What does not help
- Aggressive routines that ignore capacity.
- Self-care used as another performance standard.
- Pushing through triggers to ‘prove’ strength.
What helps
- Predictability: consistent meals, sleep, gentle movement.
- Grounding: sensory tools and orientation to the present.
- Choice: agency over pace and exposure.
- Connection: safe relationships, not isolation.
Micro-practice
Create one ‘safe sequence’: tea, shower, 5 breaths, music—repeat daily.
If you recognise yourself in this, start gently. Change is more sustainable when it is paced and compassionate. If symptoms are persistent, severe, or affecting safety, seeking professional support is appropriate.