I take care of all those normal physical needs, like eating, sleeping, medical care, dental care, etc. If I get sick and I'm really run down, I ask for help in taking care of my kids from a friend or I ask my fiance to step it up a notch in helping me so that I can get well. I take my medication as directed. I give myself time every day to do something I want to do just because I want to do it....sometimes that's only 15 minutes, and sometimes its 2 hours. I do something every day that makes me feel productive (since I am currently not working), so this could be a couple of loads of laundry or cleaning a room up, or reorganizing something that needs it. I practice some sort of gratitude or mindfulness exercise everyday. I take care of my resposibilities as a parent. I give back to other abuse survivors.

I dont know if this is what you mean but i decided to clean up my diet because it was starting to hurt my stomach. i know its trivial but its something i do for myself.

JillieBean71, the most important job in the world isn't the President of the United States, but it is what you do, being a parent. Thank you for participating in this discussion.

Ihavetoes, I hope your stomach is feeling better. Please be sure to mention it to a trustworthy person if your stomach is still hurting or starts hurting again in the future. We don't want anything bad to happen to you. Please make sure that you are eating enough, and if you can, try including a daily multivitamin in your diet.

When I was a child, I had only one pair of shoes at a time, and they were always too small for my growing feet, and they were always falling apart. I would go on walks just to try to find some discarded string or wire to hold them together. One time another kid saw me with my pathetic shoes held together with bailing twine and said, "Why won't your parents buy you some new shoes? Don't they love you?" Now I buy two pairs of shoes nearly every month, and I have about twenty pairs of shoes. Maybe I'm overcompensating, I don't know.

I try to do something fun with my kids everyday (4 and 2 yo.).
All the other stuff is hit and miss but I am trying to be mindful of my needs and wants in addition to caring for my family.

I try to do something fun with my kids everyday (4 and 2 yo.).
All the other stuff is hit and miss but I am trying to be mindful of my needs and wants in addition to caring for my family.

Taking care of myself is very difficult to do. I'm in upper-lower class if someone decide to be generous, but I'm usually living in porverty level otherwise. I tend not to get medical care even when I need it. I know it's not good, but I don't want the stress of worrying about money, so I go without a lot of things.

When I was growing up, my mother made sure I wouldn't have what I needed like school supplies, food, medications etc. I tried my best to arrange everything I needed as a child, but if she found out about it, she'd take them away.

It is hard for me to take care of myself beyond the basic needs to function. But I try to take some time for myself at least once or twice a week to do something just fun for me, that benefits no one else. Like play my guitar, or read a book, and now, I cruise this website! LOL!
I make time to play with my son.
I paint my toes, whatever color I want, and sometimes a whole bunch of colors cause I can't decide on one. Just cause I can!
I try and eat to the best of my ability.
But to be perfectly honest, most of what I do is for someone else. I bath so I don't stink, I wear clean clothes because you are supposed to, I cook so my family has food to eat, etc. I guess the truth of it is I'm not terribly good at taking care of me! LOL!

I have always looked after myself for the necessities but always put off things for me I did not see as important- like going to the eye doctor. Since the PTSD went full blown I have learned I need to make time for myself- not just for doctor appointments but a little time everyday to do something I want to do. Been hard to do- I get early now so I can have some "me" time. Also trying to stick to a healthy diet (exercise is next goal) so I can get my weight down and do some things I use to do- like kayak.