Can lack of personal hygiene affect depression symptoms?

It certainly doesn't help when you're feeling emotionally down to also be dirty. Getting up and showered and dressed can't hurt, and often times, will do WONDERS on your mood. So try it out! Once when I was going through a bout of depression, someone made me promise them that I did 2 things every day: 1) make my bed and 2) take a shower. I only abided because of the promise, but I have to say, getting out of bed, making your bed, and then taking a shower can do wonders on your emoational well being.

Taking a nice long bath is one of the ways I feel better best. I don't think it's because of I'm clean, but the activity of taking a bath itself is so soothing!

I don't know if it affects your own depression directly, but if you lack personal hygiene, the reactions you get from those around you certainly won't help with your depression issues!

Sometimes we see a depressed person has lack of personal hygiene due to taking no interest in bathing, cutting nails , cutting hairs, wearing dirty ,prespired cloths. The lack of hygiene is a sign of depression .