I am trying to put this into action but so far it is hit and miss still, and I like the salt water rinse, too, I learned that from my mother and it is good for gums and inflammation.

I brush my teeth at least twice every day using tooth paste.
I floss daily too.
But I never buy mouth wash.
If I need to rinse my mouth I put a little bit of salt in some warm water and use that.
An old fashioned remedy but it kills germs and is what we tell people to do after having oral surgery to help prevent infections. :)

This will sound terrible but still I cannot find my toothbrush so I have been using a cloth and I do like a clean mouth more and more, thank you Roxie I had forgotten about these posts in here.

Yes small steps! I am trying to do the same routine things such as wearing clean clothes, deodorant, more showers, brushing my teeth and even though it seems simple and normal for most people, we often have to really push ourselves into doing them.

I have a personal care issue. Not putting on Deodorant. It is just not in my routine.

Just starting to wash my hair and brushing it regularly. small steps hey Mare.

Keep it up.

Thank you so much for this where, ladies... so informative, encouraging and personal.

I, too, have a problem with personal care and its been something I keep secret and just hope noone notices, but they must.

I really need to go to the dentist for one thing, and since I have been having problems there I have neglected the basics. I will add that to my goals for the day and start a change for the better.

Self-esteem has also been a huge problem, thankfully I have an excellent therapist who is even willing to come to me on days I cannot get a way to her office. Priceless.

See you soon...
Mare

Except for July 1, I have not missed a day this month on brushing my teeth. Yeah!

:D

See Tillie, we really are sisters from other mothers!!!

Wow Diane :)

I was born in Detroit and lived there till I was five when we moved to Arizona. But spent a lot of time returning to Michigan and Canada to spend summers and other occasions.
My hoarder's family comes from Minnesota.
Such a small world. ;)

Fun reading about Michigan and Mn. My dad was raised in Escanoba (sp) Michigan, northern peninsula and mom in Detroit. reading my moms journals today, found out my great grandma was Fox Indian, and my dad only spoke French, he was French Canadian. I went to nursing school in Mpls., Mn. So felt like you are almost my sisters!!

WAY TO GO! Roxie:D
for all the tooth brushings! :D

My people are from the Quebec area. I was born in Michigan.
My Grandmother had a lovely little cottage on the shore of a small lake in upper Michigan and being there are my most cherished memories. :)

So, why did we stop posting here?

I have only missed July 1 on teeth brushing, but so far have done every day of July. Yeah!

Diane, when I got sick with CFS I had a lot of problems with when I would be asleep. I got so freaked that someone would ring my doorbell and I'd be in my night clothes that I started sleeping in my clothes. I've continued that to this day. So I really get your wearing clothes day in and day out for days. I personally don't really care whether I change that but it is something to look at, I agree.

Tillie, it is interesting to me that you are Ojibwe. My only encounters with Ojibwe have been in Northern Minnesota where there is a wonderful lodge and restaurant filled with Ojibwe decorations and lore. It is just outside Grand Marais, MN. My family cabin is an hour's drive out the Gunflint Trail that starts in Grand Marais and ends before you get to my cabin. You get to the cabin by boat. And yea, being Finnish-American, we have a wonderful old-fashioned Finnish sauna there.

I too do not brush my hair every day but mostly just stick it up in a clip to get it out of my way. Of course I brush it before leaving the house, but how often do I leave the house? Not often.

How is everyone doing in this area?

Hi Lynn, yes I know you are not a hoarder, and I know you are looking for work daily, so meant I hope you are getting lots done in the job search onlline, since you can't do much else. I know banging my toe slowed me down and got to focus on small stuff.

Thanks but remember I'm not the hoarder, my mother is. I can't walk on my own yet so I can't do much of anything yet. The heating pad really helps relax my muscles that need to be.

I see the doc tomorrow afternoon and see what he says. It's been since Wed since I fell.

I am getting better though. I can't wait until I can bear all or most of the weight on my leg.
Take care diane.

Lynn, I hope you are feeling better today and getting lots done. After banging my toe yesterday, I have slowed down too, but nothing is stopping me from getting things done, just more rest breaks and elevating my foot. We are in hoarder hospital where the work never stops for long!!

I'm massaging, relaxing, icing and resting and unstiffining my leg. I hope all will heal sooner so that I can do some cardio later after I'm able to start walking but not too soon. Heal first then cardio.

Dianne

It's definitely not easy. Especially now that I have to take two weeks off of my training. I'm replacing swimming with dancing to at least keep my cardio up and doing some mild weight training, at least what is approved by my physical therapist.

