Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup!

Journal Prompt: After reading the information here, write down five things you can do to show yourself more love and care? Then make a commitment to doing them every day.

Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all thing. Your self-care plan should be customized to your individual needs. All the stress relief activities in the world will not help if you are not taking care of yourself. Self-care is vital for building resilience toward PTSD triggers and other everyday stressors in life that you can not eliminate. When you have taken steps to care for your mind and body, you will be better equipped to live your best life. Remember, it’s not about what happened to you, it’s about how you get through it.

Physical Self-Care. You need to take care of your body if you want it to run efficiently. Keep in mind that there is a strong connection between your body and mind. When you are caring for your body, you will think and feel better too.

Social Self-Care. Socialization is key to self-care. But, often, it is hard to make time for friends and easy to neglect your relationships when life gets busy.

Mental Self-Care. The way you think and the things that you are filling your mind with greatly influences your psychological well-being. Mental self-care includes doing things that keep your mind sharp, like puzzles, or learning about a subject that fascinates you.  

Emotional Self-Care. It's important to have healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like anger, anxiety, and sadness. Emotional self-care may include activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings on a regular basis.