05/04/2022
Why do depressed people find it difficult to shower and brush their teeth for days even though this would make them feel better?
Coming from first hand experience, I can answer.
I suffer from Treatment resistant major depressive disorder. This means in general I’m living a depressed life, and struggle to maintain the basics of life.
When depression knocks you on your butt, the lights go out. The light of day is dark, the beauty behind self care can’t be found, the idea of a shower is so mentally exhausting that you’d rather fall asleep.
I once fell so hard in a depressive episode that I would inch my way out of the bed, onto the floor. Proceed to crawl to the bathroom, climb into the tub, and sit… to just get “clean”. Whether I scrubbed my body or not… I soaked in water, and suffered just to get inside the damn tub. Once I was in the tub, the idea of getting out would make me not want to even bathe in the first place until I feel better
Lastly, I wanted to add…when a person is going through a bad depressive episode they are literally in pain and agony. The pain can be so big that a simple teeth brushing or shower are the last things on their minds. Generally, we carry hope that we can sleep the episode away.
I guess I have no scientific answer for you, just first hand experience examples.
Luckily for me, after 31 years, I found liberation. I already see the light in the days and wake up feeling good. I saw myself as “pretty” for the first time in 31 years.
If you or anyone you know is stuck in the pits of a black hole and your current treatment approach isn’t working, We would recommend medication and NLP Coaching with a certified mental health coach to help you feel alive again.