I have to force myself to shower every day. And I only shave my legs every few days. What I wonder is why you are able to go buy wipes to clean yourself, but not actually shower?

To me, going out amongst people is more difficult than taking even a quickie shower. Are you hydrophobic? I know how it is to be severely depressed but I've never been so bad I don't shower. I've been so bad I haven't shaved in 2 weeks before. My poor husband.

My suggestion is take a shower. Even if it's a quickie one, shower. I believe if you can go out in public to buy wipes, you can shower. Not to sound harsh or judgmental. I just wish I understood better why going out is not hard for you but showering is. Going out is harder for me. I have to shower, sometimes twice a day cause I hate to feel dirty. I hope I helped. I feel like I'm rambling. Good luck. I hope you have a good doctor.

Sometimes I have trouble dragging myself to the shower when I am feeling low but I always do because I know getting smelly is not going to help me feel better. So go ahead and get yourself cleaned up. Even if it's all you do today you will feel better for it.

Can I ask what it is that you don't like about showering? Is it just another chore? Don't like the water? Reminds you of past trauma?

Not trying to pry, just curious so maybe we can give you more helpful ideas.

Hugs

thanks for all the replies. i dont know what it is lately, i havnt had this problum this bad before. i hate leaving my house. i have what they call MILD agoraphobia, so it takes me litteraly hours to get out, then i have to go back in 3 times fecause i feel like i forgot something or left cig burning. so i guess it has something to do with that also. but after hearing this and accually seeing it in print, now i know what i have to do. sometimes you need to get a little bit embarressed, at leaste thats how it seems to be w/ me. because now that i read all these, i know what i have to do. and wene i do get in i ghave a realy hard time getting out. sometimes its so long, have no hot water, maybe thats it, because i have add also, it takes me forever to get anything done and stay on task, maybe thats it. oh my, i think i just had a breakthrew. thank you all so much.the next time i get on here i will have a positive thing i hope. thank you so much. i am embarresed, but ill get over it. thanks again so very much.now im determand.. p.s. i also think that i have to clean the whole bathroom and its hard, that could be part of it. iaalways keep at least my kicthenb and broom kinda cleaner than the rest of the place. which i8s very messy, im a little bit of a horder, im no opra horder, but living on third floor is very hard, ok, thanks again.for not belittling or making fun of me. it was very hard to write that...xxoo

We aren't here to belittle or judge others. Only help and try to understand. I have been belittled, judged and bashed on other boards and I cried like a baby. That's when my husband wanted me off of here for good. Have yet to do it. Good luck to you. Peace and hugs.

That's kind of extreme to go buy baby wipes instead of wash. So you have no hot water? I've been there. You can use your largest pots, boil 4 pots of water at once, pour them in the bathtub. It will be too hot to get into, and the water level will be low. So then add cold water from the tap, until it's a comfortable temperature.

It will make you feel so much better.

I agree cold showers can be brutal. You can work this out.

Just keep thinking about how good you will feel all clean and prettied up. Maybe after focusing on it you'll get motivated. I know I need some kind of motivation to do anything.

You are not alone. Showering or baths make me so exhausted.

Please don't be embarrassed as I often will go through the same phase... I don't know why it is so hard to bathe when I am in a bad mood, but I just don't want to do anything when I get like that. I discovered a new hair spray that actually removes oil from your hair when you comb it so at least when I get this way I don't have to walk around with greasy hair. I wish I knew how to help you, except maybe try setting a certain time each day were you can shower. Maybe with a schedule you will find it easier and less exhausting. I have been trying this out and it has been working for me so far.

HUGS

Oh loads of people on the BP board are like this when severely depressed. I have been so depressed before and went a long time without batheing, brushing my hair and teeth even. I am not like proud of it - but it can get that bad where you just do not take care of yourself at all. I have also been psychotically depressed where I also did not eat and lost a lot of weight in a short period of time - because I was just too paranoid.. I also bathed infrequently then - I don't really remember that all too well - my mind was a bit out there.. Just when really severe, it does happen.

Though, yea if you will clean yourself with baby wipes and take the time to do that - why not just jump in the shower?

I know that sometimes taking my clothes off to get into the shower makes me feel even more vulnerable than I am feeling in the first place.

I totally relate to what you are feeling - sometimes it feels overwhelming. Keep talking about it honey - and we'll keep encouraging you to go ahead an give it a try.

Showers sometime freak me out too. Maybe what Linda Jean said has some merit, I feel vulnerable when taking a shower. if I make it in the shower, I hate to put my head under water. Taking a hot shower is hard (I do it though) I can imagine how a cold shower would feel. I hope you find the strength to jump in the shower with some bubbly soap that smells so good you enjoy it.