In Tiny Tarot Wisdom for Spoonies, I’ll be going through every card individually and sharing mini insights we as disabled and neurodivergent (ND) witches can take from it.
It’s important for us as disabled and neurodivergent folks to be kind to ourselves. But sometimes it’s hard to discern the line between taking care of ourselves and indulging in unhealthy coping mechanisms. I, for example, tend to use carby or sugary food as a tool for comforting myself and cheering myself up. That would be okay as an occasional indulgence, but when I’m eating mostly carbs and not getting enough nutritious healthy food, that’s a problem.
Anything can become an unhealthy coping mechanism in excess. TV, videogames, even books can be incredibly meaningful escapes from the challenges of daily life, but when they’re used to fully avoid or distract from anything difficult, they’re more of a hindrance than a help. Venting to loved ones is healthy and necessary, but when we routinely dump all our pain on one person without minding their needs and boundaries, we become toxic.
If the Devil appears for spoonies, it’s time to check on the behaviors and activities we use as self-care. Something may be out of balance, and we may need to do some soul-searching to find a healthier alternative. Maybe it’s setting a limit on how much time a day we spend watching a show or playing a videogame. Maybe it’s reminding ourselves to ask our friend for permission before we start venting to them. Maybe as in my case, it’s requiring myself to eat at least two fruits/vegetables before I can have a carbier meal each day. There’s a myriad of ways to bring these potentially-harmful coping mechanisms back into balance. The Devil asks–nay, demands–that we start brainstorming solutions.
(Audio version of this post coming soon)