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256d
How do you manage your everyday living tasks when everything feels impossible and you feel stuck?? Its so hard for me to shower more than once a week, brushing my teeth feels impossible, and household tasks are a nightmare- Everything just feels so overwhelming and impossible and I just feel frozen.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Depression
Executive dysfunction
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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25d
I recently fell off track with my showers as well but because my hours at work were cut basically in half. Because of that I didn't feel the need to shower that much.
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27d
What I do is when I get home from work (night shift, don’t do it) I keep my shoes on to keep me “going” and getting small things done day by day. So maybe when you have shopping days, when you get home, do a lil extra. Pay bills one day, clean the counters or small bathroom the next. I also list out everything, writing everything down and checking it like an accomplishment, cuz I grew up with positivity and I don’t got that anymore as an adult sooo… I reward myself with small things. Going to the grocery store, if it’s over an hour there I get a cute quarter machine trinket. So many alarms, and I tell others my plans and ask for reminders once in awhile, it helps.
Every morning I feel frozen. It feels so hard to get out of bed I'm not sure if its the autism the depression the anxiety or all of them. I can't keep a job because of it. I hate it 😔
28d
I am always learning and growing. Not easy but
76d
My hubby body doubles me.... for example I needed to shower but was overwhelmed.... he comes in and either helps by washing my hair or just talks to me while im showering.
I play music while I do housework and brush my teeth. It seems to go by faster. I also am going to buy myself an electric toothbrush and I already got myself some mouthwash that I'll like using. Maybe you could do that. Get some shampoo and conditioner that you like. Maybe some shower steamers.
170d
I usually only shower once a week, but I sometimes wipe down my underarms with a wash cloth between showers. I struggled to shower at all for a long time, but I've found a way to do it, and I'm thinking about changing to twice a week. I bring my laptop into the bathroom (with the cameras covered, of course 😂) and take a bath while watching an episode of a TV show. I wash everything I can while sitting down, and then just stand up to rinse off.
208d
For 18 months, I have felt those way. I have spent thousands of dollars and hours having therapies that have not helped. It is very demoralising and yes,I feel stuck too. I send ❤️
209d
I understand
❤️
211d
I've had too resort to a weekly planner and reward chart. If I can't shower more than once or twice a week I will baby wipe my face under arms down in side thigh and crotch daily. I found setting timers to do teeth and when I have to go somewhere I have different alarm tunes to when I need to leave to when I get up for. Set at 15-5 min Intervalz hope that helps
I'm having a hard time getting some things done too, but I try to push forward just knowing I feel better afterward. Now, if I could do that with walking, I'd be getting somewhere. Some days are better than others. Lol 💕
212d
I wish I had a chat buddy on someone who I could talk to about Ms with. I have no one to talk to about it too
Are u on disability?
@kitaboo I work full time 😭 I just don't do anything else other than work and rot in my bed
213d
I hear you. Today I managed a shower etc and actually made it to an appointment. I felt good for doing so. I'm going to write down how good it made me feel..how it was worth the huge effort. I hope to read it every day to encourage myself to do it again and again. Hopefully I can add one small task each day . I hope you've had a good day today 🤗
214d
I don't.... love the saying... '' I had a lot of stuff to do today, and now I have a lot of stuff to do tomorrow '' the key is not to beat yourself up over it ....be kind to you 😁
1
Im commenting this now so i can come back and comment later
i have problems with this as well, i haven’t showed for a week. i have a cavity from not brushing my teeth, my house is a mess. setting timers or alarms helps sometimes, but i can just ignore it. even when i do shower or clean and say “okay this is a fresh start, let’s keep this up” i’ll “keep it up” for at most a week.
216d
I completely get this. Sometimes I'm too overwhelmed by all the things that need to be done that I don't do any of them. Like I have too many things to choose from I get decision paralysis or something.
3
Best I've been able to do is to celebrate the small victories and maybe it will lead to doing those things more.
2
217d
I also have a hard time getting things done, and some of my in-laws don't seem to understand, which doesn't help. What works for me is figuring out the bare minimum I need to do in a given day. Once I do that, I feel accomplished. If it's hard to brush your teeth all at once, then try only doing one part at a time. Maybe rewarding yourself after would help. Even the smallest thing can help sometimes. Like the saying, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Maybe you can't go as fast as other people. That's ok. I realized a long time ago that a lot of people go faster than I do. I came to terms with it. Having other people around is another way, whether friends or just people in a coffee shop. I hope this helps, and wasn't too long.
Does it feel impossible to start tasks or is it more like you feel frozen while doing them?
218d
I’m thinking about looking for roommates so we can support each other. Together we plan meals and make tea/coffee on hard mornings, that kinda thing. I find it way easier to do things for others than for myself Sometimes sitting up in bed is my big step of the day. I try to let myself see it as me helping me and not get upset that that’s all I have but be proud that I pushed. You can always do two things to take care of yourself in 24 hours— drink a cup of water, wash your face, trim your nails, sit in the sun for fifteen minutes I try to always do at least two a day
4
219d
I hate that you're going through this, but I am relieved someone is going through this too and not being able to shower or go out doesn't make me a bad person. If I may, what has helped me is on the days that you can't get in the shower, take a washcloth and some bar soap and wash the sweatier stuff in the sink (ex. Private regions, under the breast, underarms, any apron belly, etc) it's made me so much happier because if you're feeling gross your mental health gets worse and it is so much harder to do other things. I'd also recommend putting things in specific goals, like instead of doing dishes, say you will wash 5 spoons and 2 plates, or you will wash 1/4 of your dirty laundry, stuff like that. The Finch app for making specific goals has changed my life and is rewarding.
220d
For a few years, i brushed my teeth sitting down. Ive heard somilar for shower as well as cool water as you can stand. Any things you can do ahead of time, do them, like shampoo already in hair, towels ready, do hair first in case this shower doesnt go well, new clothes layed out before hand, wash cloth while sitting before hand to get legs, etc. Let the shower be as short time as possible, essentially just rinsing.
I'm lucky to shower once a month. As for brushing my teeth, that's the same, I can't stand the brush in my mouth. Household tasks I don't deal with at all, my partner does it all.
@HUE166 I understand the brush in mouth thing. Not only do I have Autism but being Bulimic my gag reflex can be triggered by people just making a gagging SOUND, so just know you are not 'off' and you are not alone in that
222d
A simple reply to you has taken me ages deleting and write again and again...
236d
Commenting just so i can follow this post. I have the same issue. Looking for answers.
253d
i really wish i could say i knew a good way, but i really don’t, i’m currently frozen once again, the best way for me to get free is to set tangible immediate rewards for myself, like have a friend use my money to order me food but only once i finished my task stuff like that
☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision
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Some people manage by setting alarms to remind themselves to do tasks like brushing their teeth. Others reward themselves for small accomplishments, such as starting laundry or cooking dinner, with activities they enjoy. Some suggest trying to do a task for at least 5 minutes and if it's still too overwhelming, try something else. Another approach is to do what you can when you can, without pushing yourself too hard and causing a cycle of exhaustion and feeling like a failure. If personal hygiene tasks are too difficult, using mouthwash or baby wipes can be alternatives. It's also important to have supportive people around you who can help when things get too difficult.
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