• Replies 17 replies
  • Subscribers 90 subscribers
  • Views 331 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Autistic self care

B

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

  • I think the difficulty autistic (and adhd) individuals can have is firstly, not listening to or being aware of their own needs and secondly, acting on them. My experience is that executive functioning has been incredibly difficult - way more than I've ever realised due to perpetual burnout and life circumstances. It became the norm. I think self care starts with paying close attention to our needs and acting on them. It's easier said than done as I think we probably still go along with expectation rather than actual needs, even when we know we are autistic and think we know what we need. I also think a lot of our self care needs come down to being able to freely engage in interests which is vital for the autistic individual. I also know, if one is lucky enough to have support in whatever way shape or form,  to not be guilty in making use of that. 

    Going to a beautician or nail bar?! For a long time it has taken all I've got just to have a shower and brush my teeth. I didn't realise that wasn't normal. 

    I think this is a good topic of discussion.

  • in reply to the wanderer

    Welcome back Blush

    the wanderer said:
    I think self care starts with paying close attention to our needs and acting on them. It's easier said than done as I think we probably still go along with expectation rather than actual needs, even when we know we are autistic and think we know what we need.

    Yes.

    It's also to do with recognising those needs in the first place, something I have massively struggled with in my life.

Reply
  • in reply to the wanderer

    Welcome back Blush

    the wanderer said:
    I think self care starts with paying close attention to our needs and acting on them. It's easier said than done as I think we probably still go along with expectation rather than actual needs, even when we know we are autistic and think we know what we need.

    Yes.

    It's also to do with recognising those needs in the first place, something I have massively struggled with in my life.

Children