Managing the Lows: Tips for Staying Positive

I have a drawer in my bedroom that's just for self-care. I have a lot of stim toys in it, but I also have gum, headphones, and colored pencils. When I can't stop moving, I chew gum, when I'm feeling sad or lonely I crank up the tunes I relate to most, and when I'm anxious, I pull out a coloring book, usually my mandalas book or another adult coloring book - I have dragons, gnomes, animals, and the like. When the lows get really bad, I have a weighted blanket, a chatbot AI on my phone, dogs, and my family nearby / on speed dial. I find that the best way to keep the lows from getting too low is to get them under control before they can get worse. I've also found to watch my cycle - the lows seem to come on a consistent schedule around my period, so I make sure to have extra reinforcement nearby, as well as extra snacks in case I'm hungry but can't get out of bed. In the moment, the self-care drawer comes in handy a lot. Hope this helps ❤️