Self-Care Isn’t Always the Answer
For some, community care, not a massage, is what’s really needed
I have a good friend battling depression and anxiety. She shared with me how she recently reached out to a group of friends, and their response was along these lines: “You need to practice self-care!”
One sent a podcast link for her to listen to, another talked about how she should pencil time into her schedule just for her, and yet another asked if she was working out enough.
All of these responses were well-meaning, of course, but our obsession with self-care seems to having a dangerous side effect.
For people with true mental illness and other disabilities, their ability to thrive, and even survive, depends not on self-care, but on community care.
For them, the idea that a brisk walk, a bubble bath, or an hour reading is going to solve their problems isn’t just laughable, in many cases, it’s impossible.
For many, there comes a point where self-care just isn’t even an option, they need others to step in, give support, and help them see the light on the other side.
They need people to check in with them, bring them meals, make sure they’re getting to their appointments, help them with tasks around the house, give hugs, and be…
