Where is the Line Between Self-Care and Being Selfish?
And how do we know when we’ve crossed it?
Note: Medium is no longer an equitable place for writers. So, Practical Growth will be leaving soon. To keep getting accessible guides and evidence-based advice without bias, follow me on Substack, Vocal, and TikTok.
Self-care is one of the most important elements of the recovery journey. Learning to care for your physical and emotional needs is key to rebuilding your sense of worth. Most importantly, self-care is what gives you the energy you need to overcome obstacles and thrive in your career, your relationships, and the rest of your personal life.
That’s a big ask for survivors of trauma and developmental dysfunction. Broken down by pain and hardship, it’s easy to internalize the idea that you aren’t worth taking good care of.
That’s the slippery slope where the idea that self-care is selfish originates. We falsely fall into the trap of seeing this crucial care as self-centered when it’s as necessary as eating, breathing, and drinking (which are also arguably forms of self-care). You need to take care of your mental and physical body to heal and find peace and contentment.
