"What is troubling me is I've always had an issue with taking a shower and all the oil and dirt flowing down my body. I think it's gross. Besides my resistance to actually taking a shower, I hate getting out of the shower and feeling cold, and trying to get dressed partially wet. When I've been in relationships, I force myself to shower, or I wipe down with hospital-type wipes."
"Although you live on a fixed income, you could benefit from discussing your issue with a licensed psychotherapist. Help is available on a sliding financial scale through your county's department of mental health or your local university with a department of psychology. While medication might help you overcome your depression, getting to the root of your shower avoidance will likely happen once you start talking."
A retiree reports persistent avoidance of full showers due to disgust at oils and dirt running down the body, discomfort from cold when exiting the shower, and dislike of dressing while damp. Hygiene is limited to wipes, sink-washing hair, dry-shaving, and tooth brushing; light perfume masks odor concerns amid fear of diminished sense of smell. The person notes mild depression, fixed income, lack of confidants, and six weeks without a proper shower. Professional help is recommended: psychotherapy, sliding-scale mental-health services through county or university programs, and possibly medication to address underlying causes.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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