Anyone who’s lived with different roommates may have at least one story of an unpleasant experience. It could be about stealing food, inconsiderate behavior, or, in the case oftoday’s story, deplorable hygiene.
A Reddit user dealt with aroommatewho had not showered for four months. After trying to dialogue multiple times, she had no choice but to threaten eviction.
The woman now asks the AITA subreddit whether she took things too far.
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Living with someone who refuses to practice proper hygiene can be a struggle
Image credits:AtlasComposer (not the actual photo)
A woman shared a room with someone who had not showered in four months
Image credits:Tirachard Kumtanom (not the actual photo)
She was forced to take drastic measures after her roommate continuously refused
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A person’s refusal to practice proper hygiene may have deep-rooted reasons
Image credits:Timur Weber (not the actual photo)
“It is particularly common to have negative thoughts aboutself-worth,” Dr. Ballard toldMedical News Today. “The confusion and memory problems make it more difficult to harness whatever energy a person may have, so it is not unusual for an individual who is depressed to feel that showering is too difficult and not important.”
Bringing up personal hygiene issues requires a tactful approach
Image credits: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA (not the actual photo
Experts recommend a tactful approach because poor hygiene can be a very personal issue. Behavior change expertKerry Pattersonshared some ways to go about it in an article he wrote forPsychology Today.
One of his tips is to try to give the person an out. He gave an example of two co-workers, one of whom wasn’t keen on practicing properself-care.
“For example, ‘I get the feeling that maybe you’ve been exercising before work recently. In any case, we work so close together that I’m wondering if we can talk about a change that’s affecting our working environment.’
“At this point, you’ve delicately placed the problem in the open, and the sooner you finish the discussion, the better. This is all about helping the other person save face.”
Based on her story, it appears the author exhausted all her options regarding diplomatic discussions. And as Patterson stated in his article, “You shouldn’t have to suffer in silence.”
She did what she had to do, and while it may have been harsh, it is what the situation called for at that point.
Most people sided with her
Shesays she was first threatened with legal action for discrimination, but her roommate eventually relented
Thanks! Check out the results:Rūta Zumbrickaitė
Mindaugas Balčiauskas
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