What My Self-Care Looks Like
If you’re in need of advice on self-care, you’ve come to the wrong person. I could use a little work in the self-care department. I’m a realist who’s lost her smile, courtesy of trying times and the special morning treat of waking up with a migraine episode.
Once again, I’m living life in the background, an extra on the stage behind the stars of the show. My invisible disability and I are overshadowed by the crowd of people fulfilling a life of purpose. Sometimes I wish I could be more hopeful and optimistic, but today I can’t seem to convince myself that’s what reality looks like. These are the days that I feel detached from what I believe to be normal life for everyone else except me.
Sure, I exercise some tried and true methods of achieving relief from my migraine attack. I retreat to a quiet, dark space to wait for my triptan medication to work its magic. Relieving my physical pain is the main priority, but self-care is about more than an episode treatment plan.
Self-care goes beyond ingesting medicine, turning down noise, and dimming the lights. Self-care is personal. Finding relief for physical and mental anguish is not one-size-fits-all.
Meditation, yoga, green tea, a spa day, or treating yourself to a new sweater are all acceptable forms of caring for one’s mental health. Having lunch with a friend, going for a walk, or reading a good book are other ways to lead the mind to a better perspective.
In other words, do what you need to do. I can’t tell you what self-care looks like for you. All I can tell you is that self-care takes many shapes.
What does self-care look like for me?
I’m more of a project kind of gal. Organizing the kitchen cabinets, baking cookies, or working on my next migraine blog can work wonders in turning my empty sadness into meaningful purpose. I cry while no one is watching and then slip quietly into the distraction of responsibilities and obligations.
Today’s tired, gloomy mood at the end of a migraine episode is interrupted by the ringing of my cellphone. My 82-year-old mom, amid her own aches and pains, is calling to ask me if I’m OK. I wasn’t OK, but now I’m much better.
Sometimes the best method of self-care for me is knowing someone else cares enough to see me when I need to be seen. A simple phone call or heartfelt hug from a loved one can reassure me I’m not floating along all alone in a sea of people swimming past me toward a happier life.
For me, self-care is less about solitary activities and more about realizing the significance of interaction with people and participation in life. Whether it’s running mundane errands, hearing a caring voice on the phone or sharing a blog story with strangers, my personal self-care strategy is connection with others.
But hey, what do I know? I’m just an average person trying to figure out how to find my smile in the wake of a migraine episode. My migraine management plan could always use a little work in the self-care department. If you’re in need of advice on self-care, you might want to ask an optimist or at least call a person whose voice can make your day a little brighter.
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Originally published at WebMD.com on 2-22-22.
