Autistic self care

I've thought about this for a while but having done a search, I see that the subject is even more complex than I first thought:

Here is a link on the subject to Autism Central, an NHS site:

https://www.autismcentral.nhs.uk/guidance/personal-care

There is some useful information here too (a PDF document):

https://ausm.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Self-Care-Toolkit-for-Autistic-People.pdf

I think I've neglected most of the areas mentioned but one thing that particularly strikes me as a woman is not paying for services eg. some people pay to have hair removed, nails painted, go to beauticians, saunas etc.

I have never done this and it's as much as I can do quite often to cut my nails.

One of the reasons for me has been exhaustion from being overwhelmed by life.

I think there must be lots of reasons behind this but they all come down to the same thing: self neglect.

Do you feel that you neglect yourself or do you feel that your self care is good - physical, mental, spiritual etc etc?

Parents Reply Children
  • I think so, B. We tend to try hard to fit in so we are liked rather than bullied or otherwise othered. This can lead a person to think their worth is contingent on some level of behaviour or attainment rather than being loved unconditionally and being enough just as they/we are.

    I adopted the phrase 'recovering people pleaser' from Natalie Lue, whose book 'The Joy of Saying No' was a valuable read for me.