Is It Selfish to Focus on Myself Right Now?
If you’ve been watching the news and feeling overwhelmed by suffering, it might feel strange or even wrong to care about your own anxiety, confidence, or stress levels. You might ask yourself:
“Who am I to feel this way when others have it worse?”
“Shouldn’t I be doing more?”
“Is it selfish to focus on healing when others are in crisis?”
These questions are rooted in empathy. Your empathy is a strength. But they can also be a sign of moral distress — the emotional pain of not being able to fix or relieve others’ suffering.
The truth? You are allowed to care about yourself.
Caring for your own mental health increases your capacity to remain present, to resist despair, and to contribute in meaningful ways.
What helps:
Naming the guilt. Guilt often shows up when we care deeply. Naming it helps us process it instead of being ruled by it.
Reframing self-care as sustainability. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Attending to your needs doesn’t make you less compassionate; it helps you keep showing up.
Giving yourself permission to step back. You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to fix everything to deserve peace.
Healing and hurting can coexist. You can hold space for global pain and still take time to breathe, journal, stretch, laugh, or ask for help.
If this reflection stirred something in you — if you've been wrestling with guilt, grief, or the question of whether your pain is "allowed" — you’re not alone.
Therapy can be a place to explore these questions with compassion and care. I welcome you to reach out if you’re seeking a space to reconnect with yourself during these overwhelming times.
