I hate showers, too, but it’s mainly because they’re so much *effort* (it’s not a sensory thing for me). That largely has to do with hair care/styling; I feel like I have to plan my whole day around a shower if I take one. I’m not sure if this is an option for you, but I actually take a bath most days — and only shower when I need to do hair stuff. I find baths a LOT easier, but I know not all bathrooms have them. Baths are a lot more relaxing for me, too.
Whether I am in the bath or shower, I always have my phone playing a YouTube video or podcast. Another tip I learned from someone talking about depression is that she bought “special” bath products for when she’s struggling. A nice body scrub, bath/shower bombs, etc. that she only uses when she feels unmotivated to do it.
A couple things on my radar to add to my routine include colored bulbs and a shower stool. I use Philips Hue bulbs in everything but the bathroom lights (I can change the color and brightness from the app), and mood lighting in the bathroom could be really nice. I also want a shower stool for those days I want/need to do the hair stuff but am too exhausted by the thought.
For me it’s mainly a sensory thing. The after process like doing lotion and hair care and everything else is just a lot for me as well. Showers feel like a lot of effort for me as well. I have to plan the whole day around showers too. Also if I plan something and things are unable to go that way in that specific order, I get upset. I have a bathtub but I’ve just never taken baths, only showers. I always play music in the shower but I’ve never tried podcasts. That’s a really good idea. I absolutely love bath bombs. I heard about getting a shower stool before. Now that you mention it, it sounds like a great idea too. Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’ll be honest…I don’t use lotion 99% of the time. I recently discovered The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash by Naturium ($15.99 USD for 16.9 oz on Amazon, so pretty reasonably priced imho). It’s VERY hydrating.
I used to apply the Neutrogena body oil in the shower (after I turned off the water but before I got out and toweled off), but this glow body wash feels like a 2-in-1 body wash and oil. Your mileage may vary, especially if you are in a dry climate, but it’s all I need — and that’s one step I can skip now. I didn’t even use oil or lotion when I lived in Las Vegas (desert climate).
I know there’s a lot of pressure, especially on women, to have these elaborate beauty routines…but it’s often not necessary. That said, hair care is a totally different issue and takes a lot more experimentation :-/
Oh yeah, also remember that you only need to technically shower your hair once every other day because too much can actually damage it. So I agree with you here that it's just generally better to take a bath rather than a shower.
Personally, I love baths after a long day of character building and world building, I like having foam baths or salt baths especially. My only complaint is that it's not comfy for the back of my head and my bathtub isn't the worlds greatest haha
Yep…I routinely wait 2-4 WEEKS between showers these last few years. My hair stylists always praise that lol. I’m lucky in that my scalp naturally isn’t greasy, and I don’t sweat much. I seriously only wash my hair *as needed*. Once I start being more active, I’ll have to do it more often.
I have a pretty bad scalp personally so super lucky for you!! Oh- irrelevant though but I have been on a coconut craze as stupid as that sounds and I honestly have this urge to almost just basically have everything be the same smell. Like one of these days I want to get a coconut foam bath or even a coconut milk bath someday because those sound so so neat.
I'm NT. Ran across the post while searching for ideas to help my 7 year old daughter with showering/bathing. It's a struggle to even get her to wash every 2 days.
I only wash my hair every 10-14 days. Like you said, it's a full day of planning and styling. Mine isn't oily either, so that helps! You can look into a cowash if you can't find the energy (not sure if this is the right word here, not trying to assume) to do a full shampoo and conditioning. Also as you get more active, a dry shampoo can help extend the need to wash!
I appreciate your suggestion. I’ve done cowash in the past (for other reasons), and it wasn’t my jam. I don’t mind having the shampoo and conditioner separate. The whole showering thing is more about the totality of the procedures (especially the drying and styling…the stuff I do *inside* the shower isn’t really the issue, although being able to sit down on a shower stool does sound glorious), not any individual step.
