Living with my 28yr old Son is driving me crazy, help please

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EstherJ
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11 Nov 2012, 9:56 am

I just want to say that having a hard time taking a shower is really common for those with ASDs.

I have a terrible time with it. It's actually a painful experience for me, and I subconsciously avoid it. The feeling of drops of water on my skin is weird, like a bunch of needles poking me...and you can imagine how bad that feels.

Should I have access to a bathtub, I would take those, except that they take so long (I have executive dysfunction as well) that my whole day is affected.

So, first, it's not uncommon, and second, our society over-rates showers.

Seriously. If you don't smell and you haven't been out dirty, you don't need to take a shower every day. It's better to do it every other day for your own health. All that water and soap dries out your skin and hair and let me tell you - that's just as awful a feeling for someone with ASD as tiny water droplets boring holes into our skin is.

So, maybe a little bit of a break? Don't push it so hard; one tiny step at a time?



Rascal77s
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11 Nov 2012, 3:40 pm

OK Kokibro you're going to think this is nuts but keep an open mind. First of all find out if the shower head you have is uncomfortable to him. I have a multi setting shower head because I couldn't stand the feel of the original one. The water pressure was such that it felt like a bunch of irritating clothing tags all over my body. My adjustable also has settings that I find irritating but it has one setting that is pleasant. Does he hate the cold stepping out of the shower at the end? Get a portable heater, stick it in the bathroom and turn it on 15 min before his shower.

You can also try to find something that he likes and create an association with the shower. Does he like music or some particular talk show on the radio? Stick one of those water proof radio/cd players in the shower. Does he like a certain smell like vanilla or oranges? Find him a shampoo that he loves the smell of. You know him best so you have to figure out the what association to make. Think out of the box. Eliminate the negatives and create positives.



EstherJ
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11 Nov 2012, 6:26 pm

Rascal77s wrote:
OK Kokibro you're going to think this is nuts but keep an open mind. First of all find out if the shower head you have is uncomfortable to him. I have a multi setting shower head because I couldn't stand the feel of the original one. The water pressure was such that it felt like a bunch of irritating clothing tags all over my body. My adjustable also has settings that I find irritating but it has one setting that is pleasant. Does he hate the cold stepping out of the shower at the end? Get a portable heater, stick it in the bathroom and turn it on 15 min before his shower.

You can also try to find something that he likes and create an association with the shower. Does he like music or some particular talk show on the radio? Stick one of those water proof radio/cd players in the shower. Does he like a certain smell like vanilla or oranges? Find him a shampoo that he loves the smell of. You know him best so you have to figure out the what association to make. Think out of the box. Eliminate the negatives and create positives.


I wholeheartedly agree. Great ideas for more than one person, Rascal!



Kokibro
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28 Nov 2012, 3:48 am

A big shout out to all those who contributed to this thread, you guys and gals really helped.
And the posts that didn't help at least they entertained me, which in turn put a smile on my face :jester: and the ones that couldn't be assed replying bite my left toe :jester: kidding

Hey we need some more emoticons, all the current emoticons have gone all aspie and lost there facial expressions. Some semi-naked, semi-offensive, even politically incorrect ones
What about monkeys, their funny. George Bush, Kim Dotcom, Mr Potato Head the Game's on TV...Can I get a hell yeah...Hell Yeah! Peace Out
dm <<< that's WP upside-down..saw ya move your head to the side :jester:


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