Sometimes it’s the little things. Getting out of bed on time. Returning a friend’s phone call. Bothering to cook dinner. Depression can hit us in all kinds of apparently small ways that soon become more than an inconvenience. One of the first signs of depression, even if it’s not always talked about, is letting your personal hygiene standards start to slip.
There’s a lot of stigma when it comes to hygiene. People who don’t meet societal standards when it comes to keeping clean and dressing properly can be ostracized. It’s associated with poverty and homelessness as well as mental illness. We might call people lazy rather than acknowledging they need help. It’s a source of shame, and shame is definitely not something that can help you recover from depression.
The things that can become difficult when we’re depressed can seem really basic. Washing our hands, brushing our teeth, having regular showers. We might keep wearing the same clothes over and over again rather than doing laundry. It’s not a fun experience, and for many people, it will make their depression worse. Plus, a lack of good hygiene can cause further health problems.
So why can’t someone just take those few steps to get clean and tidy? Well, for the most part, it’s about energy and motivation. Depression can leave you feeling constantly tired and make it impossible to summon any kind of enthusiasm for the activities you normally enjoy, let alone the ones that are reluctant necessities. The gray fog of depression hangs on you with such a weight that you feel like you can’t move.
Sometimes, depression will exist alongside other conditions, such as anxiety or sensory processing disorders (such as those often associated with autism), that can also make basic hygiene tasks uncomfortable. You may also be experiencing physical pain that makes taking those actions more difficult. When it reaches the stage where it’s interfering with your ability to live your daily life, it may be time to seek help.
Luckily, any therapist who is experienced in treating depression will probably have seen patients with hygiene difficulties before. They’ll be able to help you develop strategies specific to your needs. Medication may also be helpful. Start improving your hygiene, and you may find that your overall mood lifts and it’s easier to manage any other depressive symptoms you are experiencing.