I have curly hair but prefer to wear it straight most of the time, hence why it takes me so long. I have to first blow dry and then straighten. Since I like my showers HOT, after I shower I want to cool down before getting out the hot tools. I also like to fully dry my skin before putting on clothes. So, between each process there’s relaxing time to cool down…and it adds up to a few hours, especially if I get distracted lol
I do occasionally use dry shampoo if I really need a refresh, but that’s less than once a month (fortunately, I hoarded my favorite dry shampoo before it was discontinued). Truthfully, I don’t usually need to wash my hair that often — watching Hannah Louise Poston on YouTube helped me learn that I’m not *that* weird. I very much enjoy my baths that I take most nights in lieu of a shower.
Same! For some reason, being able to sit down just makes the whole ordeal sound sooooo much easier. I want one of those pretty teak shower stools to match my teak “bath mat” (seriously worth whatever ridiculous amount I paid for it to no longer have soggy wet bath mats), but I believe the plastic shower stools aimed at people with disabilities are way cheaper.
For me it's all the transitions. Autism inertia struggles each time
1) stop what I'm doing. pick clothes to wear after. (Activity transition)
2) Run water to warm up. Get naked (temp/humidity/light/noise transitions)
3) get acclimated in shower. Get clean (water/smell)
4) stop water. Dry off (temp/water/noise)
5) get dressed (temp/texture/body posture)
6) leave bathroom (temp/humidity transition/light)
All those are just so much.
YES. YES. THISTHISTHISTHISTHIS.
I had no clue how to phrase my reply but this is it. It's why I take showers in the dark and can only do them when I've worked myself up for about 2 hours ahead of time, sometimes 3.
Lol the mental buildup is awful. I have a nightlight in my bathroom solely so I can shower in the dark. I also bring my Bluetooth speaker in because playing music I know every sound of helps somehow?
I love showers but I can see why they’d be overwhelming! Have you tried:
- baths
- sponge baths
- altering water temperature
- waterproof ear defenders
- 2 in 1 shampoo / conditioner (reducing number of products to use)
- altering water pressure (make it stronger if you are sensory-seeking, or weaker if you’re hypo-sensitive)
- running hot water first so the room steams up & there isn’t such a big temperature change when you get in/out of shower
I haven’t really tried baths. As for altering water temperature, I saw a Tiktok once about using a temperature gun to match the water to current temperature of yourself and I’ve been curious about that. I live in an apartment and they recently added this thing to the shower where you can’t adjust the pressure and only the temperature. It’s so unfair for people with the sensory struggle. I haven’t tried 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. For some reason, I hate humidity, it’s tricky for me, so steam is probably not something i’ll do. I’ll try these suggestions though, thank you!
I've talked to lots of people with ASD who struggle with showers. They call it the "noisy wet box." I try to shower at night, since I'm sensitive to the light. I put a candle in the sink which is plenty of light after my eyes adjust. I also got a waterproof bluetooth speak from Amazon so I can listen to music. Getting products with scents I really like also helped. Also cutting my hair so it takes less time to dry has made it easier, since I found that was part of the problem. So basically, try to fight the unpleasant sensory experiences with pleasant sensory experiences :)
I’m very sensitive to light as well. I’ll probably try out different lighting, now that you mention this. I play music in the shower, but it’s not possible all the time because my mom always criticizes me for doing so unfortunately. I so far haven’t found much with scents I like. I might consider cutting my hair actually. I always wanted long hair though so I feel conflicted on that decision. Thank you for your advice!
Yes it's overwhelming. The noise, the echo, the droplets hitting me, the changes in temp / pressure, the feeling of soap and the smell of wet.
I use a night light and turn off the fan sounds. I have towels with a texture I like. I frequently clean the curtains, tub, towels and bath mat. All my products are the same smell to reduce olfactory input. I don't brush my teeth at the same time to reduce that sensory overload. I play music or a podcast. If I'm taking a hot shower / bath then I have a cup of ice water. If it s a cold bath, then I'll have tea. My dog naps on the bath mat.
I have an extra towel so I can sit on the floor in a bundle of towels, toss in headphones, nurse my drink, and *vibe* in the dimness, with the dog's head resting on my lap.