Had a nasty run in with a man I don't know last weekend. My personal space was invaded and violated. I thought I was ok, and was able to get through this, but recently started having nightmares and my anxiety levels have gone through the roof. Normally at this state is when I start to break down and retreat into myself and it's the moment like this that get me into these situations of doing nothing. So instead I'm trying to channel those feelings into positive, and hopefully ill be able to get to the VA hospital and speak to a mental health counselor.

This is gonna be really tough for me, and at least once I day, I feel like giving up, usually at night when I'm alone. My boyfriend is a guard drill this weekend, and most of my friends are out of town. So I'm pretty much left to my own devices and that's when the emptiness and vulnerability sets in. I am constantly looking over my back, and I haven't been able to take a shower since Tuesday. I keep telling myself I need to, but by not doing so, it helps me think that maybe no one will touch me.

That guy really did a number on my psyche, and all I want right now is to get past this.

Being honest with each other also makes us be honest with our selves.

I never can understand why my hoarder won't allow me to wash some of his dirty clothes.
He says "no" don't wash them because I plan to wear them again and they will just get dirty.

Being fresh and clean and wearing fresh clean clothes feels so good and improves our self image.

In this modern day & age with most people having showers/tubs and washers in their homes we can have this. :)

Today I took a shower for the first time in a few days, it felt so good and really didn't take that long, not sure why I don't want to take regular showers. I tell myself, you will just get dirty with all the gross work you are doing, so why shower. 1 or 2 showers a week is just not enough. Amazing how honest we can be on here.

OMG! Today while I was getting my hair cut, I accidentally got mistaken for a 17 year old.

The girl who was cutting my hair asked me if I was getting ready to graduate from high school this year. I told her no. And then I told her that I actually graduated from high school back in 2008. After I told her that, she asked me how old I was; and I told her that I was 23. After I told her that, she was really shocked. And she told me that she thought that I was 17. :)

I have no idea why, but for some reason I always love it when people think that I am younger than I really am. :)

I think the funniest part about her thinking that I was 17 was the fact that she is around the same age as me. :)

Hi Dianne,

Thanks. :)

I've never clogged the drain after shaving my legs before. But one time I did go without shaving my legs for about a month; and after I finally shaved my legs, it looked like someone got into a fight with a yeti in my bathroom. LOL. :)

Hey Kclynne,

Yeah when it happened my boyfriend and I thought it was pretty funny too. And when we told everyone the story about how I got us kicked out of the gym for eating a slice of chocolate cake while on one of the exercise bikes, they all laughed their asses off. LOL. :D

I'm a bit of a rebel. :)

OMG, lol I couldn't help but laugh. I used to sneak snacks in with me in my gym bag, and would always have so etching to much on after a workout, sometimes in the middle of one.

The Air Force frowned of that.....a lot! I know your pain! Lol.

I'm still giggling about you being kicked out of a gym for eating dessert though, that's just darned funny.

Hi Kclynne,

I exercise by playing with Matt and Cory and by walking them everyday. I also get a lot of exercise from cleaning too. That's mostly because I always listen to music while I clean; and I always end up singing and dancing along to the music, which then makes me really tired after I'm done. :)

I went to the gym with my boyfriend once, and I accidentally ended up getting us kicked out of the gym. :D

Apparently the gym frowns upon people who like to multi-task by eating "desert type" foods while exercising. LOL. :D

Maymay, I felt like you for a long time. I was forced to work out daily during my time in the military and I hated it. I haven't worked out in 6 years. I found something I enjoy, and I got myself a partner, and it makes all the difference in the world. I swim 3 times a week, approximately 40 mins a day. My boyfriend holds me accountable by meeting me at the gym every day we work out. Getting me there is the biggest issue. So today I did a fitness assessment and was certain I was going to do horribly. I got fair to average on every category but one. That I got the highest score the personal trainer had ever seen. My biggest issues is getting my body fat percentage down, but I am feeling good. Saw my physical therapist today, and I have a 20% increase in my range of motion in my shoulder, and I'm finally cleared to start lifting weights. My stress levels are down, my endorphins are up. I haven't felt this good in a long time.

One thing to remember, exercise doesn't have to always happen at the gym. Cleaning is great exercise. Take your pets out for walks, that is an amazing workout!

I'm gonna say it here, because the more I write this, and the more I tell it to people, the less likely I am to give up. I AM swimming in a triathlon in September. 1500 meters...1 mile. I've been doing that a lot lately, writing things down for others to see. It then makes me accountable. I don't always recommend anyone going full force at things like I am. I just don't know any other way to do it. I hope I'm not setting myself up for failure though. I get big aspirations, and then one thing will go wrong and I break down. Now that I found this, and everyone here, I hope instead of breaking down I will be able to stop, say what is bothering me, without fear of judgement, and then pick myself back up and continue on.

