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Aquaphobia
an interesting problem. i have Aquaphobia. i hate taking showers and washing my body because of hating showers. but i force myself to wash my body. and taking baths is out of the question. so i'm not dirty nor smelly. but it's very difficult to deal with. now here's the strange thing. photos, painted pictures don't seem to bother me.. unless it's a movie or lakes. then i get like seasick. and short videos of streams don't seem to bother me either. strange, huh? @danny67
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It is an interesting problem to say the least @danny5. I'm hoping that someone that has experience may be able to share what helped them. I did see an article that talks about treatment and management of aquaphobia if you haven't already seen it.
-- Aquaphobia (Fear of Water): Symptoms & Treatment:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22958-aquaphobia-fear-of-water#management-and-treatment
Have you thought about seeking help to try and treat you fear of water?
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3 Reactionsnot yet. i'm planning to talk to my doctor next month when i see him. @danny5
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1 ReactionHi… I’ve had issues with water too as I fell off a peer into a lake, when I was 4 and almost drowned.
Your bio says you are a man of some years. How long have you had this and was there some sort of a trauma that had happened to you?
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3 Reactions@danny67 Here is a link to a discussion in the depression and anxiety support group, that may offer you some support or alternative things to think about. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/problem-taking-showers/
When I was training horses, it was often an emotional issue when a young horse first got a bath. As a flight animal, the feeling of water running down their body triggered a feeling it was blood, not water, and that meant getting away from everyone/everything. Slow introduction, and kind actions went a long way to healing those panicky youngsters!
Has this concern been all your life? Is there a skin sensitivity issue that might be part of the cause? Are you taking niacin in quantities that might cause the prickly skin issue and then translating into sensitive skin? Are you on a prescribed medication that has a possible side-effect of sensitive skin? As we get older, we can develop different reactions to everyday things, like the infamous skin bruising, progressing digestive concerns, etc. . Perhaps an allergy response to a new laundry soap, bath soap, new sheets?
What about doing a "bucket bath" routine, where you don't have water running over you? As an active cancer patient, there are days I don't want to/feel like getting cleaned up, even though it always makes me feel more human. I invested in Scrubzz, an [almost] water-free cellulose body sponge, marketed to campers and elder care. They work great for me to freshen up and feel clean!
https://www.amazon.com/Scrubzz-Disposable-Rinse-Bathing-Wipes/dp/B06XQ9NQPQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=YDDU5NXN71G9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YL-8RiF0Z3jTMOtmi5RPFbgOIXyG-J78Fd0fNfa_XjNzo6eU46ywiErDwRdpnWMXJEWW4ljKNoGi-pJ5MBU3pt-aIWRYohcO3JF-p_Lb_J_KTLIMiPxr08EitNgSOAJC8aK9nSPnYFfuS4ChiqpzoBX0LDkcnXzrO1oLvpxvKjRH_LTTQJVuxTljizV4j22qLa2gPoBnu9nI4D874Nyd4oRicXy7CbWbBwHe5rvJDg9Njr2ypwBM76Yiu1XlfBblcPzwFlLm4SxM5KBjw-Kh8bdnPj9SOPbXN824QrnpGy8.SnisIdCj6DdnOYBybcXzuNT2dylwU4Id-tnHNXbAF4I&dib_tag=se&keywords=scrubzz+disposable+no+rinse+bathing+wipes+-+25+pack&qid=1724606546&sprefix=scrubz%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-5
I will be interested what your doctor has to say!
Ginger
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5 ReactionsWow! I will not go in a pool. I don’t like taking a shower, but I do it.
I’ve always assumed this was because I have birth trauma. My mom was hemorrhaging, and I was drowning in the blood.
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3 ReactionsSo very helpful. Thnks Ginger.
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5 Reactions@judyingenes i'm 66. the only thing i can remember is an incident that happened back in the 80s. i was at a lake and i went out too far i guess. next thing i know the bottom dropped out from under me and i started to sink. i went under a few times. this started about that time and has progressed over time. @danny5 edit; i don't know how i could forget about falling a few times in the shower. with hurting my knees each time. you'd think you'd remember that. but that's different with the shower/tub.
Thanks Danny for responding. You seemed to have had the same terrifying experience in water that I did. I was told that I landed on my back and was kicking out toward the center of the lake, partially under water, when my Dad (and luckily our little Toy Fox Terrier) heard and saw me.
This little hero ran from the beach, down the long peer and jumped into the water with my Dad, right after him.
It took several years before I would go in any type of water. To this day I have severe claustrophobia due to what happened to me.
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3 Reactionsinteresting. i too am claustrophobic. i think that is part of the showers. it is a tub\shower combo. and when i would get in it was like being in a coffin. my mother was like that also. and when it comes to elevators i refuse to get on if more then 4 people. and i have to stand practically up against the doors.