self care for when you hit rock bottom
i fucking hate self care posts made by neurotypicals so hereâs one from someone who Actually Gets It
-canât shower or take a bath? me either. dry shampoo can make your hair look and feel cleaner, and baby wipes or makeup wipes work great to get the top layer of grime off your skin.
-canât wash your sheets and make your bed? i feel you. push your blankets out of the way and shake the crumbs off your sheet. it will at least be a bit more comfortable.
-canât even change out of your dirty pajamas? been there. hit yourself with some febreeze and a lint roller. if you can, brush your hair. if you canât, hair ties and bobby pins are fantastic.
-canât make anything to eat? same. if you can, thereâs no shame in ordering food. in fact, itâs probably better you eat something rather than go hungry. if you canât, try and find something that comes pre-made or takes minimal effort to make. at the very least, drink some water.
canât respond to messages or reach out for help? yeah, i get that. set an alarm for a few hours from now and respond to any messages you need to once youâve given yourself time to prepare. if theyâre Important Messages that need Professional Responses, you can find fill-in-the-blank format rough drafts on google. as far as personal messages go, donât feel bad for sending a mass âIâm sorry, Iâm in a personal emergency right now. Iâll get back to you as soon as I can.â response to everyone.
-canât even sleep because itâs so bad? asmr videos always knock me out, personally, but i also watch a lot of bob ross. just try to find something quiet and soothing to use as background noise and take your mind off it, or at least give you a more peaceful environment to think about it.
-canât go for a walk/drive? try opening the blinds or curtains. youâre still exposing yourself to the outside world. baby steps. (i also play animal crossing or sims; it may be virtual but fuck it. i went on a walk.)
-canât go into work/school? let people know. let your coworkers or classmates know itâs an emergency and you canât make it. give yourself up to two days, but then you have to go back. ask to have your work emailed to you so you know what you missed.
-canât brush your teeth and wash your face? makeup or baby wipes and gum or mouthwash. donât let yourself physically rot bc youâre rotting emotionally.
-remember that youâve been here before. if you survived then you can survive now. thatâs what this is about- survival. you donât have to be living your Best Life. right now, itâs more than enough that youâre alive.