Self-Worth

Talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend. If a friend said to you, “I feel like a burden”, you would never reply “Yeah, you are actually”.  You would be kind to them – and you deserve to be kind to yourself too.  

Sometimes we can be too hard on ourselves. Try to notice when you’re thinking something mean about yourself and replace it with a kind thought instead. 

Positive affirmations are kind sentences you say to yourself, and they can help you to feel good for a long time.  

Leave a journal or paper close by somewhere where you will see it as soon as you wake up. Choose 1-3 positive affirmations (sentences) that feel right for that day. 

For example: I am strong, I am capable, I am worthy.  

Say them out loud or in your mind before carrying the piece of paper round with you for the rest of the day. You can make them specific to your seizures. 

It’s easy to think that celebrations should only happen on special occasions or when we do something big. But what if you could celebrate yourself in small ways, every day?  

Progress doesn’t have to be huge to matter. Notice when you’ve taken a step forward, even if it’s a small one. These small wins add up over time. Praise yourself for your achievements, even if they are small.  

Self-care isn’t just bubble baths (although it might be!). Self-care is all about the things you do to take care of yourself, and it looks different for everyone. 

If you’re a very busy person and you find it hard to unwind, self-care might look like having an evening off to speak with a friend or read a book.  

If you’ve been feeling unmotivated (not feeling like doing anything), self-care might be going for a short walk and feeling the sun on your skin.  

If you’re overwhelmed, you could take care of yourself by doing something creative or comforting.  

Self-care also includes your hobbies. Doing things which you enjoy is an important part of looking after your wellbeing. It can help to remind you of who you are outside of stress and responsibilities.  

Comparing yourself to others can make you feel worse about yourself. You are unique, so there is no point comparing yourself with someone else. The only person you really need to make proud is yourself. If you compare yourself with other people, try instead comparing yourself with who you were a year ago. Think about all of the things which you have learned and how you have grown.  

Social media can lift you up or pull you down, depending on how you use it. You choose who you follow, so you are in control of what you see. 

You might have heard of the phrase ‘social media diet’. This is because what you take in on social media can affect your mental health, in the same way that the food you eat affects your physical health. If you were eating chocolate all day every day, your body probably wouldn’t feel good. In the same way, if you’re looking at social media which isn’t good for you every day, it’s likely to affect your self-worth (how you feel about yourself).  

Pay attention to how your feed makes you feel. Go through who you are following and think about whether their posts make you feel bad about yourself or worried. If their posts have a negative effect on how you feel, there’s no need to keep following them.  

One of our youth voice network members recommends following Instagram accounts with positive quotes and posts for self-love, self-worth and positivity. Search for hashtags such as: 

 #epilepsyquotes #epilepsyawareness #epilepsy #epilepsystrong  

This will help improve your self-worth (how you feel about yourself) and may also help you connect with others. 

Physical activity is a great way to improve self-worth (how you feel about yourself)2. Find exercise that you enjoy and that doesn’t feel like a chore. Exercise doesn’t have to look like running or going to the gym. Yoga, dancing, climbing, horse riding, pickleball, hiking, swimming, and Pilates are all great forms of exercise. Endorphins are happy chemicals your body makes, and your body releases them when you move and play. 

This doesn't have to be a huge challenge like running a marathon. Start by setting yourself small, achievable goals. Some people like to make daily goals, including things like getting out of bed and having a healthy meal. Ticking these off gives a sense of achievement, which can help to strengthen your self-worth.  

It’s okay to speak up for yourself and have rules that help you feel safe, especially when you have epilepsy. If you’re feeling too tired or too upset, it’s okay to take a break and tell someone what you need.

You can’t control having epilepsy, but you can control how you talk to yourself, who you spend time with, what goals you set yourself, and how you spend your free time. Focusing on what you can control can help you to  feel more calm and sure of yourself.