My depression is getting in the way of my hygiene…
DEAR ABBY: I’m a longtime divorcee and a retiree with grown children. What is troubling me is that I’ve always had an issue with taking a bathe and all the oil and grime flowing down my physique. I believe it’s gross, so I normally wash my hair in the kitchen sink. I also don’t get in the bathe to wash my physique. I hate getting out of the bathe and feeling cold, or attempting to dress partially moist.
When I’ve been in relationships, I power myself to bathe or wipe down with hospital-type wipes. (I still wash up this way, just not usually, and I do know it’s gross.) I dry-shave my legs and underarms when needed, but this is actually an issue for me. I brush my enamel twice a day. I take advantage of a gentle fragrance and often get compliments, but I do know from studying your advice that seniors lose their sense of odor, and I may very well be ripe.
I don’t know how to overcome this, and, for apparent causes, I don’t have a buddy I can float this by. I’m healthy and, like everybody, wrestle with depression, but I don’t really feel it’s dangerous enough to search skilled help. I’m on a fixed income.
Just curious as to what your ideas are on this. It’s been a good six weeks since I’ve had a correct bathe, and I discover no justification for it other than I don’t take pleasure in it. — UNSHOWERED IN ILLINOIS
DEAR UNSHOWERED: If I assumed your quirk may very well be solved as simply as shopping for a moveable heater for your lavatory, I might counsel it. You state that you undergo from depression “like everyone else.” From the mail I obtain, people do have issues interacting with interpersonal relationships, office points, and many others., but they don’t “all” undergo from depression.
Although you live on a fixed income, you would benefit from discussing your issue with a licensed psychotherapist.
Help is out there on a sliding financial scale through your county’s division of mental health or your local college with a division of psychology. While medication may help you overcome your depression, getting to the root of your bathe avoidance will seemingly occur once you start speaking.
DEAR ABBY: My query is about relationship among older adults. I’ve been on a relationship web site for a while now. Most of the profiles are pretend. I finally encountered a legit profile of a nice-looking man, and we’re now speaking. After one week, we’re finally going to meet for dinner. I’m thrilled, but he acknowledged that he has “baggage.” When I requested him what type, he replied, “It’s physical.” What does that imply?
We have mentioned being intimate and, at our age, we’re no longer virgins. I intend to go on the date and be gracious and type, but I’m more than a little confused. What are your ideas? I assumed we clicked or I wouldn’t be going on a date with him. What did I miss? — PERPLEXED IN FLORIDA
DEAR PERPLEXED: The nice-looking man who has made a date with you would have been alluding to any quantity of bodily issues. He could be lacking a limb or need help getting around, or he could also be impotent. Because he didn’t provide you with the laundry record he included in his “baggage,” you’re just going to have to discover out for your self and take this a step at a time.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also recognized as Jeanne Phillips, and was based by her mom, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
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