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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 was always made hyper aware of my appearance and that I never looked good enough, my body shape and height were wrong. But I was never allowed nice clothes in cuts or colours that suited me, I was always dowdy in sensible shoes than made my feet look huge. I wasn't allowed to wear deoderant and make up limited, especially what colours I could wear. My hair was just long, I don't think I went to the hairdresser for years after I was about 8.

    I never really found any sense of style or anything until I was in my 30's, I still struggle, between allergies to things like make up, a serious dislike of being hot and sweaty and having problems find clothes that fit, let alone ones I like, it a difficult thing for me. I am quite particular about my hair now though, I like to be well cut and in a style that always looks like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards.

    Eating well and exercising are just part of how I live, if I don't I end up with terrible digestive problems and my whole body starts to seize up if I don't keep moving. I often pray and talk ot the Gods. Because of allergies to so many medicines, I use quite a few alternative treatments and practitioners, but this isn't an indulgence, it's to keep me moving.

    I don't particularly like how I look, I don't really like most of my clothes, I'd love to have more choice, it's very hard not to keep believing the old messages that I'm physically not good enough and never will be.

Reply

  • I was always made hyper aware of my appearance and that I never looked good enough, my body shape and height were wrong. But I was never allowed nice clothes in cuts or colours that suited me, I was always dowdy in sensible shoes than made my feet look huge. I wasn't allowed to wear deoderant and make up limited, especially what colours I could wear. My hair was just long, I don't think I went to the hairdresser for years after I was about 8.

    I never really found any sense of style or anything until I was in my 30's, I still struggle, between allergies to things like make up, a serious dislike of being hot and sweaty and having problems find clothes that fit, let alone ones I like, it a difficult thing for me. I am quite particular about my hair now though, I like to be well cut and in a style that always looks like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards.

    Eating well and exercising are just part of how I live, if I don't I end up with terrible digestive problems and my whole body starts to seize up if I don't keep moving. I often pray and talk ot the Gods. Because of allergies to so many medicines, I use quite a few alternative treatments and practitioners, but this isn't an indulgence, it's to keep me moving.

    I don't particularly like how I look, I don't really like most of my clothes, I'd love to have more choice, it's very hard not to keep believing the old messages that I'm physically not good enough and never will be.

Children
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