Taking Care of Yourself
Apr. 27th, 2023 07:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tuesday_morningI remember one time many years ago that I tried to do an exercise where I wrote with my dominant hand from my adulthood perspective and then used my non-dominant hand to write from a childlike perspective. The purpose was to stimulate the left and right hemispheres of my brain to try and process things a little easier. Usually, I think that exercise doesn't really work well for me, but I remember one time where I did it and I was able to connect with one of my child parts. While talking with her on paper, I made a really profound realization that I wanted to reflect on in this entry.
So, if you know anything about me, it's that I have struggled in the past with self-harming behaviors. I very rarely engage in those behaviors anymore, but back then it was something I struggled with in one form or another. While I was talking to this child part, I remember that she wrote that whenever I hurt myself, I'm hurting her too. Prior to this exercise, I hadn't realized that at all, so reading that really opened up my eyes.
Recently, I haven't really been doing the best job of taking care of myself. I'm trying to do so, but it can be really difficult when you don't know what to do with yourself. With the additional counseling I'm pursuing, I think I'll have a better job with knowing what to do, but it's going to take time and effort on my part. But it's okay. I know I've got time.
While I wait for Intensive Outpatient to start for me, I think I'm going to try and retrace my footsteps back to the basics of taking care of myself. Asking myself what I need when I feel stuck is a really good starting point. Checking in with my other parts to see where they are at is also a great idea too, along with consulting them before making any big decisions. It's funny how some of the most impactful self-care practices are also some of the easiest ones to do as well, isn't it?
I think that's all from me for today. Thank you for listening to me problem-solve and reflect out loud.
So, if you know anything about me, it's that I have struggled in the past with self-harming behaviors. I very rarely engage in those behaviors anymore, but back then it was something I struggled with in one form or another. While I was talking to this child part, I remember that she wrote that whenever I hurt myself, I'm hurting her too. Prior to this exercise, I hadn't realized that at all, so reading that really opened up my eyes.
Recently, I haven't really been doing the best job of taking care of myself. I'm trying to do so, but it can be really difficult when you don't know what to do with yourself. With the additional counseling I'm pursuing, I think I'll have a better job with knowing what to do, but it's going to take time and effort on my part. But it's okay. I know I've got time.
While I wait for Intensive Outpatient to start for me, I think I'm going to try and retrace my footsteps back to the basics of taking care of myself. Asking myself what I need when I feel stuck is a really good starting point. Checking in with my other parts to see where they are at is also a great idea too, along with consulting them before making any big decisions. It's funny how some of the most impactful self-care practices are also some of the easiest ones to do as well, isn't it?
I think that's all from me for today. Thank you for listening to me problem-solve and reflect out loud.
