Bedrotting. It could look like self-care sometimes, but bedrottting can be a classic sign of depression, so which is it?
This article delves into the misconceptions of the activity bedrotting. However, some see it as taking time off, as it is practiced on TikTok. People seeing this could overuse this ‘self-care’ method, when it is actually more serious to their mental health than they think.
Self-care
Self-care is important. It can boost your mental and physical health. Self-care looks different for everyone. Personally, I like a face mask, lighting a candle, and wearing comfy pajamas.
It also includes things like drinking water, taking walks, and journaling daily. If you go without self-care, it can lead to burnout and even health issues. Given that things like exercise and a healthy diet fall under the self-care umbrella.
Ideally, you will be doing a bit of self-care every day.
It is important to do self-care, and it can even be fun. Self-care helps to add some joy to your day and to prevent burnout. It can be a few small things during the day, or a large time for relaxing. I often like having time blocked off to do things like and everything shower, and cook myself a good meal.
Self-care can look different on TikTok; a lot of creators take you along for their self-care nights, which boast expensive routines ( probably hoping you’ll buy some of the products they’re tapping their nails on). This can make self-care seem like a bonus, something only available if you have the money.
But I cannot stress this enough, self-care is not just gold-infused lotion, it’s brushing your teeth, getting enough sleep, and so much more.
For many people, self-care may even look like bedrotting.
What is Self-care NOT?
Self-care is not self-disrepair. It’s not skipping the important things, like sunscreen or eating enough protein. There are a lot of things people may look at as self-care that are just not, and one of those things may even be bedrotting in some cases.
Other things that fall into this category, like partying, because yes, it is self-care to let loose, dance, and see friends. But partying can often include things like drinking. Drinking in moderation (according to CDC guidelines, moderation is 2 drinks or less a day for men and 1 drink or less a day for women) can be a way to add to the fun or even relax after a long day.
But the important part is moderation. Without it, drinking takes a major toll on your health and can lead to addiction. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t say that drinking, even in moderation, could be considered self-care because it is a toxin to your body, and can lead to reliance on a substance to relax.
Bedrotting walks the fine line between self-care and self-disrepair.
What is Bedrotting?
Bedrotting is an activity popularized by the internet. In some ways, it can even be a form of self-care, allowing you to rest and take a break from the stressors of daily life. It takes place in a bed, of course.
Personally, I’ll be in a big t-shirt and sweats with my favorite snacks. There is usually a lot of doom scrolling or TV watching. Bedrotting can be a way of relaxing; it allows you to turn off your brain, but this can quickly turn into a problem.
If you spend the majority of your time bedridden, not only is it a sign of burnout, but it also causes you to fall behind. Chances are, if you spend a lot of time in bed, you aren’t keeping your home tidy, you aren’t completing any to-do lists, and your ability to function takes a toll.
Bedrotting is also named because of how doing it, particularly in excess, can cause you to feel like your brain and body are atrophying.
Is bedrotting a symptom of depression?
It can be. Depression symptoms often can look very similar to bed rotting. Symptoms include sleeping too much, perhaps being in bed but not sleeping at all, and loss of interest in other activities once enjoyed. If you are bedrotting excessively, it is certainly cause for concern.
In addition, if you are experiencing other symptoms of depression, such as low self-esteem, low mood, changes in appetite, and fatigue, then you should reach out for help. Especially if you are experiencing thoughts of harm or suicide.
It can also worsen any existing mental health problems. If you spend a lot of time bedrotting, you aren’t being active, which boosts mental health. You probably aren’t eating a well-balanced diet, and spending a lot of time on social media, which in copious amounts is bad for your mental health.
These things contribute to things like anxiety and depression.
As someone who has struggled with both, I can say that bedrotting has mostly made things worse. Some days, when there is a lot on my mind and lying in bed helps me turn my brain off, so I won’t discredit that aspect.
That being said, I’ve learned to place limits on how much and how long I can bedrot, because if I do it too much, I never solve the problems I’m worried about, and it teaches my brain to immediately go into dissociation mode whenever I feel stressed.
On the depression side of things, bedrotting is usually a symptom for me, to the point where it doesn’t feel like a TikTok trend anymore, but a harsh reality. That reality is, I cannot get out of bed, and I am unable to function normally.
When should you be concerned?
Bedrotting is a term that is not accurate for all. Coming home after a long day, or it’s finally your day off and you decide to spend the day relaxing in bed, this is not bedrotting. You are taking the time to rest up and relax.
But if you are having bad thoughts, feeling low, bedrotting may not be the best solution for you. It could spiral into a repetitive cycle, hurting your mental health.
In small amounts, bedrotting can be a way to unwind. Yet, if you spend the majority of your time bedridden, or are experiencing other symptoms of mental illness, then you should certainly be concerned and reach out for help, such as to people you trust, or even a therapist.
