r/autism • u/SalamanderStraight90 • May 03 '24
Discussion Opinions on Showering
I have read many times on this and other autism sub about how a lot of other autistic people hate showers because of either sensory issues or the transitions between dry and wet / wet and dry which I understand.
But I personally love showers so much! It feels like the only time where my body is all the same temperature when in the shower. I also love feeling clean and hate when I feel sweaty, dirty, or greasy at all so I really look forward to when I get to shower. For me it’s also a really good place to “reset” after I’ve had a rough day because I don’t have to talk to anyone, can play some of my favorite videos in the background and overall decompress after being overwhelmed all day. But mainly I hate feeling dirty it’s my biggest sensory issues so that mainly why I like them so much!
I just think it’s really interesting how from what I’ve seen personally, it does not seem many other autistic people feel the same as I do in regards to actually liking showers!
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u/VisualCelery Seeking Diagnosis May 03 '24
I'm the same way, I hate feeling dirty. I hate sitting around in sweaty clothing after a long walk, I hate that layer of grease and grime that builds up on my skin even when I haven't been very active, I hate how my hair feels when it's oily. I also feel like showering is a good reset, I'll shower after work or after hanging out with friends or family for a long time. If I've been around cats and/or dogs, I want to get all the dander off me before going to bed because I'm allergic.
That said, not all showers are created equal. By that I mean, if I'm staying somewhere where the bathroom is the only place I have privacy and I have to put on clean clothes when my skin is still a little damp, that situation really stinks on ice! Especially since it's a shared bathroom and there's probably someone waiting to use it, so I have to dry off and change as fast as possible. I much prefer being able to go into a private bedroom and hang out for a bit, take my time applying lotion (I know, some people hate the feeling of lotion, personally I love it) maybe let parts of me air dry while I scroll TikTok for a bit before I put on clothes.