I have a few acquaintances that have developed quite a funk. I’m afraid to ask if they think they don’t reek or if they have reasons that are more important to them.
I know there’s research that supports bathing much less than once per day but this is different. Obviously none in months or years. Lemmers that don’t ever shower or bathe, what’s your reasoning? Thanks for your insight!
Sometimes. Maybe with one of these people but I really think some of them are saving water or don’t like the feel of water on them maybe? Maybe it’s a protest against big soap. Looks like I’m going to have to get the courage to ask.
I’m doing better now, but whenever my mental health goes in the toilet, regular showers are the first thing to go. Showers are not a matter of life and death, and there’s no law that says I have to shower, so it’s one of the least disruptive things for me to drop when energy is limited.
I shower regularly now but a few years ago I had major depression and stopped showering for months. I could barely motivate myself to breathe. I’m not even kidding, I was so depressed I was struggling to breathe. People don’t realize just how much effort it takes to do basic things like eat, brush your teeth, or even get out of bed when you have no will to be alive.
Even so, no one ever commented on it. Not even close family. I’ve always had super dry skin and I noticed that during this period my skin was actually somewhat normal. It’s possible no one said anything out of kindness but I doubt it tbh. Some people just sweat/smell less than others.
I totally understand that angle and I’m sorry you ever felt that way. I’m no stranger to depression and I know it’s possible seem “fine” while struggling greatly. Maybe that’s all it is but I hate to think my friends are struggling that bad without talking to me about it. I’m pretty close with two of them. We talk about that kind of stuff and they haven’t said they’re so sad they can’t shower. Pretty sure it’s a conservation issue, or maybe a sensory issue. Hmmm
You probably stank bad people were just being polite.
After a while, usually the body flora adapts to this and only needs rinsing with water from time to time. It smells like musk and dirt and grime, but it’s not that etching, sharp smell one gets when they regularly shower and then stop. It’s kind of like a wet dog smell.
There’s a few experiments on this. You can train your body to not need soap. But you’ll smell displeasing to anyone who is not used to the smell of people not using soap.
It depends on the person apparently bc one of my friends has been like this for years, still smells real bad.
I was in a community college program with a kid who stank like that. After a few months, I got to know him and I told him, “Dude, you stink.” He told me he lived in a trailer with a big family and could never get a shower before class. A lie maybe, but I can believe it. Some folks are just really poor and the water bill isn’t always paid up.
I worked at an office, think call center full of 20 somethings. We had one kid who was nice and all but he always smelled like cat piss. To the point where he got the nickname catpiss. It turned out later that he was stuck living with his mother, who was a hoarder of things and cats, and there was nowhere for him to escape the smell. He moved out as soon as he could and stopped smelling like cat piss. We all rightfully felt like assholes.
Anyway here’s your friendly reminder to be kind.
Odor usually has more to do with clean clothes than the body itself
You won’t find people on lemmy who will admit it.
I do know a semi(?)-homeless person who stinks so much I buy air freshener just for when he comes by.
He is a crystal addict, pothead and mentally ill. His mental development is about 14 year old. Very sweet guy.
I believe he is living in a house, but who knows his stories doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t even have a name because ‘they have to gove it to him’.
I don’t know if he has a place to shower, but I don’t think he has a mind to think of showering. He has several changes of clothes and once.
I believe body odor is a defense mechanism also - you are less likely to get raped if you stink like … Everything.
If a healthy not addicted person stinks - there are reasons and most of the time it is mental illness or homelessness.
(Except for outliners back to nature and so on)
I should have clarified, the people I’m curious about in my life have homes that have running water AND a working hot water heater. They’re not mentally ill in an outwardly visible way, they have jobs, a social life, etc. Not saying they don’t have struggles, but they are a lot different than the person you describe.
There was a famous man who didn’t bathe for 60 years. He died shortly after taking a bath.
