How to handle showering in an unfamiliar place

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It took me years, and my family threatening to bring in outside helpers for me to be okay with showering at home, but I have never gotten used to showing outside of my home. Currently I live in a family friends house, because I couldn't handle living in a house with eight people, after my schizoaffective older sister moved back in and brought a friend. So far I've taken one shower, and went home to do it.

I know to be independent I need to learn to shower in other places, but I just tried and after placing one foot on the wet tile and I was sobbing and bit myself. It just feels so dirty, disgusting. How can I get myself to shower outside the house without a meltdown?

It seems to me that you'll have to do this gradually. But steadily.

Perhaps have another person with you the first few times? (not a man, of course LOL)

That's, perhaps, the only way you'll be able to do this.

Would having your own personal foot mat be any good. I'm sure you can buy rubber non slip mats for showers, then you would not need to touch the tray with your feet. You can then rinse it off, dry it and take it back to your own room between showers.

Buy a pair of flip flops just for use in the shower. Problem solved.

I sense there's more going on than these "practicalities."

I sense the "unfamiliar" is troubling to Arpanger. I sense that she's sort of "feeling her way."

I'm sensing that she might benefit from another person being with her the first few times.

Am I right?

Can you wear shower shows that don't have the piece between the toes? You can also wear socks in the shower if you want. And when you want to wash your feet, you can just sit in a chair or on a stool near the tub or sit on the side of the tub and just wash your feet or use a foot basin.

I guess all the advice pertaining to balance is probably the proper advice, then.

I was thinking along the lines of having a person you trust help you in the transition.

Since you don't want another person in with you, it does seem as if you might have to acclimate yourself to it, which is probably a very tough job. But which can be done.

Perhaps take "baby steps," in this instance. Don't go all in the shower all at once----but perform the steps necessary---almost like a ritual.

Don't shower.
Use a basin of warm water and a flannel.
You can even break it down into upper half (leaving lower body clothes on) and lower half (with upper body clothes on).
Hair can be washed by leaning over the basin and either dunking your hair in the water or using a tumbler.
You will have to change the water to rinse if you use soap or shampoo (I don't).

What if the first thing you did was get some cleaner & a rag and wash down the shower/tub/tiles etc so that you know it's clean to your standards?

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