Self Care Tips ADHD & Autism

Self care is hard, especially if you have ADHD or are autistic. The tips generally shared for self care don't always work for us. Having been on a self care mission the last few months I've put together all the information I've gathered, and the things that have worked for me. So that I can offer you self care tips for ADHD & autism.
Including:
Nutrition
Exercise
Sleep and rest
Balance
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A little bit about me:
Hi I'm Purple Ella and my family is an autism family with three out of five of us on the autistic spectrum. I also have ADHD and connective tissue disorder (hypermobile Ehlers-danlos syndrome). So life can be a challenge but also a lot of fun.

[@salo6724]

I like the inserts of clips showing you doing things while you're talking about them, it helps my ADHD brain stay attentive :)

[@PurpleElla]

Thanks for noticing, I've been working on making my videos more engaging in this way lately

[@Authentistic-ism]

@@PurpleElla I like it. I think you should keep it up. This may sound odd but helps you seem more real to me and it helps me feel like maybe I could do these things

[@Sarah-N709]

A big part for me isnt even necessarily forgetting to eat, which does happen - but I don't want to actually bother to make anything because I dont want to deal with the mess. I'm pretty crazy with cleaning. I can't eat when my kids do because they still need so much assistance. So it leaves me in a constant cycle. It's literally like I'm on a hamster wheel all day.

[@sydbey947]

Thank you! I’m not alone!

[@nusagrace]

Me too.

[@whitneymason406]

When it comes to hunger I struggle with the opposite, I don't know when I'm full so I overeat often. Thanks for another heartfelt video!

[@spacejesus9722]

I have literally the same! I was looking for a comment saying exactly this

[@whitneymason406]

@@spacejesus9722 😁

[@ideasonscribe]

I've forgotten to eat my whole life, so much so I'm not even aware of hunger pain...I feel like my body stopped sending the signal because it got sick of getting ignored lol.

[@zacrintoul]

Yup I concur. I call it going into starvation mode... I don't eat breakfast. I generally try to eat something around lunch, but often forget if I have other stuff going on at work. Usually I do have an evening meal though. It seems like I get a small signal when I should be hungry, but depending on what I'm doing, I usually just end up ignoring it. Later on I might get a larger hunger reminder, but not necessarily. If I start eating anything though, my brain will be like "yes... Food! You are famished. Eat all the delicious food." My brain really just tends to focus on what it is doing at the time so this kind of thing kinda makes sense when taken in context with the rest of my brain functioning.

[@ANeurodivergentGuy]

I relate so much to this. I don't know what I need for self care. I don't know what all my interests are. I will continue to watch your videos! PS I also love the way you incorporate both your ASD and ADHD into your videos! In my experience, most people seem to focus on ADHD or ASD and it can be frustrating for comorbid people that want to know how both of them interact with eachother.

[@LoveandSoul7]

great suggestions! really, I swear by my morning routine. Since 2014 I methodically wake up around 5:30 -7am and start my day with intuitive movement/ yoga /kpop cardio dance! Then I necessarily need to take a shower, so it is easier to remember and get that done! and since I've exercised for 1hr~, I feel hungry and eat a hearty breakfast that keeps me filled until lunch, (around 1 or 2pm). These days I'm also trying to go to bed before 10pm, I really feel great when I sleep early!! :)

[@laurabaker81]

My problem is being unable to maintain a routine. I care for my elderly parents as well as bringing up my autistic/ADHD son and dealing with HSD, ASD and ADHD myself while trying to hold down a part time job. I thrive on routine and before my parents became dependent I did okay including self-care and exercise (maybe for a few solid months before I got bored!). Now, not so much! We are putting more professional care in place for my parents so things should get easier! 🤞🤞

[@fizzymelody]

This was very helpful and informative! I especially needed the reminder at the end to not compare or try to keep up with others' abilities. Thank you!!

[@carolinepi]

I'm struggling so much with self-care these days, I really needed this video! I need to change many things in my routine (and actually establish one, to begin with), and you're helping with this as well. thank you! 🌈 and btw, the merch rocks! I loved your illustration and the colors! so beautiful and vibrant ✨ and the fact that is label-free and made with organic cotton??? I live congratulations on your beautiful work 💙 you're such an inspiration

[@PurpleElla]

TY, that's very kind 😊

[@NidusFormicarum]

Stomach, not sleeping, no routines...But the worst is often worrying. I worry, worry, worry and most of the time I stay passive. Communication is perhaps the most difficult part since I don't have a good relationship with myself. I sometimes get quiet when I am afraid of a possible answer at the same time as I feel really mean by not answering the other person, like my girlfriend, for instance.

