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Self-Care Practices: Rituals for Living Well with Chronic Illness
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare.” — Audre Lorde
The term “self-care” has become a cliché hashtag over the last decade, often eliciting eye rolls with a mental image of someone posed in a swimsuit on a sandy beach, or wrapped in a fluffy spa bathrobe, their face slathered in a goopy mask. While some people might hear this phrase and imagine a pampering sesh, the interpretation from someone who has a chronic illness is quite different.
The concept of self-care dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times, but the modern phrase was actually coined in the medical field. According to physicians, self-care is “a necessary regulatory human function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated.” It’s more about taking proper care of oneself in order to keep the body functioning at optimal levels.
Being an introvert, a highly sensitive person, and having a medical condition that makes it physically impossible for me to deal with any form of stress, self-care is not always as pretty as spending a day at the spa. I tend to get over-stimulated and run down easily, and when this happens, it leads to serious illness and depression. This can happen if I push my body too hard, but there are also emotional triggers like being around someone who complains excessively or is always asking something of me.
The definition of self-care is often misconstrued as a selfish, luxurious activity, but sometimes, it’s the harsh reality of being in survival mode. For me, self-care sometimes looks like pulling myself out of bed to take a shower on day three of a serious bout of depression. I don’t want to do it, but I know it’s necessary in order for me to feel better.
Self-care is also about thinking ahead and doing things you know will prevent you from being overly stressed in the future. In my life, I often have to say “no” to invitations, requests, and responsibilities that I know will cause me stress down the road. It also means that I need to rest up for a few days if I know I have a busy or stressful day coming up.
Because self-care looks different to everyone, I wanted to share some of the rituals that I use in my life…
