As someone who has recovered I don’t… think this is the best way to phrase this sentiment? Like it’s not about “fault”? A neurotypical person is able to do those basic things not because they naturally are a better person than you are… Like there are very real neurological reasons why people with mental illness struggle with these things. It’s not as easy as “love yourself” or “take care of yourself.” And sometimes people even do all the things OP advises and STILL are miserable–it’s called functional depression. What then?
I think it’s more useful to point out that there are concrete things someone can do to get better. Taking steps to do the things OP says often can help, but it’s also very chicken and egg. It wasn’t until I started recovering that I even had more spoons to stay on top of basic self care. It also takes waaay more than self care to recover. You may also need therapy. And medication. And the support of friends or family.
It’s important that people know not all hope is lost and that you can start the road to recovery at any time, but that road is long and it’s not easy. And it’s not your fault it’s this hard. It’s not your fault that the things that come easily to others don’t come easily to you. That trauma or abuse or illness has stolen years of your life.
The wording of this post comes dangerously close to a weird sort of bootstrap mentality. It’s okay to ask for help and get resources when you feel overwhelmed. You DO have to get out of the rut of just accepting your life as it is, but again, that whole mentality is a SYMPTOM of the disease, not the primary cause. It a symptom that can also prevent your recovery, but it’s not your *fault*–it’s something you have to actively fight each day until you overcome it if you want any chance of getting better, and that sucks and is unfair. But know that if you clear that first hurdle of overcoming the self-defeatism and hopelessness that can lead to you improving your life if you take the right steps.