[@Miss_Lexisaurus]

I have meals and drinking reminders in my calendar so I get notifications for them, along with snacks. I'm rubbish at rest breaks so that tip to do them after lunch, etc is super useful. Thank you.

[@petersaysthings]

Thank you so much! I often forget to eat when I'm hyperfocused, and I keep telling myself I'll exercise, but by the time I remember, I'm too burned out to do it. Paying attention to when I feel a certain way and structuring my day around those times is the key to developing a routine, I think. This is very helpful

[@shhhrowe3772]

This helps me, a lot very productively. It makes me optimistic about my ADHD

[@whatwhenwherehere]

I failed, I'm watching this at 3am ..on my phone! I was supposed to go bed hours ago and got distracted, I think I've watched 10 of your videos now, they are great! Tomorrow or today is a new day, so I'll try again then

[@BrazenNL]

Wow, I have the same issues. For drinking, I use the app WaterMinder on my iPhone. Breakfast is part of my ritual, too. Lunch and dinner, not so much. I get nauseated when I forget to eat. The problem is, I tend to forget to shop, so even if I do remember, I might not have food in the house …

[@ifelttheburn4808]

I will put a table with reminders I’m too distracted to get my plans done

[@Soul.Stylist.Solutions333]

You can see it in your skin,you’re eating better..! 🙂✨❣️💜

[@stacy3876]

Thank you so much. I am new to learning how to handle many things around Autism. This has helped me thnk alot of things to try and do.

[@savanimay]

The moment you mentioned blue light in the video, I was reminded to turn on the blue light filter on my phone. Thanks!

[@eyelinermusic4life]

Awesome video, very helpful. I’ve been struggling with selfcare ever since I was very young, but have never tried a neurodivergent approach to it. Your approach might make a difference for me, so thank you!

[@rubycubez1103]

Great video! I love your kitchen tiles.

[@NynyLemon123]

thank u, i needed this

[@youtuberperson]

Thank you

[@martinlagman]

Great video, thank you so much!

[@helenm1085]

I think I have to come around to the fact that I don't have to have lots of friends. I feel jealous of my partner for having so many people in his life who he has genuine friendships with. I don't feel like I have more than two or three, but one of them goes AWOL for months at a time due to significant mental health issues. I feel quite lonely when that number drops from three to two. I also don't want to rely too much on my partner for everything - possibly having a support worker will help with this

[@butterflyqueen9260]

I just got diagnosed and binge a lot of video. So I made a book of checklist and set alerts to certain pages of my book. I got better sleep within 3 weeks 😌

[@elliotbarth2570]

I've recently started getting into self-care more, I feel like I have no time to make dinner for myself everyday, nor lunch. Meal prep has helped save an hour or two every afternoon, that time now gets filled up with random things but, im one step closer to more free time because of it, also because of letting go of guilt. not getting all my laundry done in one day, let go of the guilt, sometimes we don't have enough time to "do the laundry" all in one go.

[@kingisabel]

i love your voice!! 🙈 you are so easy to listen to

[@michaelawiseman7320]

I find that sometimes I don't want to *eat* so I try to find ways around that, like smoothies and soups and things I can sip at. So this was wonderful!!

[@owlsayswhoo6755]

Purple Ella: Hi, I love your channel and am learning so many wonderful things about myself through your videos. I am an adult with Asperger’s syndrome and just got the exciting news that my husband and I are pregnant. I am rather high functioning but do have noise issues and other sensory sensitivities. I was wondering if you could do more parenting advice videos as there are not many autistic parenting advice videos on KZbin. I’m nervous that I will struggle when the baby is born and will have problems coping to such a big change. I’ve seen one video you did about parenting but haven’t found any others. If I’ve missed them I apologize.

[@jshaka3769]

We need more videos of people identifying techniques and mental strategies to put one at peace and ease and less videos about medication and stigma.

