Self-Care For The Win
When I last posted I was on day two, in caffeine withdrawal, and cranky.
I acknowledged how horrible I felt and WHY I felt so awful. I actively countered my cravings, and self-destructive urges out-loud. I validated my experience, and enabled my strength without pretending that everything, or even anything, was ok.
I fed myself nutritious tasty food. It wasn’t what I wanted but it was delicious, and safe.
I smoked some really nice herb, and unpacked my feelings with my 23-year-old.
I let myself be ok with settling into feeling icky.
There is still so much to be said for Humans Healing Humans
Then I took a shower
The warmth ran over me. The water washed away so much frustration about how awful I feel, doubt about what I’m trying to do, and the rhythm of the water helped me regulate when I was struggling.
It gave me a break from feeling awful, and helped to relieve my pain. It was quick and easy because of the new haircut. It was an act of self love.
Getting out of the shower, I was less rattled. My pain was still present but lessened. I’m still fatigued, but less overwhelmed.
Please Master
Please Master is a really bizarre acronym for the importance of self-care. This DBT tool emphasizes the care of the self as foundational to being able to emotionally regulate.
It’s not always bubble baths.
Sometimes it’s nutritious food. Sometimes it’s convenient food. Sometimes it’s rest. Sometimes it’s exercise. Sometimes it’s company. Sometimes it’s solitude.
You have to have an honest understanding of what you really need, and it’s so hard.
When we choose self-care in response to dopamine-seeking urges, when we use this tool in times of distress and discouragement, it enables us not only to emotionally regulate, but to have important neurotransmitters like oxytocin that help to dismantle those craving cycles and self-destructive patterns.
Self-Care Also Helps Build New Patterns of Behavior
These are the first steps to this new lifestyle of a supported self.
These are the building blocks of that new SCRRIPPTT (Social Control Reinforced/Reproduced In Practice/Performance Talk/Text) that becomes out daily routine, and the way we approach things.
It works. It’s important, and I’m choosing self-care.
I hope you replace some of your spoons through self-care too.
Happy Healing.
For more information about Please Master click here.
Survivor Literacy 
What do you think?