Activities of Daily Living

When trying to tackle a topic for behavioral health I came up with a bit of a conundrum: it’s a huge topic and I have a lot to say about it. I find it difficult not to travel down long and winding rabbit holes of related topics no matter how simple the subject I start with. I’ll try to spare you.

I was asked to start with suggestions on ways to approach activities of daily living when one is suffering from depression. Already I am faced with a problem. The term depression is vague. 

How depressed are we talking? “I’m not really feeling like ‘todaying’” depression? Or “I wonder how long I could stay in bed before my skin breakdown would become septic and begin to kill me?” depression? 

Okay I’ll meet you somewhere in the middle, as long as we agree that there is a spectrum, and you can be on either end and it doesn’t mean you are or are not in need of a welfare check by a concerned citizen or first responder. 

First we need to look at the hierarchy of needs. Let’s feed you. Basics: if you can’t bring yourself to eat, remember your body is a chemistry set, and in a pinch a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. If you can eat a piece of toast, that’s calories. A hard candy, okey dokey. Your brain needs glucose, and it needs it bad. In fact, when you do eat anything with -ose on the end, your body is gonna do the old switcheroo with those molecules, turn it right into that sweet, sweet manna of life glucose, and send it straight to that old noggin first. Which is great, because your depressed ass needs it there most. You’re not yourself when you’re depressed. To the point, you aren’t able to use the brain structures that form what we term “rational” thought adequately when you’re in a clinical depression, especially when you’re inadequately nourished. So eat. Anything. Nibble if you must. Fed is best ain’t just for babies.

Now of course you have to drink. I know, water, bluech. Again, sip if you must. But “hydration is key” ain’t no joke. I have good news for you, though. Don’t tell your doctor, nurse, or pretty much anyone else I told you this. But if it’s potable liquid, drink it. They told you some things don’t count. Just drink water. This thing has too much sugar, that thing has too much caffeine. But you’re over here with your lips shriveled up and your skin like sandpaper and your pee looks like coffee. Drink anything you can. Worry about quality later. Yes, eventually you’ll want to drink something as clear as possible, as little sugar and caffeine as possible, barring other medical considerations. (And yes, there are medical considerations that would make you want to drink beverages with a modicum of sugar or caffeine.) Maybe someday you and water can become friends. At that time, please toss the 8 glasses of water nonsense out the door, if you haven’t already. Best advice a doctor ever gave me: drink to thirst. This means drink until you are no longer thirsty. If your pee is the color of straw, like a pale yellow, you’re good. Clear, maybe back off, and darker, you should turn it up. Again sippa sippa if drinking makes you want to just…cry.

Now I know this is going to be hard, but you’re going to have to bathe eventually. Shh shh… it’s okay. I’ll help you through this. First, just know you don’t have to turn on the shower, wait for it to warm, step in, get all wet, scrub down… what an ordeal. No. Just get a washcloth. Start with that. If you can manage to take a damp washcloth to your face, that can have an emotional impact that outreaches the cleanliness need. The main thing you need to focus on is the perennial area. You need to try to hit his daily, if you can. If not, hit that as often as possible. Ideally you want to fully bathe every three days minimum as an adult if you aren’t active or exposed to contaminants. (Don’t get dirt on yourself.) As you age, you can bathe even less. But the perennial area requires more attention. So take your washcloth and get that perennial area, use soap and get your backside. 

Now if you think you can brush your teeth, that would be grand. Oral hygiene is connected to the rest of our bodies in significant ways and taking care of your teeth can mitigate serious health problems. More on that later when I have citations and links for you. If it’s just too dagum much at this moment, can you put a dollup of toothpaste on your finger, some water in your mouth, and swish the toothpaste and water around really hard, then rinse? It seems like it would be just as easy to brush your teeth, but in my lowest times somehow it felt easier. 

Okay, now you can go back to the bed/couch/chair. I’ll let you be for another 24 hours. Grooming can wait, we’re not trying to win any medals here. I’m proud of you, and remember: give yourself some grace. All things end, and so shall this.