[@mathilda6763]

I use the alarm on my phone to remind me of stuff like taking a break or bedtime... regular and enough sleep is a hard thing for me. Before COVID I also had the rule of "one thing a day" where I had to ideally leave the house and do one thing or run one errands (meaning I also was "forced" to get dressed and showered) or finish one task I side the house (like cleaning one room or eve just changing my beddings). If I did, I did a good job, if I managed more it was good too but it didn't make me better, if I didn't "better luck tomorrow". The goal was to pace myself more healthily.

[@Soul.Stylist.Solutions333]

My doggie used to want to set up camp in my yoga mat too! 🙄😍

[@DrCory48]

Very cool video

[@ryderncupcakes]

I dont have a diagnosis, but this is too relatable….

[@sirensheartsong4079]

Ah explains why if I eat breakfast, I feel like I'm eating all day. Lmao

[@otakus1216]

I've been struggling with sleep a lot lately- I used to have a routine but it's always very temporary so, I don't know if I should just accept that I can't keep any routine other than the routine of not having a routine ¿

[@lenberry6721]

timestamp for where I got up to: 7:40

[@NothingByHalves]

It's sugar that makes a massive difference to all sensory issues. Sort out the gut microbiome first. With ASD and ADHD it's really not that easy to do, but switching to a Keto diet, cutting out all grains, processed carbs and sugar, really, really helps. I am in the phase at the moment where I've caved and overloaded on sugar and so my brain fog is back. Sugar through fruits and oat milk smoothies creates a sugar dip. As does grabbing a bar of chocolate and eating the whole thing (as I did yesterday when I was feeling exhausted) just makes everything so much worse.

[@danicrowell8824]

Hi Ella, and thanks for the thoughtful video. There's a neurofeedback therapy that can be SUPER helpful for both symptoms from autism and ADHD. It's called LENS neurofeedback. Wanted to share because it's changed my life and the lives of individuals I work with. Cheers :)

[@CisForTrans]

Yesterday I told my wife that my depressions was creeping in again, but found out that my utter displeasure with the world stemmed from the fact that my feet where cold for hours. I mean yeah: We really don‘t know what we need don‘t we? 😂

[@matthewsnowdon8530]

I’ve just had weird realisation essentially The life I’m living now isn’t my own life I don’t have control over everything i do or try to is dictated by other people and controlled For example at college they choose what course im allowed on im not allowed to choose my own career options Its everywhere I don’t have any control over my current ‘life’ i need to find a way to have my own life

[@Drachenschnauze]

Does anyone else have the problem, that sweat is so ichy you want to cry, scream and tear if your skin?

[@Authentistic-ism]

Your exercise looks easy for a beginner. Where can I get instructed in a routine like this? I don't knwo where to start.

[@PurpleElla]

I used to use KZbin channel Yoga With Adrienne and found her routines really helpful.

[@ifelttheburn4808]

@@PurpleElla yoga is good to get less anxious and more calm that’s one of my main problems. I’m very stressed since my burn out

[@butterflyqueen9260]

I set an alert to eat every 3 hrs I have a water app

[@icravedeath.1200]

Hello.

[@GaasubaMeskhenet]

I hate thinking about feeding myself...

[@Drachenschnauze]

How do you deal with dating and set sleepscedules?

[@sydbey947]

Okay, so this is all great and all but I deal with a “conspiracy theorists” state of mind. Everything that “is” really “isn’t” to me. I remember, over 10 years ago during my school days, Organizing my room. I would take everything out and then get overwhelmed and triggered by the bigger mess in front of me. It can literally take me all day to clean one room to my satisfaction. I like hip hop and r&b but in rap music the lyrics are the main thing. I have a hard time focusing on rap songs and the words that are being said. Will someone just say they can relate? Please!!!!

[@NunyaBigglesworth]

I relate. Too many lyrics I’m focusing on the words and will just sit there. No words/ classical, I’m overthinking. Best cleaning music in my opinion is songs with repetitive/short lyrics… example something like dope lemon “where it is that you go”, it’s a 7 minute song with maybe one sentence.

[@huntermosely7420]

How come you can comment on this video and not the one about PIP?

[@johnhughes1213]

Hi how do I join thanks

[@PurpleElla]

There’s a join button at the top of my channel page - if you click that the information for joining is there ☺️

[@johnhughes1213]

Purple Ella thank you 😊