Discussion Hygiene/Self Care issues

[x51391225x]

Hey guys!

I was just curious if anyone with depression/anxiety/mental illness or not, doesn't really matter, have issues with hygiene/self care? What do you do to overcome it?

I shower maybe once or twice a week, I have an ED and my hair falls out alarmingly if I even touch it, let alone wash it. I hate washing my face and brushing my teeth, though I've improved with that. I feel like quarantine has exacerbated this too. I really enjoy looking cute and doing my makeup, or I did. My skin is also horrible due to ED, very textured. I feel disgusting at all times because I know it is gross.

Can anyone relate?

 

[ItsAllTooLate]

My brain injuries make it extremely hard to do the right thing & delay instant gratification. I'm not even depressed but it can be difficult to get myself to do things like brush my teeth. I have a very little amount of willpower. Every little thing requires effort. I hate it.

 

[Meditation guide]

Handicapped here and barely able to move. Yes it's hard to manage.

 

[x51391225x]

My brain injuries make it extremely hard to do the right thing & delay instant gratification. I'm not even depressed but it can be difficult to get myself to do things like brush my teeth. I have a very little amount of willpower. Every little thing requires effort. I hate it.

Exactly. It takes so much energy and I try to explain that to my partner, who is not judgmental but also very little emotional depth and understanding of mental illness, which is a huge problem in our relationship.

 

[Giraffey]

I've seen mobile apps that set you tasks and when you complete them, you get a reward. One of them was styled as a sort of RPG type game where completing tasks earned you 'loot' with weapons and power-ups and XP that you could take into the battles in the game (which was styled a bit like the old Pokemon games). Another revolved around planting a garden and in-order for your garden to grow you had to complete your tasks every day.

None were really what I was looking for, so I made my own according to the same principle. So now when I get up before a certain time (so I don't lay in all day), when I bath or shower, have a wash, brush my teeth, shave and take care of myself - I punch it into my phone and I get the instant gratification with lights and sounds and animations, it taps into my natural affinity for collecting things. My version is about collecting and caring for virtual pets that are randomly generated with different breeds, colours and rarity etc.

Personally, it helps me a lot (especially with ADHD tendencies) - I used to be bad at taking care of myself but now I'm actually doing quite well.

 

[TotallyIsolated]

Calling it 'self care' makes me not want to do it. I dont care about myself. I dont WANT anyone caring for this worthless sack of shit.

 

[Brokenwithbpd]

Showering gives me anxiety. I shower twice a week maybe.

 

[BlackPoppet]

I hate brushing my teeth. I still do it twice a day but I do not like the process of doing it. It's too much effort.

 

[SnakeTeam93]

I shower every second to third day and brush teeth like ones a week if even that (my teeth manage I was lucky to get strong) I just don't like water ore maybe I'm traumatized after 5 drownings but I doubt it because I didn't like water even as a child and the showers take 30 min 1h if I do head to

 

[Fullof pain]

I can totally relate to this. I do shower daily [ I have OCD and am a clean freak] but I haven't the energy to brush my hair out afterwards. It was such a tangled birds nest that I just took the scissors to it and butchered it. Obvs I look a right state now but I am honestly beyond caring what I look like.

 

[Saroshi]

I have problems taking care of my dental health. Making it a habit helped me somewhat, if it becomes autonomous it takes less willpower.

 

[AnxietyAttack44]

I do wash myself and stay clean, but brushing my hair i always forget. For days even. I stopped caring. I just tie it in a tight bun and hope nobody notices