It is often said that you can’t take care of others unless you can take care of yourself. In my mind, my family has experienced many changes in the last few years. Practicing self-care is crucial to maintaining mental stability. It is essential when navigating the world as it is. Life as I had known it has changed drastically over the past few years. This does not mean that coping has been hard or easy. Taking time for myself and with those I love at times makes things go a little bit easier.

When we often think of self-care, we think of being posh and doing costly things for ourselves to look good. While that can be a good thing, it can also involve recovering from a busy week. This occurs when things become overwhelming, as they do in the autistic brain. Sometimes we do not see that life is harder for us than it is for our neurotypical peers. It sometimes takes more for us to navigate a world that is not always up to our needs. Yes, there are things that are necessary and need to be done. But we must have time to recover when they become too much.

For me that has been knowing when things just too much are to handle. I understand when I am nearing the breaking point. I realize when I react negatively towards others for one reason or another. It is important to take time to care for me in ways that are helpful for me. That can be as simple as getting extra rest or taking it easy as to not overwork myself. I do what I know helps me relieve some pressure. This way, I can be ready to tackle what must be tackled.

Sometimes, I can join a family member in their self-care practices. This happens when they can break away from their routine. There has not always been an opportunity to do so in recent months. It can be something as simple as going shopping or to the local park. Whatever brings a small spark of energy into my life is necessary. It helps me to keep going. I continue in the spirit needed for my betterment.

Things do not always come easy for us as autistic folk. We do what we can to make things easier. This helps relieve the pressures we face in a world that is not often conducive to our needs. We often do what can seem uncomfortable. It can be hard to be seen. But we are brave and know that we can do the unimaginable. Yet, there are times when we can be stretched too far. In those moments, we have to just take time to care for ourselves. It is something that should not be discounted or ignored as being selfish, because it is not. We show maturity by recognizing we are nearing our breaking point. We preserve ourselves as best as we can.