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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 had a really bad scalp problem and very thick hair as a child, and used to scream during hair washes and had to be held down (not sure if fear, autism or both were going on here). Then when I could do it myself I became obsessed with water, baths and showers and now will retreat to the bathroom when things are feeling overwhelming. I know I push myself to fit in despite finding it exhausting. I know it would be better for me to spend more time alone but I always put other people’s feelings first. So I suppose in the outside I look like I am doing okay, but inside my head, my mental health does suffer a lot. 

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  • I had a really bad scalp problem and very thick hair as a child, and used to scream during hair washes and had to be held down (not sure if fear, autism or both were going on here). Then when I could do it myself I became obsessed with water, baths and showers and now will retreat to the bathroom when things are feeling overwhelming. I know I push myself to fit in despite finding it exhausting. I know it would be better for me to spend more time alone but I always put other people’s feelings first. So I suppose in the outside I look like I am doing okay, but inside my head, my mental health does suffer a lot. 

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