I take Lexapro, Lamictal, Abilify, yet have Problem Taking Showers

Thank you for sharing your story and you do have a very difficult situation going on. The COVID long haul must be awful for you and I wish I could give you some help and I know about trying different anti-depressants since I have a very low tolerance to them. I am currently on Lamictal, Lexapro and Abilify (Abilify is new). Can I assume that you have gotten help from a therapist? You have plenty of things going on and I can certainly see why a shower is a huge issue for you. Falling is so scary and I have fallen a few times myself. You are doing the right thing by having a shower chair and grab bars. I am sorry you're going through this and it seems that the COVID really did a job on you. Do you live alone, have a support system, someone you can vent to. I find that talking to my best friend does help sometimes. I do wish you well and if you need to talk again please don't hesitate. : )

Thanks again for your reply and you make a lot of sense. Funny that when I finally get in the bath and enjoy it I ask myself why was this so difficult? The brain has too much control over us but we must persevere. You are so sweet and I appreciate your caring. BTW, I'm 75 going on 76 on September 2nd, a true Virgo all the way. Thanks again! : )

@ nscappa . Do not worry. You are not alone. Just take it one day at a time. I hate to shower too. (My shower is
small and I bang my elbows lol) I really don’t like to get sprayed wet. A bath is more enjoyable… bath salts, beads, and bubbles….i am depressed. It will take all your ability to do something. And u don’t have to do it. if u have a bath that’s the easiest (easier than a shower) just soak. But it’s not necessary. Do what u want. Maybe some deodorant. LOL that’s what I do. It’s hard. Ur not motivated to do anything. If u want
My cell # to text lemme know. C
When I hear others like you have the same problem I do…it does make me feel better (I’m not alone). I say i want natural oils to help hair and skin 😌. But you only make it one day at a time. There is not a schedule and you can do whatever you want in this world when u want. You’re free to do that. Most. 😌

I am exactly the sane. Showers seem like so much wk.

Please let your doctor know that the Abilify is not for you! There are too many really, really good medications out there for you to continue with one that causes negative side effects or that is ineffective!! We have got to advocate for ourselves!!

It was interesting reading all the comments here. I'm in the same situation with depression however I also suffer from chronic pain so taking a shower is a last damn thing I want to do. I'm also a night owl it's not 4:35 a.m. and I have not gone to bed yet so what I'll do is stay in bed most of the day and stay in my pajamas and my robe until it's time for the next evening to roll around. It's a terrible vicious cycle and taking a shower is a huge huge effort for me I usually get one about every 3 days or if I have to go out for some reason. My mind tells me I need to get up I need to make my bed I need to get in the shower and I need to start a normal day like normal people but I can't seem to get past the depression to even start the process. Usually spring coming helps me a great deal when I get flowers planted and stuff like that but there's so much more I can be doing with my life that I'm not and the hard part is I really don't know why I'm not. Like someone stated here once I do get a shower I do feel better but it's such a huge effort to take a shower dry my hair put on a little makeup. I'll be 59 years old in July I just keep thinking about what it's going to be like when I'm in my '60s and '70s how am I going to survive if I'm this way now. So I understand all the comments here and for those of you that are struggling like myself I hope you find some direction as I hope I do too for myself. Thanks so much for feeling strong enough to voice your issues I know it's not easy to do. Thanks for listening.

Hi Kate,
I just read your post and I'm glad that you wrote your story. Yes, I do have trouble with showers and I am 75 and I have had depression issues most of my life but they usually didn't interfere with my work. My depression worsened after I had a Hysterectomy at 41. Being in chronic pain, I can't even imagine what that this must be like for you, certainly adding to your depression. I truly feel for you and it seems that you are a definite pattern re sleep hours. I too am up until 1 or 1:30 am and I take Klonopin for sleep. May I assume that you are taking antidepressants and if so what are they? You do better than I re showers. I wish I could get one every three days to kudos to you for that one. Can you take pain meds for your pain (obvious question but I had to ask). Vicious cycles are difficult to change. I can relate very well to telling myself that I need to change the sheets, wash the dishes, etc., etc. I really have to push very hard to get outside and walk too which I know would be good for my mind and body. You certainly are not alone but you do have stumbling blocks which you just can't seem to get out of. What I sometimes do is go through the issues and tackle at least one each day. Yesterday I washed the dishes and today I am doing two washes and washed two others the other day. Cooking is a pain for m and being on a kidney diet really limits what I eat re salt. The mind is too powerful and can really get in the way. That's why I try to get at least one thing done and if I'm lucky, maybe two. I have a real block with washing the dishes but right now my kitchen looks great. I think your first step might be to try to get to bed earlier and I know this won't be easy. Why not read some other posts and see if they come up with some other ideas to help you. Take care and my best to you. : )

Thank you.
Very good suggestion, will try!

Well, I just threw that question into the Google Machine. Which is how I found your thread lol. What I had put in there was at times I do not bathe for months at a time…

(my fiancé and I have had a discussion several times about how not one day have I ever smelled bad) WTH?! Not that I’m complaining nor is my fiancé, LMAO
😜

How do I force myself to do so. The best that I came across in the five minutes i went through until I found yours, was to break the task, bathing, down into smaller, more tangible steps… (Bite size steps, I like to say lol) Saying that breaking it down into bite-size steps would help to allow you of accomplishing your daily bathing routine.

The reason that that plan really makes sense for me, is because the main reason am I unable to get myself to bathe is because, just the idea of me getting myself into the shower, cleaning myself, washing my hair, rinsing my hair, conditioning, my hair, rinsing conditioner for my hair, shaving my legs, drying off, blow drying my naturally long curly hair (that sometimes takes 12 to 14 hours to dry naturally h
ugh 😑) and putting make up on and then finding clothes that I like is hugely, enormous and over-f’’n-welming. Just thinking about it sends me into a deeper depression. Ugh 😑

And for me at least, it really sucks for me because my fiancé whom I’ve been with for seven years now, lives with me, and when we first got together, I had bathed daily and too made myself all pretty from head2toe every single day. Wow just typing that out. Made me realize how much he really probably hates this about my depression also. LMAO 😜

Now I’m going to read through the comments in your thread and see what everyone told you. Hopefully you found yourself a solution that works for you. And too, hopefully I will find at least one here that will work for myself.

Best of all to you & stay
safe out there 🥰
Wendy Mae

P.S. Yes, I had to edit my comment, and the reason for my doing so is because I have carpal tunnel syndrome. So mostly while on me phone I will use voice to text.

Giving my really strong southern accent that I have, if I forget to check what it says for me, at least half of it is wrong. So I’m pretty happy that I did read it through. Because would have sounded like a second-grader otherwise 😉

Perhaps next time I will remember to check it before I push send. And that right there is I’ll have to say about that. Now I’m going to try and re-create comments on your thread. Lol 😂

Thank you Wendy, I really appreciate that you went to that trouble and what you said does make sense. I couldn't believe that I actually went so long but with my depression (which is in full swing and yes, I do take antidepressants) but my trouble is mostly financial and feeling isolated because I live where I can't get to many places without a car (my car died about 2 years ago). Now I have to take my cat Lola to the vet because I think she might be sick which is going to cost about $470.00 which is going to kill my checking account. I know I'm crying (not literally) : ) ,but things just seem to get more difficult. I am at the point where I don't care about doing things that I should be doing. Oh well, things will work out (I hope). Thank you again for your comments, I truly appreciate it. I took a shower last week and I felt wonderful. I will take your advice Wendy. : )