thanks, hilary duff <3
hellooooo friends. hopefully you didn’t forget about your favorite micro blogger! it’s been a rough month and a half, to say the least, which is why I’ve been gone from here for a bit. I caught a weird virus that hasn’t seemed to go away, I’m trying to overcome an autoimmune flare, and honestly, my mental health has just been in the gutter. BUT - I’m finally feeling a little more like myself this morning thanks to Hilary Duff’s new album, “luck… or something.” She is such a queen. Always has been, always will be. She’s also drop-dead gorgeous. I’ve basically slept through the past day (let’s be real, I’ve been spending most of my days off sleeping or laying around, thank you depression) but I put on my headphones, pressed play, opened my windows, myself a cup of coffee, lit a candle, and now I’m kind of vibing. I would highly recommend. she is so honest through her music, but in a gentle and easy-to-digest way. her sound is so unique, too. okay, you get it! go listen.
next - let’s chitty chat about mental health for a sec. I’ve always dealt with severe anxiety and depression, amongst other things (OCD + CPTSD, I’m really the whole package lol), and while I do my best to keep it pretty well managed through therapy, medication, and lifestyle, I’ve learned that sometimes what I really need is to allow myself to stop fighting so hard and rest. let’s be clear - this doesn’t mean letting myself go or stopping my medication or not going to my necessary appointments. but this just means that I give myself permission to say no to other people without feeling guilty. I am such a people pleaser, and I hate the idea of disappointing anyone, so I often overbook myself and end up more exhausted. I tend to not have a lot of social battery to begin with, so saying yes too often is usually not the best thing for me. sometimes getting out of the house and seeing a friend(s) is good for me, but other times, I need to listen to my body and rest. I’ve learned, if that means I’m not part of all of the group hangs or social events, then so be it. the peace in my mind and body comes first. I don’t know if this will help anyone, but even if it means one person knows they’re not alone, that’s why I’m sharing.
it’s important to know when to get back up, too. I often fall into a pattern of rest and it’s harder to know if I’m helping myself or delaying my progress. it’s a balance. so what I tend to do is give myself a soft timeline, then give myself small, attainable goals. for example, I’ll tell myself, “you can clear your calendar for today, order dinner in, and watch this Netflix series, but tomorrow, you have to shower, do some light stretches, and take the trash out and feel the fresh air on your face.” Am I always successful? No way. But, it helps. I’m not a professional, but I’ve been given looooots of professional advice over the years and these things tend to help.
be gentle with yourself friends, life is so hard sometimes. but there is so much good in each day, too. you’re stronger than you think you are. take care of yourself.
never be afraid to reach out for help if you need it. it really is half the battle. thank you for reading, and be well.
cass <3
