Junkies hating water?

[dieselbaby]

So, it was brought up in this thread = http://forum.opiophile.org/showthread.php?t=18238 and I was reading about it in Burroughs' Junky for the millionth time yesterday and I thought I would ask here. Anyone else who hates the feeling of water on their skin after becoming a junky? I literally have to force myself to take showers regularly because I don't want to seem disgusting, and maintaining my hygiene and personal presence is very important to me -- I am not gross or smelly or anything and I intend to keep it that way, lol. However, it has totally made me hate the water unless I am SUPER DUPER high (as in, just took a really fat blast and can hardly keep my eyes open kind of high), in which case I will make an exception (which normally would involve me going into the pool or something). Otherwise for some reason I dread the thought of having to take showers and only do it out of necessity. I know some old timers who pretty much don't even shower at all.

Ugh, posting this thread just made me think about how nasty the grey, wooden fibrous flesh of withdrawal is - the nasty smell of dopesickness, the goosebumps and the general gross icky feeling/sweatiness/hot-cold flashes. Even when I slide my sleeve up to put the belt on to take a shot(tourniquet), I start wrapping it around my arm and it feels so gross, even though I know I am about to feel much better in 30 seconds. So yeah, sick or not, I don't know why but being a junky has made me hate the water for the most part. If I am in really bad withdrawals (which is usually never the case) I know that going into the shower helps - the problem is though that you don't want to get out so I typically end up going in there until the hot water runs out and then go back to feeling like shit when it's over.

Anyone else have any input on this?

[Angelwolf13]

thanks for posting that, deisel. it does explain a lot. i would have never made that connection.

[Mallinckrodt]

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I just hate being wet and having to dry off.

If I am not working, I shower 3 times a week, max. If I am working I have to shower every day because I sweat so much from my 'done, but for some reason. . .even being all gross and sweaty from a hard days word--I still dread showering. I always feel better once I dry off and get dressed but I just hate getting wet these days.

I also love Captin' Crunch.

[oxyjon]

I dont know if its just me but I love takin showers. Twice a day on work days once a day on sundays. If Im withdrawing Im usually cold and I like the feeling of a hot ass shower. And when im not I dont even think twice about it.

[matfield]

well first of all..like you said..when i am in wd's showering helps A LOT. Actually its the only thing that helps for me.. and even for maybe a quarter to half an hour after leavin the shower my body feels quite normal. no hot cold flashes, no goose bumps. a bit relaxed and maybe even able to sleep for an hour or so.

And its not like i hate water. I like to shower once i do it.
But i have to admit...especially with that fucking methadone again now: i have to force myself to shower (as well as brushing my teeth and so on) because i really dont care! Its disgusting and something i think about a lot right now.
(I am far from looking like a bum/fucked up junkie)....just hate it that i have to force myself to so many things right now. (this goes as well for cleaning the flat or doing important things btw) horrible! But thats something different i guess

[StinkyPickle]

I love water, no matter what. I shower every day. Sick, high, whatever. I was going through WD when I was visiting friends in Seattle about a year ago, and swimming was A MAZ ING. I stayed in the pool for a good two hours. It was great because I didn't have to wear clothes, and I was able to keep moving around without my wife yelling at me to calm the fuck down.

[roxi*stardust]

When thus tpoic first came up I suggested it may be when people are in w/d. I know when I am in w/d hot water hurts my skin, of couse I feel so much better after a bath or shower that I deal with the intial pain.

[trainwrecker]

I think it varies from person to person. I only shower once, maybe twice a week because I don't like water. My wife however showers daily.

One thing I will say though; a hot bath helps WDs more than just about anything.

[pinn3d]

As I mentioned in the thread where this came up, I love the water, regardless..... especially when I'm high..... I swim in the ocean, the pool, I go to the hot tub, suana, and steam room.... and I shower a couple times a day.....

But----

I also do all the other 'hygenic' habits... i.e. brush teeth, shave, change clothes, etc....... For me dope doesn't make me apathetic, and 'not caring' about my self..... it actually gives me the motivation to take care of myself, and do my 'maintenance' work on keeping myself healthy...... I made a thread a while back about 'maintenance work" that I do and I think exercise helps keep your tolerance down a bit, which is why I do it, plus it just feels good...... I also take certain supplements that I think help me with stress, and energy, etc.....

