinny and wanted people to see.