Sorry for the ramble. I am pretty amped full of adrenaline and am seriously considering throwing my kicks on and going for a run!

Maymay you are hilarious. Massage therapist actually don't care about hair on legs, honestly, they focus on the muscles under the skin, not whats on skin, voice of experience here.
Tillie, I was delighted to read about your day today, you deserve a pamper day, glad you can relax and enjoy all that you have done. Your doll house sounds wonderful. I get nervous just thinking of relaxing and pampering myself. I was criticised as a child for taking care of myself, my mom never took care of herself. When I read what you wrote, I realized, life is too short not to change that faulty belief. I know the importance of giving to myself to have more to give others, but I give to others and then get resentful no one is helping me, when I should be the one taking care of me and less focus on fixing others. So blessed to have you gals in my life now.

YAY! My post finally showed up! :)

I'm no longer annoyed! :)

Here's some advice for anyone who has just injured their legs. :)

If you have just injured your legs, then don't shave them the day after you injured them. Because it will HURT really badly if you do. :(

I just did; and it HURT really badly! :(

I had no choice though. I had to shave my legs. They were starting to get all prickally and I'm getting a massage tomorrow. And I don't want the lady who will be giving me the massage to think that she is massaging a porcupine. Lol.

I am so annoyed right now!

After everything I have gotten done this past week I need today to concentrate on me.

I am still in bed, not going to get up till I am ready to.
I am tired, physically and mentally.

My finger nails are split, chipped and sorry looking. Going to do a manicure.

My feet are tired and sore. Going to soak them in a nice bubble bath then massage them with lotion.

Need to find a "Happy" today to help erase this sadness.
Going to dust the interior of my tiny little vintage doll house.
I like looking in there because it is never cluttered and everything is always as it should be.
I use Q Tips to dust in there. :D

Need to get rested and ready for the weekend. Hoping my hoarder will be motivated to do something.
Not getting my hopes up too high so I won't be too dissapointed if he doesn't.

Hi Kclynne,

I think it's great that you found someone to help you clean up. :)

Good for you for going to the gym. :)

I hate going to the gym. I tried it once and after I left I was like, "Never Again!" There were too many people there. I felt like I was being watched the whole time I was there. Plus I can't force myself to exercise; My mind doesn't work like that. Either I want to exercise, or I don't. Whenever I exercise, it always has to be unintentional. For me playing with my 2 dogs, Matt and Cory, is my exercise. They are really hyperactive. :)

I get massages once a month to help reduce my stress level and depression. I actually have a massage scheduled for tomorrow. :)

Wow you have really had an awakening!! Nice you found someone to help you clean up. Yes, this site has helped me so much, happy to hear you are doing so much better.

Being new here, I'm intrigued by this thread. Personal care hasn't always been a big issue with me. At least I didn't think so. I may not shower daily, I was my hair 2 or 3 times a week. I rarely leave the house without my hair done or having make-up on. I sell Mary Kay as one of my three jobs, and I founded an organization to help families like mine with autistic children. But the more I read the more I realize there are personal things I am neglecting. For me it's mostly emotional and mental issues. When I am feeling down, unmotivated, depressed, I won't leave get out of my pajamas, even if I need to go to the store, I will spend a lot of my time in bed or on the couch, and can go up to three days without leaving the house. I recently got a gym membership, and decided that I'm going to take my health back, lose weight and just feel better in the process. After the first day, Tuesday, I was sore, and felt as little better, but not much. Today however, my second visits helped so much. Being active again has really kinda brought me back to life. Now I'm spending over an hr at the gym, at my stress levels are much less than they were. Mentally, I'm not as exhausted. My body is, but my mind is not. I was able to get in touch with a company today, who will come out and help me with my "mess" and help me with organization, and even sit down and help me work out a schedule for my days, which will include my personal time. I'm very strong willed, and stubborn, and now that I've decided to make this change, I have nothing stopping me. If I hadn't happened on this site and these message boards I don't know if I would be feeling the way I am now. My mood and mindset has changed over night, and the few people who have said hi, are very kind, and I'm glad to know I'm not alone.

Went to the doctor today,finally.

Thanks Dianne. :)

I will. :)

Hi Dianne,

I've never really tried to fit in or tried to do everything to be what someone else wants me to be. I've always marched to the beat of my own drum. :)

The way I think about it is, "If someone likes me, then that's great! And if someone doesn't like me, then they can just kiss my ass!" Because I'm not going to change who I am just to please someone else. :)

Dianne, I appreiate you openness, we are here to heal together and learn about whats behind some of our behaviours, I could relate to alot of what you wrote, thanks so much

Wow Dianne,

That's a lot of different personalities. :)

I'm like (the stoner, beach party girl who can really hold her alcohol). :)

Because I love to party. :)