I was probably more lazy and less hygenic as a lazy high school stoner than I am now as an opiate- addict....:rolleyes:

[trainwrecker]

I'm not trying to argue with you pinned, or start anything at all. I don't think your last comment was directly related toward me but let me defend my lack of showering for a minute.

Showering once a week, to me, is not "not taking care of myself" or being apathetic. I seriously believe that once a week is all I require to be "clean". I have a much different definition of "clean" than most people, to me showering every day borders on the OCD; it is just not necessary. Even if you are sweating a ton; sweat is not dirt. Even if you are dirty; what harm does dirt do?

Dirt is in fact good for you! In all seriousness, if we expose ourselves to low levels of bacteria and other micro organisms we build a tolerance(something we all know about) to those organisms and are thus more healthy.

As my grandfather used to say: god made dirt, and dirt don't hurt.

[chopstix]

^^ Damn straight, was just talking about this.. Fuck anti-bitiotics, go play in the dirt and let your immune system get some exercise..

And to me, the only thing better than hot water when dopesick, is dope.

[pinn3d]

I'm not trying to argue with you pinned, or start anything at all. I don't think your last comment was directly related toward me but let me defend my lack of showering for a minute.

Showering once a week, to me, is not "not taking care of myself" or being apathetic. I seriously believe that once a week is all I require to be "clean". I have a much different definition of "clean" than most people, to me showering every day borders on the OCD; it is just not necessary. Even if you are sweating a ton; sweat is not dirt. Even if you are dirty; what harm does dirt do?

Dirt is in fact good for you! In all seriousness, if we expose ourselves to low levels of bacteria and other micro organisms we build a tolerance(something we all know about) to those organisms and are thus more healthy.

As my grandfather used to say: god made dirt, and dirt don't hurt.
LOL.. OK --- I'm glad you don't think I was directing that comment at you, cuz I wasn't... I didn't mean to imply that anyone who doesn't shower is apathetic... not at all.... I just think there is a stereotype of the "Junkie that has no concern for his/her well-being", and I simply mean to show that its not always the case...

hell, most of the time I really don't NEED to shower, it's more of something to de-stress after a hard day's work, etc....

And YES---- I beleive that some dirt and grime is good for you--- I remember George Carlin once said something along the lines of "Me and My friends use to swim in the Jersey River and it was FULL of SEWAGE and we NEVER got sick... WHY!?!? Because all that crap made our immune systems STRONGER!!!!"

And I believe there's a grain of truth in that...

So please don't think That I think less of anyone who doesn't shower... far from it!!

[Poppylvr]

So, it was brought up in this thread = http://forum.opiophile.org/showthread.php?t=18238 and I was reading about it in Burroughs' Junky for the millionth time yesterday and I thought I would ask here. Anyone else who hates the feeling of water on their skin after becoming a junky? - I know that going into the shower helps - the problem is though that you don't want to get out so I typically end up going in there until the hot water runs out and then go back to feeling like shit when it's over.

Anyone else have any input on this?
dieselbaby, interesting observation.
I have no information except to share that often my seriously ill psychotic folks have to be forced to shower. We often have to withold smoke breaks to get them in the shower. Since I'm fairly new to the psych nursing field I have commented on it to my co workers. One of our theories is that the psychotic folks feel too exposed in a shower and those with paranoia really are too exposed. That generally doesn't apply to most junkies, tho.
I wonder if the heavy duty antipsychotics - Zyprexa, clozaril, seroquel, geodon, etc cause an altered skin sensation in the shower. My folks don't have access to a bathtub, so it's showers only.
I really wonder what the correlation is between serious outta control psychosis and refusal to shower is. And is there any relation to why some of we junkies hate to shower too.
Wouldn't this be a great master's research topic?

[losangeleslifer]

Sweat isn't dirt, but its a magnet for dirt, and sweat promotes body odor. And sadly most people can't smell themselves, however the people they come in contact with can.

I'm not one of these "anti-bacterial freaks", but I can't go more than a day with out showering and feel that I am "clean".

