10/24/2025
Self-soothing and self-care both support mental health, but they serve different purposes.
Self-soothing helps us manage distress in the moment. It is what we do to calm our bodies and emotions when things feel overwhelming or challenging in our everyday lives.
***Healthy self-soothing can include breathing exercises, music, journaling, making a cup of tea, taking a bath, watching a movie with a friend, talking with someone you trust.
***Unhealthy self-soothing can look like avoidance of challenge, emotional eating, excessive exercising, binging television shows, overworking, scrolling, substance use, and generally, habits that numb.
***Healthy self-care nurtures our long-term well-being. It involves consistently meeting our needs through practices such as therapy, meal prepping, exercising regularly, setting boundaries, getting adequate rest, staying connected, taking medication as prescribed, and maintaining routines that build resilience.
***Self-care can become unhealthy when it turns into self-criticism, rigid routines, or avoidance disguised as “productivity.”
Maintaining healthy self-care and self-soothing often requires intention, honesty, and effort. When guided by compassion, both support healing and balance.
Self-soothing helps you navigate the moment.
Self-care helps you stay well tomorrow.
