Hygiene?

Deilla · Mar 31, 2021 at 11:47 PM

When I was younger, I showered every day and took care of myself. I didn't think about it. I just did it. Since going on disability and suffering from depression, I have to plan out my hygiene. Often, I don't have the energy. And recently (the past few years), I'm in pain when standing. So to brush my teeth and wash my face takes two trips to the washroom instead of one. I have to break in between.

Showering is very difficult. Most of the time, I don't want to do it. I have a chair so I can sit, which makes it much easier on my back. But still, I dread the shower. I get anxious. I usually shower once a week. I do wash up during the week. I have rinseless shampoo and body foam. Some weeks go well and sometimes it's traumatic to take care of myself. How is it for you?

de4thz · Apr 01, 2021 at 07:50 AM

Set a reward for each shower (something that you like, could be chocolate or anything) and perhaps you'll gain dopamine from the activity and continue to do so effortlessly

Mountaindewed · Apr 01, 2021 at 09:44 AM

I used to be great at showering first thing in the morning whether I had work or not. Since March 2020 I’ve gotten really lazy and I’ll go every other day or I’ll take a shower at a random time of day. Yesterday I took one at 10AM. I’ll probably take one in a few minutes.

Brushing my teeth has been really difficult. Again I was doing it everyday when I was working. Since the pandemic it’s been difficult remembering every day.

downandlonely · Apr 01, 2021 at 11:33 AM

I have been bad about showering since I work from home. I tend to sleep in as well.

LuvsHorses · Apr 02, 2021 at 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deilla

When I was younger, I showered every day and took care of myself. I didn't think about it. I just did it. Since going on disability and suffering from depression, I have to plan out my hygiene. Often, I don't have the energy. And recently (the past few years), I'm in pain when standing. So to brush my teeth and wash my face takes two trips to the washroom instead of one. I have to break in between.

Showering is very difficult. Most of the time, I don't want to do it. I have a chair so I can sit, which makes it much easier on my back. But still, I dread the shower. I get anxious. I usually shower once a week. I do wash up during the week. I have rinseless shampoo and body foam. Some weeks go well and sometimes it's traumatic to take care of myself. How is it for you?

I shower when I have to go out or when I have someone coming to the door (usually for deliveries), but if neither is happening, I figure why bother? Besides, it saves on soap and shampoo!

I have difficulty standing, too, so I keep a kitchen chair in the bathroom to sit on to brush my teeth, wash in the sink etc. It sure beats the pain of standing or the risk of collapsing from the pain.

eskielover · Apr 03, 2021 at 02:06 AM

I shower when I am going somewhere unless running quick errands. It is because I usually go up to the barn several times a day & muck stalls. It's like why shower just to get all dirty (really dirty) again.....sometimes I am so exhausted when I get into my house I crash in my chair & don't even make it up to my bedroom. I can't really call it lazy. I really love it when I have the time & am not so exhausted I would just fall asleep in the shower

splitimage · Apr 03, 2021 at 08:00 AM

This is something I really struggle with as well. I only shower when I'm going out. It was better when I had a room mate, but I haven't had one for months now.

Remembering to brush my teeth is also hard.

Deilla · Apr 03, 2021 at 11:15 AM

I've been a bit better since setting up a daily routine where I take my meds, insulin, feed the cats, brush my teeth and wash my face. I always congratulate myself for doing that much and then give myself a reward by ordering take-out or playing a game. I tell my therapist too. She knows I struggle. So it feels good to tell someone who cares. It's really great when I do get my shower. I want to dance in the streets. But how can someone get so excited about accomplishing that? I just do. I guess cause it's so hard. My goal tomorrow is to get a shower. I've been washing up at the sink, which helps me feel better. But I really want that shower. I have to remind myself of how good it will feel. What tricks do you use? I know someone mentioned rewards. They do seem to help.

Skeezyks · Apr 03, 2021 at 12:40 PM

I have a major daily personal grooming routine. I won't even go into it all. But it has become something of a grounding technique for me I think. Besides, I don't have a lot else to do most of the time. But even when I do have other things to do, they get worked around my personal grooming time.

Apr 04, 2021 at 10:03 AM

at school, it became a bit of an issue with some of the teachers (I don't know why, some of theirs was just as bad). I used to be told time after time that I needed to shower or I'll lose the right to this, or the right to that, etc etc, yep: that's how bad it got at times

ditto my teeth, though to be fair, when I was younger, I took a lot better care of them when I do now

my number one rule though: never wear the same clothes twice in a row. it's always been like that, and if for some reason I can't do my laundry, I get really frustrated

now with my incontinence, I really need to try to make more of an effert- though the thing that I struggle with is apart from smelling nice and self care, why bother?

