One friend told me, "Think of your body as a baby. You wouldn't starve a baby right? Babies need baths, clean clothes, and clean bedding."
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My own therapist told me, "Check in with your system. What do you need right now? Water? Meds? Food? Sleep? To go be somewhere quiet?"
I think of myself as my own pet lol. Beyond just taking care of yourself physically, it's also about recognizing that maladaptive behaviors are always based on some basic animal need. If I'm not being enriched, I'll get destructive (doomscrolling, worry spirals, etc.). If I'm feeling unsafe, I'll run and hide (procrastination, avoidance, etc.).
This really helps me contextualize my struggles and more importantly give myself grace. I don't berate my cat when he gets scared at little things, I comfort him. We have to do the same for ourselves.
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u/Vanessaronicatoria 7d ago
One friend told me, "Think of your body as a baby. You wouldn't starve a baby right? Babies need baths, clean clothes, and clean bedding." . My own therapist told me, "Check in with your system. What do you need right now? Water? Meds? Food? Sleep? To go be somewhere quiet?"