PDA, anxiety and washing

[Moon05]

My 13 year old DD is very demand avoidant and very anxious. Anxiety levels are high at the moment as we are trying to get her back into school and she is now completely refusing to wash in any way. Anyone been through this? Any advice? She hates water, being cold after getting out, sensory issues of towels etc. so really tricky.

Yes, we have with ds2 who has been an extremely, reluctant bather for years. It has only improved recently because he has been suffering from acne and health anxiety and has finally been persuaded that a bit of washing will reduce the changes of infection. So perhaps stressing the health elements rather than the social acceptability of washing will have more impact. Having said that the balance is so narrow as we are now having issues about food hygiene and flies so we have just swopped one problem for another but at least he smells slightly sweeter.

Thanks for your reply oneineight. I have tried backing off and just suggested that face washing would be good due to acne. It's been an issue for a couple of years but worse than ever right now.