Howdy,
This blog post is coming to you from a ill first year, currently hiding from the world in her room because everything is pain.
I hate how the term ‘self-care’ gets thrown around. There is a huge disconnect between an instagram post of froyo captioned #selfcare after a midterm and what self-care looks like in action for me, a mentally ill kid who has missed 3 classes this week due to chronic anxiety-driven paralysis. Self-care isn’t the same as #treatyoself (which I one hundred percent endorse and do, possibly too often). Treating myself is a reward for functioning, however poorly. Self care is so I CAN function.
I am living by myself for the first time, in a country that I haven’t fully become accustomed to, while studying in a challenging program at a top tier university. And I am mentally ill. So this is just a real fun time. All the time.
I know I’m not the only one who’s struggling with this. UBC has a huge set of mental health resources, but all the resources in the world can’t help you if you don’t go to them, and that requires at least a little bit of functioning. Here’s what I do:
1. SHOWER. I feel so much better when I am clean. Even just getting in the water is so. damn. nice. The trick is to shower before succumbing to the inertia of your room. If I lie down before I shower. That’s it. The End. (I also do not wake up early enough to morning shower. this is another problem)
2. SCENTS. my room smells like sweaty socks and old food. I hate these smells. they make me feel icky and smothered. I got myself some scented candles and lighting those is super helpful to me- my room smells better, the light is comforting.
3. TEA. tea is nice.
4. MAKE YOUR BED. the lump on top is easier when you go to class in the morning, but i find sleeping in a made bed makes it easier to get going the next day. Getting going is the hardest part for me. I don’t have my family to force me into my car and out the door to class anymore, and when u feel worthless its hard to see the worth of going to class. but getting out of my room is 95% of the battle.
5. ENLIST HELP. I have friends who are early risers call me in the morning if they notice I’m not in class x minutes before. Speaking to another human being? Super helpful. Living alone makes it easier to go with bad habits.
5. SLEEP EARLY. yeah so maybe everyone studies until 1 am. I do not function well living that way, so i sleep before tomorrow when I can. It makes the next set of hours easier if your well rested.
6. EAT NICE THINGS. Things that make ur body feel good and you find tasty. My go to is oranges and other fruits.
7. DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP. I am my own worst enemy. I stick with things in when I am zero percent okay and shouldn’t be upright let alone running around campus. It’s ok to not be on top of everything. Its ok to need help.
I’m back to bed. Later y’all.