Self-care
What is self-care?
Self care can be any intentional steps to take care of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
When helping a survivor, you may go through a range of emotions and reactions yourself. It is important to realize that any reaction you feel is normal and by taking care of yourself you are better able to help your loved one. While self care can look different for everyone, here are some suggestions that might be useful.
- Take time to eat right and get adequate nutrition
- Even if it is just a walk, exercise is a great way to relieve stress and sadness
- Try to get enough sleep
- Keep a journal as a way to process your thoughts about this experience
- Practice relaxation or meditation techniques
- Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself
- Seek professional help if you need it
- More information on how to do that HERE
Resources
Relaxation Techniques:
10 Relaxation Techniques that Zap Stress Fast
Mind Body Green Articles
20 Awesome Side Effects of Practicing Self Love
Want more self love? Eliminate this word from your vocabulary.
8 Tips to put the “oomph” back in your self love
12 Things I would say to my 20-something self
15 signs you’re living in a depressed state (and what to do about it)
Self-compassion
What is self-compassion?
Self-compassion is having compassion for yourself when you are going through a difficult time. We often treat ourselves much more harshly then we would a friend when we are suffering. When you have compassion for others, you treat them kindly when they make a mistake or are going through crisis. Instead of requiring perfection of yourself, treat yourself as you would a loved one when going through a rough moment.
Self-compassion is not self-pity, where you are consumed with your own problems at the expense of everyone else. Self compassion is acknowledging your issues and being kind to yourself while keeping your problems in perspective.
Self-compassion techniques
- Treat yourself as you are treating the survivor in your life
- Recognize when you are being unduly harsh on yourself
- Practice meditation
More Information on self-compassion:
http://www.self-compassion.org/
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-practice/201206/20-uses-self-compassion
Self compassion techniques:
http://www.self-compassion.org/self_compassion_exercise.pdf
http://www.centerformsc.org/exercises
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/06/27/5-strategies-for-self-compassion/