self care

Mental Health Days

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Mental Health Days

When you need to practice self care…

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Last weekend was not a good weekend for me. My anxiety and depression came crashing in, and I really struggled to even get out of bed in the morning.

I struggled through part of my morning routine, before finally admitting defeat and taking to the sofa with my dogs and a blanket.

I didn’t get much done that weekend. At first I felt like beating myself up because of it, but as I allowed myself to relax, it made me realise that it was okay to take a couple of days to myself. It wasn’t going to make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things.

So, I took that time, and I relaxed, and I looked after my own wellbeing and mental health for those few days.

I am glad to say that I am feeling stronger now, and although I am well aware that there will probably be other days like these, I have learned that it is okay to admit my weaknesses and to look after myself first and foremost.

What sorts of things do you do to look after yourself when you’re having a down day?

Let me know in the comments.

Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.

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Tiredness and chronic illness

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Tiredness and chronic illness

When late nights make waking up a chore

by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash

Over the last week, I seem to have been crazy busy with appointments, and other plans. This always happens towards Christmas, when there is shopping to be done, or parties to be attended, and catch ups with various people you’ve not seen for ages.

The thing is, all this is well and good, and I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy it, because I do, but it means that certain things have to be sacrificed, and this weekend, I definitely paid the price for these sacrifices.

As an introvert, while I like spending time with people, it is also mandatory that I have some alone time, where I can just be me, and I don’t have to talk or keep up conversation with people. This time, gives me the opportunity to recharge, and prevents me from getting, what I call “peopled out.”

I have also found myself going to bed later than normal, and being unable to wind down, which means that I’ve not been getting to sleep before 1.30am, which is not good for me. It’s not that I need to go to bed at 10pm, or anything, but I’m not the kind of person who can lay in after a late night. A lie in for me, is generally 8.00am.

This week, I have also been battling a particularly bad flare up of my TMJD, and a severe dip in mood, not helped by the fact that when I do fall asleep, it is into a sleep plagued with nightmares.

This is the thing with chronic illness… it seems that the minute one thing flares up, the rest all follow, like they’re throwing their own little party, except that the venue is my body and the resulting mess is left for me to manage. This is not fun!

I’m feeling a tiny bit better today, and I’m hoping that it will continue to improve, but for now, it’s going to be earlier nights, and lots of self-care, because that’s all I can really do.

Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.