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Food, Fear, and Motherhood: A Story of Struggle and Growth

Writer's picture: Netalie SagiNetalie Sagi



Navigating Motherhood and Bulimia: Sharon’s journey.


Sharon seemed to have it all—successful, confident, and happily married. But behind the

strong exterior was a long battle with bulimia, a struggle that became even more intense with

motherhood.

She had been in therapy for years, sometimes managing well, other times slipping back into

cycles of binging and purging. Her complicated relationship with food was shaped by her

mother, who also struggled with bulimia. Becoming a mother herself triggered deep-seated

fears and habits she thought she had under control.

After years of fertility treatments, Sharon finally became pregnant. During pregnancy, she

embraced the changes in her body and found some relief from her eating disorder. She

nurtured herself without guilt for the first time in years. But when her son was born, old

patterns returned. She felt overwhelmed by his constant hunger, torn between wanting to

nourish him and fearing she was overfeeding him. Seeking advice, she was told to water

down his formula to reduce his intake—advice that painfully echoed her own past

experiences with food restriction.

As he grew, her son became fixated on food. At a birthday party, he spent two hours eating

non-stop. Sharon was devastated, feeling lost and ashamed. She saw herself in him, the

way food seemed to hold a power neither of them could escape. The cycle of control and

indulgence played out in her parenting, just as it had in her own life.

Two years later, Sharon became pregnant again, and her focus shifted. With another baby to

care for, she worried less about her eldest son’s eating. Over time, he became less

obsessed with food, engaging more with his surroundings. The constant battle over meals

softened, and Sharon realized that when she stepped back, he found a more natural

balance on his own.


My Reflections as a Therapist


Working with Sharon was both deeply rewarding and emotionally demanding. Her struggles

were layered—an inherited fear of food, the pressure of motherhood, and the guilt of feeling

she was failing her child. I often found myself holding space for both her pain and her

resilience, together with her, hoping to untangle the ways in which her past was shaping her

present.

One of the greatest challenges was recognizing that she was not her mother, and her son

was not destined to share her struggles. The fear of losing control was powerful, but so was

her love for her child. Slowly, she learned to trust that food wasn’t the enemy, and that her

son could develop a healthy relationship with eating without the rigid restrictions or anxieties

she had known.

Progress came in small, significant steps—letting go of guilt, allowing flexibility, and realizing

that healing is not about control but about presence. Some sessions were full of frustration

and tears, others moments of clarity and hope. Sharon’s journey is ongoing, as is every

journey toward healing. But she is learning that motherhood is not about perfection. It’s

about trust, connection, and self-compassion.

For me, this experience reinforced how deeply food is tied to emotion, identity, and family

history. It reminded me that healing is not linear and that sometimes, the best progress

comes when we let go of rigid expectations. It has been an honor to walk this journey with


her, to witness her growth and resilience. I am grateful for the trust she placed in me, and for

the privilege of being part of her growth.

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