March 8th is International Women’s Day – The Importance of Self-Care for Women with Epilepsy
International Women’s Day, held annually on March 8th, is a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. Find out more about International Women’s Day here.
On International Women’s Day, it is important to talk about the fact that women living with epilepsy often face other health challenges in addition to the health challenges associated with epilepsy that men with epilepsy do not face. For more information on this topic, you can check out our blog post from last year’s International Women’s Day here.
International Women’s Day is also a great time to talk about the importance of self-care for women with epilepsy as studies have shown that self-care can have an affect on seizure management. Here are some of our self-care tips:
Tip One – Focus on Yourself:
- Carve out some “me time” where you can do an activity you enjoy, even if it is just once a week
- You can try things like journaling, gardening, art, dancing or spending time with family and friends
Tip Two – Believe in Yourself:
- Believe in yourself and you will find that tasks that may seem hard will be all that much easier to achieve
- Always act in a way that is consistent with achieving the goals you want to achieve
- Think positively as you continue to take action towards your goals
Tip Three – Be Kind to Yourself:
- Give yourself the same kindness, care and compassion like you would to others
- Realize that you are only human and allow yourself to make mistakes
Tip Four – Fuel your Body and Mind:
- Fueling your body and mind by eating healthy foods is important
- Eating a balanced diet full of healthy whole foods fuels your body and mind with what it needs to thrive
- Diet is a major component of both physical and mental health and may even play a role in seizure control
Tip Five – Exercise Regularly:
- Exercise is important for both physical health and mental well-being
- Exercising energizes you and pumps your body full of endorphins that make you feel good
- Consistent exercise can also help to strengthen both your body and mind and may even play a role in seizure control
Tip Six – Get Enough Rest:
- Getting enough rest is important for both your body and your mind
- Sleep deprivation is one of the main triggers for seizures
- Try sticking to a regular sleep routine and getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night
Tip Seven – Practice Mindfulness:
- When you are feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to practice mindfulness
- During mindfulness, you are able to focus on the present moment and immerse yourself in your senses, focusing on what you can feel, smell, touch, hear and see around you
Tip Eight – Join a Support Group:
- Joining a support group is important as you may need help in dealing with your epilepsy
- Joining a support group is also important because may also be able to help others by sharing your experiences
- Check out the BCES Women’s Circle, which is a healing circle support group for people living with epilepsy who identify as women
If you are given the right tools, it can really aid you in managing your epilepsy, so we hope that our self-care tips are helpful for women with epilepsy!
Happy International Women’s Day everyone!