[ryan]

As I posted in the other thread also, I *LOVE* the water, even when I'm sick.
A hot tub can do ALOT for withdrawals...

the only hard part is getting out, heh, which of course sucks donkey nuts.

[StinkyPickle]

If Duckfeet were here, I'm sure he'd be singing the praises of water in this thread. I know swimming really helps him a lot. Hope he's still alright.

[Narkotikon]

When I'm in w/d, I don't like to stand in the shower. It's not really because the water is painful on my skin or anything, it's just so damned exhausting. I have absolutely no energy / motivation to do anything in w/d, and I have to force myself to take a shower. I always feel better after I do, because I LOVE that fresh clean feeling, but it's not something I enjoy doing in w/d. It's just exhausting.

Now, when I'm high or even maintaining, it's different. I love the warm / hot water on my skin. It's very relaxing.

[Opiyum]

I haven't been dopesick for any length of time longer than 24 hours for five years now but I can still say I know for a fact I can't stand the feel of water on my skin. It's just a kind of hypersensitivity that gets ya.
I know when I'm stable on suboxone I still can't stand water. In the same way I hate the feel of milk on my skin or any sugary substance that is sticky.
It's mostly the feeling of the water evaporating off of the skin that I think is the cause of the discomfort cause I admit that soaking in a hot tub of water or taking a hot shower is great just as long as it never ends is all. That end is always firmly planted in my mind. I hate the feel of the towel to dry off but certainly don't want to just drip dry.
Anyhow water does suck. I'm thinking of taking a shower today and while I'm looking forward to the shower I also know that my hot water doesn't last long.

[resorcinol]

I'm down with WARM or even HOT water like a shower, even in w/d, but cool water, like in a swimming pool... ugh. I never swim anymore. Oddly enough, I could probably tolerate it while high, but I don't want to "ruin" the warm feeling either. In w/d cold water is just awful. During my first ever w/d episode my (now ex) boyfriend pushed me in the pool where he lifeguards as a joke. I didn't find it very funny as I was shivering -- no, vibrating ... it was that bad.

[StinkyPickle]

I'm down with WARM or even HOT water like a shower, even in w/d, but cool water, like in a swimming pool... ugh. I never swim anymore. Oddly enough, I could probably tolerate it while high, but I don't want to "ruin" the warm feeling either. In w/d cold water is just awful. During my first ever w/d episode my (now ex) boyfriend pushed me in the pool where he lifeguards as a joke. I didn't find it very funny as I was shivering -- no, vibrating ... it was that bad.

Well your boyfriend should have been happy that night if you were vibrating, lol. Seriously, though, that's a dick thing to do. Especially if it involves cold water. Turns your balls into a couple milk duds with hair.

[The_Highwayman]

During the hieght of my addiction I had a full time job abd often would only shower once every 7-10 days, I would wake up from my nod about an hour before work and only if I smelled myself accidentally and it made my stomach turn would I venture into the shower, usually I just used deordrant and hose myself down with cologne for the night..it's amazing no one said anything but when u work in a casino I guess standards are kept low...as for times in WD I would never EVER shower, the thought of having that cold feeling stepping out of a hot shower would scare me to death, I hated tha tcold/chills I had duting WD"S...

[betmylife]

I can't really relax or sleep unless I feel clean, sometimes I can skip aday if I didn't do anything the day before, but here in Florida, in the summer, you gotta shower, its too humid, I would feel nasty...........not that I love water, I take a really quick on most of the time......just a few min..........bit I was always like that, nothing changed once I becamea junky........BUT.....I def shower BEFORE getting high.


BML

[InfectedMushroom]

I love showering. I shower at least once a day, twice in the summer months or if I'm out and come home feeling gross, like working outside or whatever. I like swimming as well, unless the damn water is freezing. It also really does help me when I'm w/ding, I just wish the hot water lasted longer in this house.

[Top Secret]

Nothing provides temporary relief from w/ds better than a nice hot bath. Sometimes I'll fill the tub up, sit down in it and simultaneously run the shower head, in order to cover my entire body with warmth. I have a TINY bathtub/shower so either my leg, shoulder/arm, chest area...something is always out of the water and getting cold, so running the shower head definitely helps with that. Unfortauntely, my hot water does not last too long, so it gets very frusterating. Also, I find that a hot bath helps tremendously with cotton fever because it helps to control the spasming.