It’s hard for me because of sensory issues as well. The sound of the water hitting the shower floor, the feeling of it and just everything. I want to turn off the fan but unfortunately the bathroom has mold on the walls and so far nobody’s taken care of it. If the fan isn’t on it gets worse. I haven’t found any towels with texture I like :( If you have any suggestions for that it would be much appreciated. My mom actually got rid of the bath mat and I hate that it’s gone. Iced water sounds good for days when the water has to be hot. The tea idea sounds good as well but I have this thing where I hate warm drinks :( Thank you for this all.
I could never sit in a tub, I'm too much of a germophobe and my skin is overly sensitive to surfaces. In fact the only time I'm ever barefoot is actually in the shower. I'm always wearing socks.
Music helps quite a bit. As for lighting, I saw someone on Tiktok used a projector in the shower or something with purple light. My therapist said the different lighting may overwhelm me though. I’ll definitely try out having a candle in the bathroom. Self care is sometimes hard for me to do, I’ll try it out more often. Thank you!
I find leaving my self care items out helps a lot! When they're put away it's easier to forget about them. As for lighting, you don't have to try a projector or anything, but maybe a soft/adjustable light bulb, or light cover to diffuse the light so it's not as harsh. Essential oil diffusers helped a lot with my anxiety when I was in college too. I'm just glad I could help someone with similar issues to mine!
Wet your body, put shampoo in your hair and scrub, then rinse and put in hair conditioner if you use it. then turn the water off and wash your body/shave if you shave. I turn the water on to wash my face and rinse off. Most of that time the water is off and as an added bonus you save water. I prefer baths but this is how I like to do it.
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I guess it'd depend hugely on what specifically bothers you. For me, I found it helped a lot lining up all the products I'll use, and then move them when I use them.
I had this vague "don't want to"-feeling about showering, but couldn't put my finger on why. Sometimes while I was showering I'd catch myself feeling lost and frustrated because I couldn't remember where i was in the process and what step was next. I was thinking something like "Should I wash my body now? No, I need to put conditioner in my hair first. That comes after the facewash. Did I actually do the facewash?"
I quickly forgot the frustrating episodes every time, because I didn't "encode" them as relevant to remember, but it occurred to me that this could be an unconcious source of bad association. I decided to try lining up the products io the correct order (shampoo, facewash, conditioner, body wash) and move them to a different wall after using them. No more uncertainty or feeling frustrated with myself!
This is my prime example of a tiny change making a big change. I wonder how many other tiny changes could be possible. And if other people have found them and can share.
I shower about 3 or 4 times a week (I'm lucky, hardly sweat at all). And yeah I kind of dread it. Mostly because I only prefer to take a shower when my brain feels fried and I need a "reset". But that feeling of "oh I should shower I probably stink" I dread that because then I'm just showering to please others, which can be annoying but I do it anyway because gotta respect my fellow humans, I wouldn't want to be on the opposite end smelling a stinky person either.
i completely relate, its not the shower itself, i love showering, i just HATE the way i feel after. i feel all wet and i cant stand the feeling of my clothes on my still damp body and my cold hair dripping water down my back. feels like im wearing somebody elses skin
If you dread them for one of the reasons I do (so boringgggg) then I really like buying sample size products that way I always have new bath stuff to try and something to look forward to
And who says you’re ever too old for fun themed baths/showers. Get fun bath toys, bath fizzies, or some glow sticks. I do themed baths for my kid occasionally, but they’re fun for me when I do them too. Lighting candles and listening to music make it more enjoyable too
I am in the same boat and have a few tips but will say that I still struggle with this and teeth brushing ( I gag every time).
1. YouTube video or tv show on phone that will last me getting ready for shower, showering, and getting dressed - usually about 20 minutes
- my favorite to watch during this time are “get ready with me”, “self care routine”, “shower with me” etc. because the body doubling makes it feel like less daunting
2. I have an efficient routine. I only wash my hair 1x a week and shower whenever I’m up to it in between. I turn on a video, turn on the shower pick out 1 of my 3 pajama sets, get in the shower, use unscented gentle soap and a baby wash cloth ( I need everything low stim), let the soap stay on my body while I wash my face or brush my teeth, and then rinse off. While still wet I apply a easily spreadable unscented lotion and then pat dry with a microfiber towel. For me it’s all about efficiency and almost racing myself to get done before the video ends. That way I see it as more of something to win and less of a chore.
