"Your self-care doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s."
A powerful statement found in a Healthline article titled “For Many People with Anxiety, Self-Care Just Doesn’t Work.” If you have the time, I recommend checking this out as it is a great read (linked below). Otherwise, here is some insight we were able to take away from it.
For some people, especially those who deal with anxiety, having a “typical” self-care routine can do more harm then good. It’s important to realize that the self-care you see all over social media isn’t what works for everyone. And that's OKAY!
Reflect on these words from therapist Melinda Hayne: “People who live with anxiety typically cannot experience the simplicity or peace of ‘just self’ There are too many to-dos and what-ifs flooding the mind and body at any given moment. Taking a timeout from the busy pace of life only highlights this irregularity… hence, the guilt or low self-worth.”
Don’t pressure yourself to have any specific type of self-care. Even if it’s something you think you should do, it doesn’t mean it’s what you need. You shouldn’t have to work for it, instead make it work for you.
Remind yourself that your self-care is your business, no matter what form it comes in. Having trouble figuring out was self-care will do good instead of harm? Consider talking to a mental health professional who can set you on the right path.
Article for reference: For Many, Self-Care Makes Anxiety Worse, Not Better (healthline.com)