While it has been a particularly challenging week, I have remained strong during the many challenges that have been faced by my family as they are also managing many stressors of the challenges that have been handed to us. While our family is strong-willed and resilient, there is also a reality that I have my own challenges and make sure that I take care of myself so that I can be well for when those moments arise when I am indeed needed.

As I know that I do have the ability to communicate when I need to take care of myself, there is often a sense of selfishness or regret when needing to take care of myself, although I have been told time and time again and have read, seen, and shared on my platforms that it is indeed not selfish. There is also a reality that not recognizing my needs and continually doing what I feel must be done while disregarding my needs to care for my own is only setting me up for an adverse negative reaction that I do not want to happen or allow anyone else to witness happen.

There can be this deep sense of guilt about doing what I need to take care of me. Guilt can come in the smallest of things like taking two showers in one day, even though I live on my own and do as I please. I have printed many tools to aid me in this process, yet never followed up in doing is needed to put that plan in place. And while there is indeed a need to take more care of myself, I need to follow through with that ideal and do what is needed for me to be well and not be so overwhelmed with things.

Indeed what has happened last week has been very stressful on many of us and there was a time when I was needed to support my mother through this situation, but there is also other family members and friends that are willing to step up to bat to provide assistance to as many of them know that I do have my own challenges to face and while this particular situation that my family is facing is challenging on the neurotypical person, for a person such as myself that has many challenges, it can be very difficult.

And while I have stayed strong throughout the past week, there had come a point where I had become very irritated, and I have begun to realize that I need to step away from the situation and do what I need to do. While the next steps are being taken to get this situation under control which will allow everyone to be at ease, including allowing me to be able to back away from having to constantly be in the situation itself and return to a somewhat normal life that will return the normalcy that I as a neurodivergent person can know to expect, just knowing that I have had to step away from the situation in the current moment has provided a great sense of relief and has allowed me to relax a little bit more.

As it is always said, self-care is not selfish, you cannot pour from an empty cup and you cannot take care of others unless you take care of yourself, I am fully understanding these phrases increasingly every day, and while being able to be in good spirits for the days ahead.