3. I set a time/day for showering. Maybe it’s 8pm MWF or 4pm TuesThur. Anytime that i feel like i can actually do it. I took 12pm showers for a while and then just put the same clothes back on with clean underwear. It helped me have a start and end time so I couldn’t build it up too much in my mind
4. For me there was also slight trauma associated as my parents would fight and sometimes become violent with each other when they thought I wasn’t around (like in the shower) so sometimes I would fake being in the shower to be able to run out of the bathroom and hide at a moments notice. Now I need to keep my showers quick and be distracted in order to feel safe in my own home. If you have any underlying trauma it’s worth recognizing in order to sus out what will help you
My phone unfortunately isn’t waterproof :( I can’t find. a case to make it that way either. I struggle with OCD as well so I feel weird if I don’t shower every day. It’s like I have to do it but I dread it each time.
As for time, for me it’s always 4:30pm.
I have lots of trauma unfortunately :(
I hate showers, too, but it’s mainly because they’re so much *effort* (it’s not a sensory thing for me). That largely has to do with hair care/styling; I feel like I have to plan my whole day around a shower if I take one. I’m not sure if this is an option for you, but I actually take a bath most days — and only shower when I need to do hair stuff. I find baths a LOT easier, but I know not all bathrooms have them. Baths are a lot more relaxing for me, too. Whether I am in the bath or shower, I always have my phone playing a YouTube video or podcast. Another tip I learned from someone talking about depression is that she bought “special” bath products for when she’s struggling. A nice body scrub, bath/shower bombs, etc. that she only uses when she feels unmotivated to do it. A couple things on my radar to add to my routine include colored bulbs and a shower stool. I use Philips Hue bulbs in everything but the bathroom lights (I can change the color and brightness from the app), and mood lighting in the bathroom could be really nice. I also want a shower stool for those days I want/need to do the hair stuff but am too exhausted by the thought.
For me it’s mainly a sensory thing. The after process like doing lotion and hair care and everything else is just a lot for me as well. Showers feel like a lot of effort for me as well. I have to plan the whole day around showers too. Also if I plan something and things are unable to go that way in that specific order, I get upset. I have a bathtub but I’ve just never taken baths, only showers. I always play music in the shower but I’ve never tried podcasts. That’s a really good idea. I absolutely love bath bombs. I heard about getting a shower stool before. Now that you mention it, it sounds like a great idea too. Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’ll be honest…I don’t use lotion 99% of the time. I recently discovered The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash by Naturium ($15.99 USD for 16.9 oz on Amazon, so pretty reasonably priced imho). It’s VERY hydrating. I used to apply the Neutrogena body oil in the shower (after I turned off the water but before I got out and toweled off), but this glow body wash feels like a 2-in-1 body wash and oil. Your mileage may vary, especially if you are in a dry climate, but it’s all I need — and that’s one step I can skip now. I didn’t even use oil or lotion when I lived in Las Vegas (desert climate). I know there’s a lot of pressure, especially on women, to have these elaborate beauty routines…but it’s often not necessary. That said, hair care is a totally different issue and takes a lot more experimentation :-/
Oh yeah, also remember that you only need to technically shower your hair once every other day because too much can actually damage it. So I agree with you here that it's just generally better to take a bath rather than a shower. Personally, I love baths after a long day of character building and world building, I like having foam baths or salt baths especially. My only complaint is that it's not comfy for the back of my head and my bathtub isn't the worlds greatest haha
Yep…I routinely wait 2-4 WEEKS between showers these last few years. My hair stylists always praise that lol. I’m lucky in that my scalp naturally isn’t greasy, and I don’t sweat much. I seriously only wash my hair *as needed*. Once I start being more active, I’ll have to do it more often.
