[newtus]

i cant be the only one with these issues right?

[Inedible]

Nope. I can't smell at all so I tend to forget things like cologne and deodorant even on really hot and humid days. And sometimes I forget which pile is the clean clothes. I'm not very organized.

[newtus]

i just i dont see talked about much on here

my issues involve not showering

my last shower was a 3 weeks ago

[Gr3tta]

I hate showering. And I hate doing laundry.

[Atypical_Disaster]

I've had issues with this.

I had a period of time awhile ago where I wasn't showering for weeks, hard to explain why I couldn't but yeah.

I still have a hard time doing stuff like that now even though it's better than it used to be, I have a hard time with things like brushing my teeth, washing my hair, etc.

[Gr3tta]

I also hate being dirty though. So I guess that trumps it. Struggle though.

[LadyShadow]

I used to be that way. I have a problem washing my hair, I don't take care of it and its falling out. I should do a better job at it, it seems like such a hassle.

I used to have a big problem with hygiene in my teenage years, coworkers used to cringe at my presence.

I got better at it over the years and now I shower every day. I feel refreshed when I do. Its like a big accomplishment for me.

[newtus]

i havent washed my hair in 7 months.

shower thigg isnt new though. ive had that problem since i was a child

[Gr3tta]

I think my bathing delimas are abuse related rather than psychosis related, so I maybe don't aply here.

[newtus]

Originally Posted by Gr3tta

I think my bathing delimas are abuse related rather than psychosis related, so I maybe don't aply here.

i wonder what mine are. i mean since ive had the issue since i was a child?

[Gr3tta]

Maybe its just a personal preference for you newtus?

[Fuzzybear]

[newtus]

im scared to take a shower. when i was a teen all the way til now i became very paranoid about people watching me in the showerhead and in the window. ive only lived in two houses me whole life and they BOTH have windows in the shower!!! fuq dat. i also havent sat down and bathed since i was a child. i refuse. i still have a phobia of something coming to get me through the drain.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by newtus

im scared to take a shower. when i was a teen all the way til now i became very paranoid about people watching me in the showerhead and in the window. ive only lived in two houses me whole life and they BOTH have windows in the shower!!! fuq dat. i also havent sat down and bathed since i was a child. i refuse. i still have a phobia of something coming to get me through the drain.

My apartment had a shower window...they just put another shower curtain up to block the window....you can get the spring bars at Home Depot and a curtain.. As far as the shower head and the drain I can't really help.

[newtus]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

My apartment had a shower window...they just put another shower curtain up to block the window....you can get the spring bars at Home Depot and a curtain.. As far as the shower head and the drain I can't really help.

yea they came with spring bars but no curtain (wtf??? guess they took them when they moved) so i sewed my own blackout curtain from black canvas and them taped the sides with duct tape. im scared. but then i got more scared so i taped the top/bottom too just in case any open views you know.

It's really embarrassing for me, but I really struggle with this too

When I was a teenager and likely a bit depressed, I didn't (ahem) keep up with my self care as diligently as I might have. And being depressed now means I lack the motivation and energy to shower as often as I should. Then lately I've been worried about cameras watching me shower, or people breaking into the house while I'm showering. Since my housemate's mother came to visit 6 weeks ago, I became convinced there were definitely cameras hidden in the house and she was watching me (the worry was more vague before), and haven't been able to get in the shower. Also I haven't brushed my hair for the same length of time (it's curly so I feel like it doesn't look as obvious) and it's so knotty that I know it's going to really hurt to brush it, so I put it off another day.

It's ridiculous because, when I have to meet people, I put on nice clothes and sometimes makeup and spray perfume to hide the smell, but haven't done the basic stuff like shower, brush my teeth, brush my hair etc. Partly it's the depression and lack of energy and motivation, then it's the fear of the cameras or someone breaking in, and also I think I don't feel that I deserve to feel and look nice. Sometimes when I go to the effort to shower and do my hair and get dressed nice and wear makeup (like for Christmas etc), I look in the mirror and I feel so ugly that I just want to cry. With no effort, I look ugly, but to still look ugly after spending 2 hours to get ready and no one to appreciate the effort I made, is just soul destroying. There's this (kind of crass) saying that you can put a bow on a turd, but it's still a turd, and that's how I feel about making an effort with my hygiene and appearance

You're not the only one who struggles Newtus

*Willow*

[Gr3tta]

You can take a piece of screen and put it around the shower head and just hold it in place with a rubber band. That would block (or at least severely muddle) a camera's view through the shower head, and also provide a little extra barrier. Also easily removable if you don't want anyone to know you did it.
One of my dogs comes in the bathroom and lays on the bathmat while I'm in there. This makes me feel better. (Even if it does mean I get hairy feet immediately)

