How I Treat My Mental Health #cptsd #complexptsd #mentalillness
When my mental health is bad, I’ve started to treat it like an injury – because PTSD physically changes the brain.
I’ll ask myself “would I be trying to do this if I had a concussion?” If the answer is no, I’ll prioritise guilt free rest, because that’s what my trauma brain state needs.
I’ve become more and more aware that even when I think I’m feeling better, my brain still has some recovering to do. This shows up in forgetting things and making silly mistakes, like leaving the hob on. As well as tiny things being triggering. It’s hard to spot, but with practice and more understanding about complex PTSD, I’m getting better at it.
Rest is essential for me to regulate my nervous system. Even when I feel overwhelmed by all the things my brain thinks I need to do, the best thing for me is rest. It’s grounding and reminds my brain that I’m safe and none of the things I’m stressed about need to be done right then and there.
The more I can keep my brain regulated, the less likely my traumas will be triggered and when they are, I’ll be better able to manage. And my physical health benefits from my brain being regulated too – the anxiety element of PTSD triggers my PoTS, which then reduces how much I’m able to do physically.
Sometimes disabled body confidence comes from letting go of the things we feel we ‘should’ be doing and instead prioritising what our brains and bodies need. Regardless of what society deems we ‘should’ be doing.
[Video description: Tania, a white woman with tied up brown hair sits in her wheelchair in front of a cream wall. She is wearing glasses with dark green lenses, a cream floral dress with a beige hoodie and black leggings.]