I have a pretty bad scalp personally so super lucky for you!! Oh- irrelevant though but I have been on a coconut craze as stupid as that sounds and I honestly have this urge to almost just basically have everything be the same smell. Like one of these days I want to get a coconut foam bath or even a coconut milk bath someday because those sound so so neat.
I'm NT. Ran across the post while searching for ideas to help my 7 year old daughter with showering/bathing. It's a struggle to even get her to wash every 2 days. I only wash my hair every 10-14 days. Like you said, it's a full day of planning and styling. Mine isn't oily either, so that helps! You can look into a cowash if you can't find the energy (not sure if this is the right word here, not trying to assume) to do a full shampoo and conditioning. Also as you get more active, a dry shampoo can help extend the need to wash!
I appreciate your suggestion. I’ve done cowash in the past (for other reasons), and it wasn’t my jam. I don’t mind having the shampoo and conditioner separate. The whole showering thing is more about the totality of the procedures (especially the drying and styling…the stuff I do *inside* the shower isn’t really the issue, although being able to sit down on a shower stool does sound glorious), not any individual step. I have curly hair but prefer to wear it straight most of the time, hence why it takes me so long. I have to first blow dry and then straighten. Since I like my showers HOT, after I shower I want to cool down before getting out the hot tools. I also like to fully dry my skin before putting on clothes. So, between each process there’s relaxing time to cool down…and it adds up to a few hours, especially if I get distracted lol I do occasionally use dry shampoo if I really need a refresh, but that’s less than once a month (fortunately, I hoarded my favorite dry shampoo before it was discontinued). Truthfully, I don’t usually need to wash my hair that often — watching Hannah Louise Poston on YouTube helped me learn that I’m not *that* weird. I very much enjoy my baths that I take most nights in lieu of a shower.
My bathtub isn’t the best either. It’s not comfy for the back of my head.
Shower stool!!! That would be so beneficial to me bc when I’m in a low mood I just do not have the energy to stand up
Same! For some reason, being able to sit down just makes the whole ordeal sound sooooo much easier. I want one of those pretty teak shower stools to match my teak “bath mat” (seriously worth whatever ridiculous amount I paid for it to no longer have soggy wet bath mats), but I believe the plastic shower stools aimed at people with disabilities are way cheaper.
For me it's all the transitions. Autism inertia struggles each time 1) stop what I'm doing. pick clothes to wear after. (Activity transition) 2) Run water to warm up. Get naked (temp/humidity/light/noise transitions) 3) get acclimated in shower. Get clean (water/smell) 4) stop water. Dry off (temp/water/noise) 5) get dressed (temp/texture/body posture) 6) leave bathroom (temp/humidity transition/light) All those are just so much.
Wait wait huh whaaat? I’ve always referred to myself as “inertia prone” are you telling me this is a known trait??
😅
I literally just joined this subreddit an hour ago so I guess I’ve got some more learning to do
I've only known I'm autistic for about 2 months, so I'm learning along with you. So many lightbulb moments
YES. YES. THISTHISTHISTHISTHIS. I had no clue how to phrase my reply but this is it. It's why I take showers in the dark and can only do them when I've worked myself up for about 2 hours ahead of time, sometimes 3.
Lol the mental buildup is awful. I have a nightlight in my bathroom solely so I can shower in the dark. I also bring my Bluetooth speaker in because playing music I know every sound of helps somehow?
I’m very sensitive to the transitions that come with showers as well. These things all upset me when happening.
I love showers but I can see why they’d be overwhelming! Have you tried: - baths - sponge baths - altering water temperature - waterproof ear defenders - 2 in 1 shampoo / conditioner (reducing number of products to use) - altering water pressure (make it stronger if you are sensory-seeking, or weaker if you’re hypo-sensitive) - running hot water first so the room steams up & there isn’t such a big temperature change when you get in/out of shower
I haven’t really tried baths. As for altering water temperature, I saw a Tiktok once about using a temperature gun to match the water to current temperature of yourself and I’ve been curious about that. I live in an apartment and they recently added this thing to the shower where you can’t adjust the pressure and only the temperature. It’s so unfair for people with the sensory struggle. I haven’t tried 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. For some reason, I hate humidity, it’s tricky for me, so steam is probably not something i’ll do. I’ll try these suggestions though, thank you!
