Lol. I have stunk...I'm feelng a bit better these days and shower every other day. I go with the idea that my long hair is inconvenient to get wet.

I've been pretty raunchy before and had the suggestion made to me that I should shower.... that was once when I was in the hospital. I was so embarrassed about it. Now when I'm in the hospital (like now) I try to shower every other day

*raises hand* It's not usually showering that's so hard for me, but brushing my teeth at least once a day when I'm depressed. I spend so much energy on other things, like showering, that I just don't have the energy.

do know what pagan, unless you're doing something really important you can get to the shower when you are ready. please don't give yourself another stick to beat yourself with. if you have the energy give yourself what we call a 'cat's lick and a promise!' with a wash cloth and some hot soapy water, wash the crucial areas and that will freshen you up and it is a baby step towards feeling better. we can only do what we are able to do at any given time and unless you're expecting a visit from the hygiene police that should work wonders! even just to splash some water on your face can be a step or throw a few cleansing wipes at your body!!! at the end of the day you are dealing with a serious illness and nobody is able to do everything when they are unwell. be kind to you! hugs.

My personal hygiene pretty much goes out the window when I'm depressed. I don't shower, don't brush my teeth..... Nothing. I just stay in bed for hours on end.

Haha Irish. Well a cat's lick and a promise is what awaits me today :)

Ive never heard of a cats lick and a promise but its now my new favorite saying. Thanks irish.

Irish, my mother always called that a whores bath, different countries different terms.I have to say I like yours much better not as harsh.

I always let myself go during depression. It's not just that I have no energy, it's also that my thoughts get crazy. For example: I wake up and think I should wash my face. But should I brush my teeth first or take a shower first? If I take a shower I won't have to wash my face. Maybe I can brush my teeth in the shower. Oh, but all that standing up, I'll never last. And so this thinking goes on forever until it is nighttime and I just go back to sleep.
Don't feel bad Pagan. We all do it.
One time when I was doing chemo I didn't shower for 7 days. I remember laying on the couch thinking "this is disgusting" but I had no strength for a shower!

I went 2 weeks recently without a shower ;(
I don't think I stunk thou...I just felt gross...so much effort sometimes to get in shower.

When I'm depressed, showering is the LAST thing on my to-do list. I think I average 4-5 days when I'm down.

I hope you're feeling better soon, Pagan .

My hygiene goes out the window when I'm down. I can't stand how greasy my hair gets and I hate showers I'm a bath person. I try to make it fun with bath salts and soaking for a while when I'm up enough to do that. We've all been there as everyone else says. Don't feel bad you will shower if you put it on your list of things to do. Wink!

Count me in too. I have CFS/SEID too, so sometimes I don't have the energy to THINK about a shower. It's pretty easy for me to go a week or ten days when I'm really down. I know I "should", but I really don't care... Those cleansing wipes are wonderful; they don't require such a commitment as a shower and you can feel better about it. My hair gets pretty bad, but I just put on a bandanna so it's covered.

When in a bad depression I find it very difficult to shower. I usually shower once a week when feeling this way or whenever I can't stand myself any longer. fortunately now I have a roommate who insists that I shower at least every other day. It is crazy how depression just sucks the life right out of you. When feeling good I shower daily. Don't beat yourself up we have all been there and it will get better when the depression does. :)

I was fired from the Civil Service for poor Personal Hygiene. Of course I dismissed that at first, but when I was living at Student Digs during my Postgrad I was interrogated about my BO. That was when the penny dropped.