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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

  • There’s some interesting information there B. I hadn’t thought of many of the things mentioned but quite a few resonate with me. Also enlightening are some of the things others are saying. Skimming over childhood, I became more aware of self care in my late teens, but it wasn’t really my thing and I only succumbed because of external pressure and negative comments. I don’t think I’ve neglected my mental health but it has always fluctuated and isn’t great at the moment.

    I shower every day but it’s an effort to begin and to end the ritual and I dislike that it gets in the way of more comfortable pursuits that I might be engaged in. I’ve never had a professional manicure but occasionally my finger nails get a bit of attention. I had my first professional pedicure about two years ago, the rest of the time the toe nails get occasional attention. Going to the hairdresser is a necessity to make me feel ok, but I don’t enjoy the process with all the smells and noise. The hairdresser chats incessantly about things I don’t know about, but she seems ok with my occasional affirmative or negative responses. I was always aware that other girls seemed to talk a lot about makeup and skincare, while I wasn’t really interested, and made an effort only to try to fit in and avoid negative attention.

    I shop mostly online for clothes because I can’t find anything I like in the shops. I like natural fabrics next to my skin because I can’t bear the feel of polyester and other artificial materials. I know the sort of clothes I like, but they don’t seem to be made any more or they don’t fit me. I have to try shoes on in shop because one of my feet has become longer than it used to be. I bought several pairs of the same shoes the other day. I had to drive over 200 miles in all to get to a shoe shop that stocks the type of shoes I like, and back home again. 

    I meditate, and practice mindfulness when out walking. I have managed to keep to keep up my physiotherapy exercises and have established a home gym routine using weights and other equipment for some of the exercises. I’m pleased that the routine has been in place for several months and (to date) haven’t skipped anything. I loathe doing it but it’s a necessity and I get through it by listening to podcasts, audio books or music. 

  • in reply to ArchaeC
    ArchaeC said:
    I shower every day but it’s an effort to begin and to end the ritual and I dislike that it gets in the way of more comfortable pursuits that I might be engaged in.

    SAME. I actually made a thread on it a while back lol: Showering is harrrd

Reply Children
  • in reply to profdanger

    Great post! I missed that. I’m realising only fully now that my experience is like yours and like that of so many other people. It’s the sudden change from dry air to steamy air, the initial feel of the water hitting the body and the higher temperature of the water that is the main problem. I’m sure I have read of this somewhere before, but I had it in my head that the issue was laziness or autistic inertia or potentially ADHD. Somehow, because water on the body can feel pleasant at times, the possibility of change of temperature/sensations and steam wasn’t a consideration.

    I’m going to practice a bit of self care and not call myself an idiot. I agree, showering is extremely harrrd.