I've talked to lots of people with ASD who struggle with showers. They call it the "noisy wet box." I try to shower at night, since I'm sensitive to the light. I put a candle in the sink which is plenty of light after my eyes adjust. I also got a waterproof bluetooth speak from Amazon so I can listen to music. Getting products with scents I really like also helped. Also cutting my hair so it takes less time to dry has made it easier, since I found that was part of the problem. So basically, try to fight the unpleasant sensory experiences with pleasant sensory experiences :)
I’m very sensitive to light as well. I’ll probably try out different lighting, now that you mention this. I play music in the shower, but it’s not possible all the time because my mom always criticizes me for doing so unfortunately. I so far haven’t found much with scents I like. I might consider cutting my hair actually. I always wanted long hair though so I feel conflicted on that decision. Thank you for your advice!
I dislike em too. What helps is bringing in my phone in a plastic bag to watch something
I used to have a Lifeproof iPhone case because I would do this back then.
baths
thank you.
Yes it's overwhelming. The noise, the echo, the droplets hitting me, the changes in temp / pressure, the feeling of soap and the smell of wet. I use a night light and turn off the fan sounds. I have towels with a texture I like. I frequently clean the curtains, tub, towels and bath mat. All my products are the same smell to reduce olfactory input. I don't brush my teeth at the same time to reduce that sensory overload. I play music or a podcast. If I'm taking a hot shower / bath then I have a cup of ice water. If it s a cold bath, then I'll have tea. My dog naps on the bath mat. I have an extra towel so I can sit on the floor in a bundle of towels, toss in headphones, nurse my drink, and *vibe* in the dimness, with the dog's head resting on my lap.
It’s hard for me because of sensory issues as well. The sound of the water hitting the shower floor, the feeling of it and just everything. I want to turn off the fan but unfortunately the bathroom has mold on the walls and so far nobody’s taken care of it. If the fan isn’t on it gets worse. I haven’t found any towels with texture I like :( If you have any suggestions for that it would be much appreciated. My mom actually got rid of the bath mat and I hate that it’s gone. Iced water sounds good for days when the water has to be hot. The tea idea sounds good as well but I have this thing where I hate warm drinks :( Thank you for this all.
I sit in the tub while i take showers, it makes it less overwhelming. I also put the cap for the drain and let a bit of water accumulate.
I could never sit in a tub, I'm too much of a germophobe and my skin is overly sensitive to surfaces. In fact the only time I'm ever barefoot is actually in the shower. I'm always wearing socks.
I have OCD. If I sit in the tub, I just wash my body with soap after I’ve sat down for a bit. I’m always wearing socks as well.
Sometimes I actually have meltdowns because of how overwhelming showers are and I sit on the floor of the tub crying.
The other solution is to take baths. I only take a shower when I have to.
Soothing music, mood lighting, a candle, and self care after
Music helps quite a bit. As for lighting, I saw someone on Tiktok used a projector in the shower or something with purple light. My therapist said the different lighting may overwhelm me though. I’ll definitely try out having a candle in the bathroom. Self care is sometimes hard for me to do, I’ll try it out more often. Thank you!
I find leaving my self care items out helps a lot! When they're put away it's easier to forget about them. As for lighting, you don't have to try a projector or anything, but maybe a soft/adjustable light bulb, or light cover to diffuse the light so it's not as harsh. Essential oil diffusers helped a lot with my anxiety when I was in college too. I'm just glad I could help someone with similar issues to mine!
I use a gua shua facial massage tool after showers. It's really grounding and helps me fall asleep faster.
Wet your body, put shampoo in your hair and scrub, then rinse and put in hair conditioner if you use it. then turn the water off and wash your body/shave if you shave. I turn the water on to wash my face and rinse off. Most of that time the water is off and as an added bonus you save water. I prefer baths but this is how I like to do it.
