You hear a lot about self-care these days. It’s a broad term that essentially means simply focusing on your own mental and physical well-being. Self-care can come in a variety of forms. It goes beyond things like bubble baths and massages. Paying attention to your mental health is also part of caring for yourself. Read on to discover more about why therapy is one of the best forms of self-care.
About Self-Care
Self-care incorporates every facet of your life. Its benefits are far-reaching. It can involve any activity you engage in that addresses your physical, mental, and emotional health. It could mean taking time to be sure you’re eating good foods. It also incorporates your relationships with others. Scheduling time with your friends is self-care. Spirituality is part of the concept, as well. Going to church or meditating falls under the umbrella of self-care. As does therapy where you can learn such things as healthy coping mechanisms, anxiety management, and how to heal from past traumas.
Self-care isn’t selfish. In today’s society, we’re often taught that focusing on yourself is vain or narcissistic. Many believe it means you don’t care about others. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In actuality, you need to take care of yourself before you can give it to anyone else. Women and mothers, in particular, are often seen as nurturers who should put their own needs on hold or sacrifice themselves for those around them. This can be an incredibly damaging belief. Also, self-care is deeply personal. It involves activities that one enjoys and that brings personal fulfillment. Self-care should not include things that are done simply to meet others’ expectations.
Why It’s Important
When you care for your overall comprehensive needs, you’re able to function in a healthier manner. Neglecting yourself causes burnout. Your energy is depleted, and you aren’t able to perform everyday tasks to the best of your abilities. Proper self-care leads to better physical and emotional health. In addition, it can improve your productivity and personal relationships.
Meeting the needs of others before taking care of your own comes with a number of dangers and can take a toll on your well-being. Certain mental health conditions may predispose individuals to a tendency to meet others’ needs above their own. People with depression, codependency, or anxiety may be at risk. Self-care, or taking time to meet your own needs can help to help you to manage such conditions as well as the everyday stressors of life. You’ll also have more energy to give to others when you’ve taken the time to give to yourself.
How Therapy Helps
Going to therapy is something you can do for yourself. While the results of therapy may mean you are then able to relate better to others, the primary purpose of seeing a therapist is for your own growth and education. It’s a gift you give yourself, and you deserve it. Therapy is definitely a form of self-care.
If you visit websites for therapists or other psychological resources, you can gain a great deal of information about the benefits of therapy. Talking with a therapist can often help you to uncover the root of issues that are bothering you or of maladaptive behaviors that no longer serve you. It’s a tremendous investment in yourself because you’re able to then take that information and use it to learn more useful coping mechanisms and habits.
Therapy may even be a catalyst to help you better understand the need to engage in additional self-care. As noted earlier, many people are hesitant to focus on their own needs. They see it as selfish and narcissistic. A trained therapist can help you to examine your acceptance of this belief and teach you ways to push past it so that you can fully embrace your own worth. You deserve to care for yourself and to look for ways to enhance your own well-being. Therapy can teach you how to set boundaries in order to ensure that your own needs are met.
As you can see, self-care is an essential aspect of becoming a healthy and well-rounded person. You must take time to care for yourself if you wish to be there fully for others. Therapy is one form of self-care that will reward you in countless ways.
