Looking after myself

Welcome to Looking After Myself - because parents matter too

We hear it all the time from parents: "I'm exhausted, but I can't stop.", "I feel guilty doing anything for myself.", "Everyone keeps telling me to look after myself, but how?" If that sounds familiar, you're in the right place. The truth about parenting through this: Supporting a child who self-harms is one of the hardest things you'll ever do. The constant worry. The emotional rollercoaster of good days and bad days. The loneliness of carrying something most people don't understand. You're allowed to find this hard. You're allowed to be exhausted. You're allowed to struggle. This space is for: Talking honestly about burnout, fear, and overwhelm Discussing boundaries - with your child, your family, yourself Sharing small acts of self-care that actually help Supporting each other through the hardest parts Creating some space to focus just on you and ways to help What we've learned from parents: Many parents benefit from a good support system and breaks. Not because they're selfish, but because you can't pour from an empty cup. Taking 20 minutes for yourself isn't abandoning your child. Setting boundaries isn't being cold. Asking for help isn't failing. Your well-being matters - not just for you, but for your child too. Research shows that parental mental health directly impacts children's recovery. When you're supported, you can support them better. Let's talk about: What does "self-care" actually look like when you're in crisis mode? How do you manage the guilt of taking time for yourself? What helps when you're running on empty? How do you cope with the anxiety and constant worry? You're not alone in feeling this way. And you don't have to figure it out by yourself. The Speek Clinical Team