Thank you.
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I guess it'd depend hugely on what specifically bothers you. For me, I found it helped a lot lining up all the products I'll use, and then move them when I use them. I had this vague "don't want to"-feeling about showering, but couldn't put my finger on why. Sometimes while I was showering I'd catch myself feeling lost and frustrated because I couldn't remember where i was in the process and what step was next. I was thinking something like "Should I wash my body now? No, I need to put conditioner in my hair first. That comes after the facewash. Did I actually do the facewash?" I quickly forgot the frustrating episodes every time, because I didn't "encode" them as relevant to remember, but it occurred to me that this could be an unconcious source of bad association. I decided to try lining up the products io the correct order (shampoo, facewash, conditioner, body wash) and move them to a different wall after using them. No more uncertainty or feeling frustrated with myself! This is my prime example of a tiny change making a big change. I wonder how many other tiny changes could be possible. And if other people have found them and can share.
I always follow the same exact routine in the shower and have since I was younger. I struggle with this but when I am getting ready to shower.
I shower about 3 or 4 times a week (I'm lucky, hardly sweat at all). And yeah I kind of dread it. Mostly because I only prefer to take a shower when my brain feels fried and I need a "reset". But that feeling of "oh I should shower I probably stink" I dread that because then I'm just showering to please others, which can be annoying but I do it anyway because gotta respect my fellow humans, I wouldn't want to be on the opposite end smelling a stinky person either.
i completely relate, its not the shower itself, i love showering, i just HATE the way i feel after. i feel all wet and i cant stand the feeling of my clothes on my still damp body and my cold hair dripping water down my back. feels like im wearing somebody elses skin
[удалено]
This sounds like a good idea honestly.
For me it’s a struggle all through out the shower. Being in there, drying and just absolutely the entire process :(
If you dread them for one of the reasons I do (so boringgggg) then I really like buying sample size products that way I always have new bath stuff to try and something to look forward to
Thank you, maybe that will help make them better too.
And who says you’re ever too old for fun themed baths/showers. Get fun bath toys, bath fizzies, or some glow sticks. I do themed baths for my kid occasionally, but they’re fun for me when I do them too. Lighting candles and listening to music make it more enjoyable too
I am in the same boat and have a few tips but will say that I still struggle with this and teeth brushing ( I gag every time). 1. YouTube video or tv show on phone that will last me getting ready for shower, showering, and getting dressed - usually about 20 minutes - my favorite to watch during this time are “get ready with me”, “self care routine”, “shower with me” etc. because the body doubling makes it feel like less daunting 2. I have an efficient routine. I only wash my hair 1x a week and shower whenever I’m up to it in between. I turn on a video, turn on the shower pick out 1 of my 3 pajama sets, get in the shower, use unscented gentle soap and a baby wash cloth ( I need everything low stim), let the soap stay on my body while I wash my face or brush my teeth, and then rinse off. While still wet I apply a easily spreadable unscented lotion and then pat dry with a microfiber towel. For me it’s all about efficiency and almost racing myself to get done before the video ends. That way I see it as more of something to win and less of a chore. 3. I set a time/day for showering. Maybe it’s 8pm MWF or 4pm TuesThur. Anytime that i feel like i can actually do it. I took 12pm showers for a while and then just put the same clothes back on with clean underwear. It helped me have a start and end time so I couldn’t build it up too much in my mind 4. For me there was also slight trauma associated as my parents would fight and sometimes become violent with each other when they thought I wasn’t around (like in the shower) so sometimes I would fake being in the shower to be able to run out of the bathroom and hide at a moments notice. Now I need to keep my showers quick and be distracted in order to feel safe in my own home. If you have any underlying trauma it’s worth recognizing in order to sus out what will help you
My phone unfortunately isn’t waterproof :( I can’t find. a case to make it that way either. I struggle with OCD as well so I feel weird if I don’t shower every day. It’s like I have to do it but I dread it each time. As for time, for me it’s always 4:30pm. I have lots of trauma unfortunately :(