[mimi2112]

I feel more secure taking a shower when someone is in the house. Having a pet in the bathroom is a really good idea. There was a time when my anxiety was so high that I would have a friend on the phone while I took a shower. She knew about my anxiety and made the suggestion. I once had a boyfriend that I'd have to sit with while he showered, as he had a fear thing too. Also, as he was turning the faucet off he had a ritual where he had to countdown from ten to one.
So I know I am not alone in this weird thing. I need to take one right now, I am not afraid, I just keep procrastinating or am lacking motivation. Funny thing is that I feel so refreshed and revived afterwards.


Willow: I have felt like you, but there is something called Body Dysmorphic Disorder where a person looks into the mirror and sees a monster. I am sure you are not ugly. I am sorry you feel so badly about your appearance.

[Turtleboy]

funny you guys bring this up, im not showering at all the last couple of months and i couldn't explain it, and i used to always think somebody was watching me in the shower and i was convinced there were cameras hidden around the house watching me too, nice to know its not just me.

[newtus]

its not just shower for me either.

i can use the bathroom or wash my hands without that.

many times i held out on using the bathroom.

ive taped up mirrors for weeks before.

i went without a mirror for a year cause i could not handle it. i had two tht i smashed with a bat because it scared me. the people watching. i know they are in here too.

I'm home at my parents for a week and I know that I need to shower. I also need to brush my bird's nest, despite the pain. I had my Mum wait outside the shower room one time when she came to visit, but that only helped a little. If I go in the bath then my dog comes in the bathroom with me, but I can only take a bath at home for some reason. IDK, all these stupid rules!

I've never felt comfortable with my appearance. At best, I am plain looking. The only times I've ever felt slightly attractive is while hypomanic. I was bullied in high school for my appearance (and for being 'too clever', but it was the appearance remarks that hurt the most). I have a long face and one guy in my english class would call me variations on "sausage-head" for 2 years. What hurt more was guys pretending they fancied me and saying how pretty I was in front of their friends, and then them all laughing at how ridiculous an idea that was, and telling me that they were messing around because the thought of fancying me was "gross", "hysterical" and "ridiculous" etc. Everyone else, including my so-called friends, thought it was "funny" and a "joke", and I "shouldn't take it so seriously!"

So I've always been ugly, and now because of meds I'm fat too. I hate having to get undressed to shower. And it takes so much energy to wash myself and my hair that I end up completely exhausted afterwards. For a tiny time afterwards I feel a bit better about myself because I smell clean, but in no time at all you're dirty again and need another shower the next day, and I don't have the energy or the courage for that

I'm glad that other people get it, though I'm sad that so many of us have these difficulties

*Willow*

[Gr3tta]

I HATE to see myself in the mirror. I avoid it as much as possible. I'm sorry you feel that way willow.
Sometimes I'll use dry shampoo and leave in conditioner from a spray bottle to at least get my hair cleaner when I can't manage a real bath or shower. There are some cheap ones available here but I don't know what brands you have over there.

[newtus]

Originally Posted by Gr3tta

I HATE to see myself in the mirror. I avoid it as much as possible. I'm sorry you feel that way willow.
Sometimes I'll use dry shampoo and leave in conditioner from a spray bottle to at least get my hair cleaner when I can't manage a real bath or shower. There are some cheap ones available here but I don't know what brands you have over there.

wow yea i theough t dry shampoo was crap but its actually realllllly useful. batiste.

Yeah we have Batiste dry shampoo; my housemate with straight hair LOVES it! But my hair is curly and you have to rub it in, which makes my hair all knotty and frizzy so I don't tend to use it much. I have a very wide headband that I like to think covers most of my roots, but probably doesn't

*Willow*

[Gr3tta]

Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23

Yeah we have Batiste dry shampoo; my housemate with straight hair LOVES it! But my hair is curly and you have to rub it in, which makes my hair all knotty and frizzy so I don't tend to use it much. I have a very wide headband that I like to think covers most of my roots, but probably doesn't

*Willow*

Do you have Aussie brand products there? They have a leave in (don't have to wet or rinse after) conditioner that you just spray on and it makes my tangles combable very well. You might try it, but I know curls are always a bigger challenge!
A wide headband is a good idea. I'm a big fan of the doubled-up pony tail. I like to pretend no one notices my greasy hair with that one.
Its funny because I honestly like baths and showers but I'm afraid of them too.
I'm glad my biggest and loudest dog is agreeable to guard duty.