Random Question: Why don't WE want to shower?

For me it feels like a disorganised behaviour thing. When I am both up and down, I can't get on top of things - washing the car, showering, shaving, brushing my teeth and hair, cleaning my room, packing my lunch, basically lots of little hygiene/self care things. When I'm depressed, I just can't be bothered at all. When I'm manic, I cannot settle myself for long enough to do any of this ****. I just flit around making more mess, changing my clothes constantly etc. I suspect my mood doesn't often go to true normal so I'm always a bit depressed or a bit 'up' and showering is one of the things I just can't get my **** together enough to do. It seems like my mind is always a bit too blah or a bit too frazzled to get on with normal studf

this hits the nail on the head for me, as does the previous poster who said they think it just takes away what limited "functionality" resources they have...even when I am feeling okay/stable, I know I only have a limited amount of mental resources to expend before I start getting into stress mode and I know that stress mode risks me going into a more serious episode. so I try to minimize my stress level at all times...it's almost become an automatic thing. and on days I know I have to keep it together enough to parent my toddler, straighten up my house, function at work, etc. etc., the little things like whether I wash my hair or put makeup on or have a clean car seem soooooooo insignificant and inconsequential. no one will know (usually) if I don't wash my hair but not being present for my toddler or my job is noticeable. on days I feel like I have energy to spare, it's not an issue, but I would say most days I don't feel that way. then again, maybe that's a sign I'm not truly stable? as I said previously, I shower every day but it's hard to motivate myself to do so. I've never been manic and am not really sure what hypomania feels like (sometimes I think I confuse it with feeling normal/good, and I am new to this so who knows) so I can't really say if it's easier when I am in the "up" phase. my bipolar 2 has predominant depression but more serious episodes usually present as mixed so I always just figured it was a depressive thing...

I haven't showered in two weeks. I have no desire to. I, literally, smell like a horse. It's amazing.

got a shower today. Now I can go for a few days and go do stuff. i got my hair cut shorter and that helped. Love this thread.

Good for you.

Right now I am allergic to water.

For me, when I am depressed, I am on the couch all day and then maybe I finally feel like I can get up and it's all I can do to shower and then clean my wreck of a house and then maybe spend time with my kids. All of this is impossible though because it is 4:30 in the afternoon and I am still on the couch, in my pjs, and there is just no time for everything and so I get overwhelmed and nothing gets done. And then I feel even more depressed. I do shower at least every third day though but that to me feels gross because I used to shower every day. Thank goodness my husband doesn't worry about the house and usually fixes dinner when I am not feeling well because of depression. This is isn't an issue for me unless I'm depressed.

For me it's apathy. What gets me motivated is when my husband is about to come home- I want the dishes done and I want to have showered. Is it simply caring enough about it to do it?

My husband has to sometimes take over too, though

When you are very depressed sometimes even caring takes too much effort. There are days getting out of bed or off the couch is impossible. Thankfully, when I get in that place, I have a husband and mom who lovingly me (sometimes) nag and sometimes motivate me to at least take care of me and my house (my kids are always clean and fed and nurtured at least). Often times my mom will come to my house and take charge and make me get up and do at least something. It always feels relieving to get something accomplished.

I agree whole heartedly. Hope no one took what I said as a criticism. It's very hard and sometimes impossible to care at all.

it comes and goes which i find weird. it also comes and goes how often i shower or get a haircut. right now im looking really rough, i have managed to take a shower everyday, but i save every 4 or 5 days, and i havent gotten a hair cut in 2 months, its some weird shaggy thing going on. i only do this when im depressed tho. i have been running low lately.

When i'm depressed and reluctant to shower, i start showering every second day in the evening. Somehow it's easier to bear in the evening when i'm alert and am trying to kill time. I'm not as fresh as i would like but it's a good compromise. My doctor says i'm on the European plan!

had a day at the beach so shower felt SO GOOD.
wish i enjoyed it like this all the time

Took a shower yesterday after 2 1/2 weeks without one. Forgot to change my sheets. My bed smells like a horse blanket. That was sort of eye opening.

Another who is glad she's not the only one!

You are not alone!!!

I had a shower because I was getting even too funky for me

At times it can feel like it just takes too much effort.

Holy mackerel, seeing this thread makes me feel so much less alone, and this is a pretty old thread! Of course, I'm also sorry everyone is having such a hard time with this. I have the same problem getting myself to shower and brush my teeth, especially when depressed. I don't understand it either, because I love how I feel after the shower, but before I actually shower, I always feel like washing my hair and everything is such a task that's going to take forever, so it just turns into this daunting thing that I dread. I go as long as I can without showering, usually a few days between, washing my hair once, maybe twice, a week, if I'm feeling particularly energetic. I'll shower if I know I "have" to—some special occasion, doctor's appointment, etc. but day to day, I'm usually trying to convince myself why I don't need to shower tonight. It's also weird because I am so grossed out by germs in public places and things being generally dirty. It's just so difficult! It makes no sense!

Depressed, no shower. Hypomanic, shower every twelve hours.

My level of hygiene is connected to my mood.

Maybe it should be the first question at T or Pdoc appointment

Sometimes, I'm too lazy and tired.

I have been very depressed for the last four day. I have only taken one shower. I smell. I need to be clean. But it feels as though I have to scale a hundred foot high wall to get to it. This would take too much energy from me.

I just found this thread. I had to sit down and really analyze my problems showering. I realized I feel quite claustrophobic in a shower. The solution? I bought a clear shower curtain. My bathroom looks a lot bigger and I can breathe inside the shower. I also let my hair grown longer so I don't have to wash it every day. Sometimes are harder than others, but I can do it now. I hope this tip will help someone else.

I also shave my legs during one shower and wash my hair the next shower. I used leave in conditioner so that speeds the process along. I use lukewarm water because hot water sometimes trigger a panic attack.

You totally hit on it. My level of hygiene is a reflection of my mood too