I'm going to get in to the shower, do what needs to be done, than sit on the sofa and watch tv- so who really cares what I look like?. I've no one to judge me

it changes if I'm going to my therapist or something, I want to be clean for her. but that's the only acception. most times I can't be bothered

Apr 04, 2021 at 10:05 AM

I do like my lemon soap, and that sometimes motivates me. it's a nice smell, but a vanilla one or a mint one would be even better

AliceKate · Apr 04, 2021 at 02:09 PM

I shower every 2-3 days. Now that I go jogging again (20min taday, I am slowly trying to get to 30 again, though right now I walk a lot in between stretches of jogging), I guess I have to shower every 2 days. I can smell myself today, but honesty, I'm not sure if I will bother today. I am always a bit anxious in the shower

Deilla · Apr 04, 2021 at 02:29 PM

I hate being in the shower. With my chair, it's really cramped in there. I had those suction cup holders for shampoo up, but knocked them down the other day. And other bottles along the sides tumbled to the bottom. I didn't pick them up. They'll just fall back down again. I really need a place with a walk-in shower, but that's only in my dreams. I didn't get my shower today. And I won't either. I deserve a day when I don't have to be tortured.

eskielover · Apr 04, 2021 at 03:09 PM

I drove an hour to go pick up a load of hay for my horse, then an hour home. Unloaded & stacked 15 bales of hay into the barn. Was exhausted by the end of the day & crashed, thinking I would wake up early & take a shower before sunrise service at church but work up with just enough time to get dressed & spray on a little perfume

Such is life. If there were more hours in the day it still wouldn't help. I would either work more or sleep more

Apr 04, 2021 at 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceKate

I shower every 2-3 days. Now that I go jogging again (20min taday, I am slowly trying to get to 30 again, though right now I walk a lot in between stretches of jogging), I guess I have to shower every 2 days. I can smell myself today, but honesty, I'm not sure if I will bother today. I am always a bit anxious in the shower

that might motivate me if I can smell myself.

but I'm pretty sure I've done that and still not done anything about it

before...

Apr 04, 2021 at 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deilla

I hate being in the shower. With my chair, it's really cramped in there. I had those suction cup holders for shampoo up, but knocked them down the other day. And other bottles along the sides tumbled to the bottom. I didn't pick them up. They'll just fall back down again. I really need a place with a walk-in shower, but that's only in my dreams. I didn't get my shower today. And I won't either. I deserve a day when I don't have to be tortured.

I need a higher shower chair. one that I can actually sit down on without doing too much damage to my body

Turtle_Rider · Apr 04, 2021 at 08:02 PM

I read about the colleration between mental illness with poor hygiene and lack of personal care. Furthermore, poor hygiene is the sign of lack of self-love, the symbol of self-neglect, or something like that. Reading this thread, I think that is true.

Anyway, do you have any favorite soap? Sometimes I love to smell my favorite body wash, maybe it could motivate you to take a shower.

Deilla · Apr 05, 2021 at 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raging vortex

I need a higher shower chair. one that I can actually sit down on without doing too much damage to my body

The chair is nice, even though it takes up most of the shower. It makes it possible for me to shower. I think I just need to organize better in there. I also need more variety in body washes. I've read that having nicely scented stuff helps. Do you like to try out different scented washes?

Deilla · Apr 05, 2021 at 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle_Rider

I read about the colleration between mental illness with poor hygiene and lack of personal care. Furthermore, poor hygiene is the sign of lack of self-love, the symbol of self-neglect, or something like that. Reading this thread, I think that is true.

Anyway, do you have any favorite soap? Sometimes I love to smell my favorite body wash, maybe it could motivate you to take a shower.

I like one I have called Beautiful Day. It's by Bath and Body Works. I have the lotion and body spray too. Nice scents do help. It's a good reward to smell it after all the hard work in the shower. What's your favorite scent?

Deilla · Apr 05, 2021 at 03:39 AM

Sometimes I wish I could go through a carwash to get clean. Leave my clothes on and then get air-dried. That way I don't have to worry about getting undressed and dressed again. Dressing is really hard for me. I think it has to do with my size. I just don't want my human body anymore. I want to take my brain and implant it in a robot so that I'm a cyborg without the need for hygiene. Maybe by the year 2030.

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de4thz Newly Joined Member Since Apr 2021 Location: au Posts: 4 3 2 hugs given	Apr 01, 2021 at 07:50 AM #2 Set a reward for each shower (something that you like, could be chocolate or anything) and perhaps you'll gain dopamine from the activity and continue to do so effortlessly
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downandlonely Legendary Member Since Mar 2018 Location: United States Posts: 10,760 (SuperPoster!) 6 10.6k hugs given	Apr 01, 2021 at 11:33 AM #4 I have been bad about showering since I work from home. I tend to sleep in as well.
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Skeezyks Disreputable Old Troll Member Since Oct 2015 Location: The Star of the North Posts: 32,762 (SuperPoster!) 8 17.4k hugs given	Apr 03, 2021 at 12:40 PM #9 I have a major daily personal grooming routine. I won't even go into it all. But it has become something of a grounding technique for me I think. Besides, I don't have a lot else to do most of the time. But even when I do have other things to do, they get worked around my personal grooming time.
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Anonymous32451 Guest Posts: n/a	Apr 04, 2021 at 10:05 AM #11 I do like my lemon soap, and that sometimes motivates me. it's a nice smell, but a vanilla one or a mint one would be even better
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AliceKate Grand Member Member Since Jan 2021 Location: On a raindrop far, far away Posts: 871 3 2,208 hugs given	Apr 04, 2021 at 02:09 PM #12 I shower every 2-3 days. Now that I go jogging again (20min taday, I am slowly trying to get to 30 again, though right now I walk a lot in between stretches of jogging), I guess I have to shower every 2 days. I can smell myself today, but honesty, I'm not sure if I will bother today. I am always a bit anxious in the shower
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