Whether you have a diagnosed mental health disorder, or a clean bill of mental health, physical illness can really drag us down. Trust me, I know. I went back to my normal gig after a breakdown only to be hit upside the head with back-to-back-to-back infections.
It isn’t until you actually get sick that realise just how crucial self-care is in aiding and promoting your physical recovery as well as your mental health – and that’s what we are going to talk about today. So, grab yourself a nice cup of hot lemon and ginger tea and lets get to it!
Self what now?
Self-care is the act of doing things that promote your wellbeing. This definition sounds very broad, because it is! Self-care refers to anything from our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing and can look very different for different people.
For the purposes of this piece, self-care will refer to taking of our physical health and mental health as we work on recovery from acute illness.
Physical Illness and Mental Health
Have you ever noticed that when you have bout of illness, such as a cold or flu, you feel really crumby? Not just physically, but emotionally down as well. Turns out it is incredibly common. No one is feeling perky and upbeat when they are sick.
It can also be the time when our demons start to resurface. That depression lurking just under the surface. The anxiety that’s hiding in the closet. Illness can sometimes bring these things out or make them more apparent. Another reason why our self-care is so important when we are sick.
Ways to Incorporate Self-Care When You Are Sick
Here are a handful of ways to do some self-care when you are sick. And remember, if you don’t like a particular suggestion – skip it (one of the key words in self-care is self – you call the shots!).
Rest
Come on, you knew this was going to be on list.
Anytime you go to the doctor with an acute illness they will tell you to rest. Why? Because being sick in itself is @#$%ing exhausting! Your body is putting all its available resources into making you better. Whether this is fighting off an infection or healing a broken bone.
I will throw my hand up in the air and admit I am really bad at this one. I tried to push through and force myself back into work and got sent home in under two hours because I was struggling to stand on my feet.
Don’t make the same mistake – stay home and rest up.
Keep up that water intake
Rest and fluids, it’s a cliché for reason! We can potentially go weeks without food, but the human body can only survive days without water – and even less if you are losing large volumes due to vomiting or diarrhoea.
Keeping up your water intake will prevent complications associated with dehydration, and there are also rehydration products out there to help replace electrolytes if needed.
Eat what you want, when you want it
While this may not work well as a mantra for every day life if all you really want to eat is food high in sugar and fat, when we are sick all bets are off. %$#* the diets, #$%* the food restrictions and #$%* counting calories! When I am sick, I have no appetite anyway, so, when I do finally feeling like eating, I will damn well eat what I please.
When I finally got my appetite back after a solid week of not wanting to eat, the only thing I wanted to eat in the world was fish and chips. And you know what? It may have been, dare I say it, divine. I was riding a high of utter bliss the moment I started eating that deep fried goodness. Now, that could possibly have been due to the hunger, but you know what, I doubt I would have had the same reaction to bowl of brussels sprouts.
Sometimes, nothing beats a wash and clean set of clothes
There is something to be said about the act of bathing and stepping into fresh clothes (or even sliding into fresh linen on the bed for that matter). It feels good when we are well, but I think it reaches a whole new level when we are sick.
You get to scrub away the sweat and oil, remove any lingering odours, and almost have the sensation of washing the illness away. Stepping out of the shower (or bath, dealers choice) you feel refreshed and, while not 100% better, you feel slightly improved. Like the water has some kind of magical healing powers.
Now, I am not suggesting that your shower does in fact have some kind of divine healing powers (though wouldn’t that be kind of awesome?), but I do think that at the very least it will lift your spirits, even if only slightly.
If people want to help you out, let them
Don’t let your pride get in the way of letting people help you out if you are unwell. Whether they want to bring over food or just check in and see how you are feeling, let them.
While you might feel a little guilty at first that someone is dropping food in your lap while you have been stuck on the couch all day, it actually works in the favour for both parties. The person who is tending to you feels good for helping you out and actually wants to see you get better. So they get good vibes, and you get to eat without passing out over the stove.
Always seek medical advice when required and follow any directions to the letter
Sometimes it is perfectly reasonable for us to do some self management and not drag in the doctors, like when you have a cold. But when your symptoms are unusual, severe or prolonged, it’s time to pull out the big guns – not big data, leave Google for searching fun ways to stay entertained while on bed rest.
During your consultation you will likely receive advice on how to manage your condition – follow it.
I am far from perfect at remembering to do these things sometimes and acknowledge that it can be difficult. Give me an antibiotic that needs to be taken three times a day and you will be lucky if I remember to take it twice a day.
However, it is important that we take all medication as directed and incorporate any lifestyle advice in order to get back to our normal healthy selves as soon as possible. Some tips to try and remember these things are to write it down (or even ask the doctor to do so) and setting reminders on your phone.
This is just a handful of self-care activities for when you are feeling sick, and is no way complete. Take a moment to think about other things you might be able to incorporate to promote recovery and lift your spirits when you are feeling sick. I’m sure you all have tips and tricks to look after yourself when you are sick, and I would love to hear them! Leave a comment to or send an email at growingstrong.blog@gmail.com
Goodbye for now, and remember – keep calm, and grow strong!
Growing Strong 