Problem Taking Showers

Hi, I think I may have a few suggestions that might help; they have been things that I've tried and finally feel I can get in the shower & be successful. I have two grab bars installed in my shower. Their positions are one to the right and towards the corner, near the shower curtain and the other one is to my left on the inner shower wall. The one in the right corner is vertical and can help me pull up to get out of the shower. The one on the inner shower wall is horizontal at about hip to waist level and I can use both to steady myself as needed. I should let you know here that I have a shower chair that stays in the shower (I live alone) and also have a handheld shower sprayer so I have control over where & how water hits me (works great!) With these items I have been able to shower myself, which is important to me. I'm a senior, have had a liver transplant years ago, heart, kidney and a myriad of health issues through my life over past few decades. I try to get a shower at least once a week and the investment in these items has made all the difference. Balance has been an issue & having confidence that I won't fall or that I'll be able to get myself out safely are a big deal, so it's been worth it. I've showered sitting in bottom of tub (ain't great; not easy to get up or down) having the shower chair has really helped; I put hooks on wall right outside shower curtain so I have a towel for my hair and a towel for my body where I can reach them easily and oft times I towel my head and sit back down on shower chair to dry my body. All these things combined have made it possible. I hope this may be helpful. If you have questions, feel free to ask. Best wishes!

@sunflowergal Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you have been a member here for a while, and this is your first post.

What a great contribution to this thread, and hearing about what works for you! I bet there are several fellow members who will take a close look at their current set-up and think about changes, now. Thank you for sharing.
Ginger

I also sometimes have difficulty with taking showers. It stems from motivation and lack of energy. To help, I use shower steamers. The steamer motivated me and keeps me in the shower until it dissolves. I know it sounds simple but sometimes simple is the way to go.

When I get up I feel so weak it is a struggle to take shoer and get dressed. I do not know if it is caused from depression and anxiety. I took xanax last night because I could not sleep. It made it easier to get ready in the morning, but I wish I could return my old self and this would not be a problem.

I can relate very well. I take Lexapro, Lamictal, and Klonapin . The last one is to sleep. Right now I am really depressed and it's tough to get out of. Some of it is financial problems but I don't want to do anything and I'm on the couch too much. Even brushing my teeth is an effort. Have you been seeing a therapist? I assume you have since you are taking an antidepressant. I wonder how I would feel if I were not on these pills since I don't feel much different. I really should be seeing a therapist but I have to find one in my network and one who will see you face-to-face not on Zoom. I would like to wake up one day feeling happy. I also know that I need exercise to help. One of my antis is for anxiety. I am no doctor but you do sound depressed. Has anything happened that could cause you to feel depressed. Keep in touch and I do hope that you can find a reason and maybe change your antidepressant. My best.

I also have a bathtub grab rail similar to this one which makes getting in and out of a tub feel more secure.
https://www.amazon.ca/Medline-Bathtub-Bar-Locks-Side/dp/B0007VNZU4/ref=sr_1_6

This is probably dumb but it helped me. Before this I would sometime go 8 days between showers bc I wfh and live by myself. I just tried the whole gratitude thing. “I get to take a shower instead of I have to shower AGAIN”

Hello and thank you for your comments. It does not sound funny at all and 8 days would be good for me. I do have depression and I just can't do the things that I used to do. Cooking is huge for me and I'm really not a cook. Even brushing my teeth is an effort but I do brush of course. I really get it when you said "I get to take a shower instead of I have to shower AGAIN". I say that most days. Finally, yesterday I did take a long bath/shower and it was a bit of effort but I felt great after. This is really a personal subject so I hope it does not go all over the place. Depression really sucks and it affects me in so many ways. The less times I go outside the less I want to. Oh well, I will keep working on it and again thank you for your post, I appreciate it. : )

@nscappa
This comment comes a little late but regarding your cat most vets accept CareCredit. See if you qualify.
Big hug!

Guess what? I had CareCredit but my cat(s) used most of it and the rest was for the dentist. No more CareCredit but thank you for the recommendation. : )