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What ‘Self-Care’ Looks Like When You’re Depressed
Less yoga, more showers
Self-care is a word we hear a lot in recent years. It’s become the ultimate marketing tool, as you can sell pretty much anything if you slap #selfcare in there. Some of us see self-care through a very limited lens, as healthy eating, meditation, and exercise. Others view self-care in those small moments, where we tidy up the kitchen before we go to bed (life-changing) or take the time to call a friend.
None of these are right or wrong because self-care is whatever you need it to be. At its core, it’s about taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s recognising what you need — even when you don’t want it — and giving it to yourself anyway.
But when you live with chronic depression, self-care can look very different. Your life, in general, can look quite different, even if people don’t notice it from the outside. I’ve been struggling with depression for almost a decade and a half (what a dreary realisation) and I generally think I have it under control, thanks to a prescription of Lexapro and years of therapy. But it’s still there. Days occur when life feels heavier, when every task is a little bit harder, and when it’s harder to block out the unhelpful thoughts.
