How do I motivate myself to take a bath?

Does anybody know why the desire to wash declines with age? I recall feeling a certain inertia creep in during my 50s. Now I'm into the 70s and it doesn't get easier, does it? Particularly with Mom to look after.

I'm grateful for the full shower, hair washing and all when I can get it. Meanwhile, spot cleaning works fine. Alcohol/paper towel wipe-downs are refreshing. Baby wipes as needed. Spritzing with rose water. Medicated powder at bedtime.

As long as the skin is healthy, we don't smell bad and look okay, what difference does it make how we get there? Ease up on yourself and just take each moment as it comes. God bless.

I suffer from dpression too, suicidal horrible incapacitating depression, not the blues. It's part of my multiple sclerosis. When you are spiraling downward, or in a vicous circle of despair and parayalsis, the only cure is action. Any action that is positive. You must exercise, start small but force yourself. Can you start with very small goals that are achievable, 10 sit ups, or 10 leg lifts that can be done in bed. All throughout the day add 10 pushups, or bicep curls, keep going until you are taking walks or jogging. Concentrate on what you can do, and improve it, small victories.

Next clean your area. Again small attainable goals, change pillow cases, make your bed. Have someone come in and throughly clean your room or home, the walls, the doors, everything. Shave, get a haircut, one at a time, little victories, progress no matter how small will get you to bigger goals.

Ask yourself, is this what I want my life to be? How do I see my future, my dreams, my goals? Grieve your past life, and then embrace your future. Your a warrior, a strong man of action, fill the tub, get your feet wet, then take the bath. Action, action action, no matter how small.

When you beat this depression, and you will, you will be more resilient, stronger, more empathetic to suffering, nothing will stop you. The skills and perseverence you learn will reward you all your life.

Just do it.

Sometimes I feel too overwhelmed to even take care of me. I then take care of myself like I am taking care of a friend, a best buddy. Step outside yourself: think of your body like a Harley, your favorite car or dog, and wash and feed it. I get into the shower and it feels like all my troubles are washing down the drain, and wonder why it was so hard to get there. I like showering before bed, falling asleep all clean and new to wake up tomorrow to a new day without dragging the dirt of prior days along with me.

Why do you have to take a bath? Cat baths work just fine. As long as it's getting the job done, don't beat yourself up. My mom hasn't taken "a bath" in years. It takes much more energy than she has. And yes, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE!!! I slept safe and sound last night because there are people like you who didn't. *hugs*

Once you take a bath or shower, do you feel goooood? Can you hang onto that feeling? Are you being treated for depression?

Thank you for your service to our country, sir. Be well and post back. Let us know how it goes.

If your depression has you holed up by yourself it won't matter much as long as your skin stays healthy. Just think of yourself as a cowboy on a cattle drive from the 1800s. I'm pretty sure they weren't too clean either. However, since you don't seem to be satisfied with what you're doing now, try to drag yourself to a vet support group. They'll let you know if your physical presentation needs an upgrade and encourage you. If you are not on an depressant yet, you probably should be. Do it for us...we need all the good guys back in the game.

Men really do need baths or showers. The main problem area is the private areas that do better with washing and rinsing, instead of rubbing with a wipe. Sponge baths are okay sometimes, but nothing replaces a good occasional drenching. My father had problems with his privates because he didn't like to bathe. The skin became unhealthy and was quite a problem.

The only thing that I can say is if you know you need a bath, just do it. Nothing feeds depression more than feeling grimy. Just consider it part of your antidepressant remedy.

I have suffered from depression on and off for as long as I can remember. I never want to wash when I am in the dumps or "the dark hole" as I like to call it. I just do not really care. So I force myself and ALWAYS feel better after I take a good shower. I think it has to do with the amount of energy that bathing or showering seems overwhelming when depression hits but it is also that first step of getting out of the depression.

a bathtub would never work with me . your rinsing with dirty water and you could drown trying to rinse your beard under the faucet . trust me on that one . i resist the shower sometimes too , im shot after working but when i do drag my dumb azz in there its only a 90 second process with strong dish detergent . dish detergent is the key word here . it dont mess around and the mortar dust is in the drain ..

For pbhillman, you are probably already doing better. You are reaching out to help someone else. That's a good thing.