As for junkies hating water...I'm not entirely sure. I think that it is all a matter of personal preference. Someone who does not like to take showers to begin with, and becomes a junky, sure as hell won't be banging down the bathroom door for a shower.

I suppose since I have become a junky I do not shower as often as I did beforehand. Then again before I started doing dope I used to work out a lot and need to shower otherwise I would be sweaty and smell all day.

[irish]

When I'm high I like a hot shower in the dark, just a little light from like a night-light or something so I don't fall and kill myself. It's like being in a warm wet cave with all the warm fuzzy opiate feelings mixed in.

[webay]

Hot showers are great in WD i am at the end of a kick an just got out of the shower actually...id rather a bath but my tub doesn't hold water so i just clean up then lay in the tub an let water hit me it def loosens u up if its real warm/hot water...but yeah the dreaded step out is like a kick in the balls with iceskates especially in winter

[Opiyum]

Those flow baths they gave patients at the narcotic farm sound like they would be awesome. That would be the way to go. It's like an immersion boiler for people from what I've read.

[Uncle Wiggly]

As long as I'm opiated/maintaining, I love to take a shower almost every day. It seems to actually enhance the feeling of my meds.

Withdrawals is a whole different story. The water feels like little needles hitting my skin. The absolute worse part, for me, is putting my head in the spray. When I first do it it feels like I'm drowning or something akin to that. I have to force myself to do it. But I sweat so much and wreak so bad if I didn't shower I'd puke from smelling myself.

I always feel much better after it's over even if it's only a brief respite. In fact the sweating is so severe for me that I have to drag my sorry ass in twice a day, when in W/Ds, just to keep my guts from heaving more than they would. I guess this is more common than I thought.

[Raz]

When your outta ya nut ya dont wanna shower coz its gonna fuck ya buzz up.......But when i'm cluckin (if i can walk) i'm hittin the bath for as long as possible, where i can wank all day long wivout crusty sheets.......And yeah i hose down b4 i get out......:D

[w1nd0z3]

When your outta ya nut ya dont wanna shower coz its gonna fuck ya buzz up.......But when i'm cluckin (if i can walk) i'm hittin the bath for as long as possible, where i can wank all day long wivout crusty sheets.......And yeah i hose down b4 i get out......:D

you never cease to make me laugh =]

[firefeind]

i love warm water, but hate cold water. it fells like something cold that is permanently stuck to my skin, i used to panic a little when this happened, for example when i got out of the shower or bath. i shower every day, however, because I CAN (a decade ago i had no home=no shower=no choice). i never swim in the ocean anymore, but might if i were living somewhere more tropical.

the only time i dont enjoy a hot shower is in w/d's. the heat bring on +++nausea, until about 10 days have passed, then it helps.

[webay]

Hot showers def loosen u up ...Whats the connection with stronger odor during withdrawel..i know u sweat alot more but i can be at the beach an sweat all day an not smell but during withdrawel its horrendous is that toxins actually coming out? t

[matfield]

In w/d cold water is just awful. During my first ever w/d episode my (now ex) boyfriend pushed me in the pool where he lifeguards as a joke. I didn't find it very funny as I was shivering -- no, vibrating ... it was that bad.

Wow that can be pretty dangerous IMHO- when i was detoxing last summer from the done and h we went to a swimmingpool (inside) every week that had at least body temperature or probably more. normaly people felt very comfortable in it but when i was on my first days on nothing-after the taper-i felt like i could get a heart attack when going into the pool...although doin it very slowly. once i went into the water with my chest my heart was RACING and i couldnt breathe...felt like i could get unconcious.

oh and when i went swimming...3 weeks after detox and still clean...i still could hardly go and stay into the water. i was still freezing so much in there. although it was really hot outside!

it was funny because that day there seemed to be some people from rehab or whatever-def junkies as well.
while i finally managed to get into the pool for some minutes i still saw these girls trying and trying to get into the water but they just didnt make it. it was kinda funny to see the junky population within this pool fighting with the water...and i didnt feel alone:)

[devilsdrug]

hell ya 1 shower a month whether i need it or not