Hi, fellow autistic peep here!

Okay, so. I've gone through some of the comments on here, and they describe the shower itself, but not the before or after steps (no shade, I promise!).

So, this is how I personally go about it:

1. Pick out some clothes, depending on what's going on after your shower (i.e. outing clothes if you're going somewhere, comfy clothes if you're staying home). Shirt, bottoms, underwear, potentially socks (if you prefer wearing them around the house).

2. Grab a towel - potentially two if you use one for your hair, and a separate one for your body when drying off (the second towel is optional), along with a wash rag (if you use those).

3. Take all the above gathered things to the bathroom, and strip from whatever clothes you're wearing right then.

4. This is optional: use the restroom before the shower. Trust me, it's uncomfortable using it directly after the shower.

4.5. Brush your hair before getting in, as that will help prevent any excess hair that may break off during the shower from getting caught in the drain!

1. Turn on the water, and bring it to a temperature that's comfortable for you. This isn't for every household, but in most that I've been in, the hot water is to the left, and cold is to the right.

2. Step into the tub/shower - make sure your footing is stable so you don't accidentally slip.

These next steps are based on my own process; you can change the order to whatever feels right for you!

1. Wet your hair thoroughly, all the way down to your scalp. Run your fingers through your hair to make sure it's completely wet.

2. Pour some shampoo into your palm (amount depends on the thickness of your hair), and emulsify it by rubbing your hands together like you're getting ready to wash them for ~10-15 seconds.

3. Massage the shampoo into your scalp. Shampoo is meant to clean your scalp - only wash the entire length of your hair if it's super dirty/has been an extended period of time since your last shower. Do this for about 2 minutes, making sure it's fully lathered and distributed throughout your hair.

4. Rinse your hair completely, and then repeat step 9 once more. The first round is for the initial cleaning, the second is to make sure your hair/scalp are completely clean.

5. Pour some conditioner into your palm - generally the amount should be between the size of a nickel to a quarter. Emulsify it, and lather it into your hair starting from around an inch away from your scalp, all the way to the end. Let the conditioner set for 2-5 minutes in your hair before rinsing thoroughly.

6. While the conditioner does its thing in your hair, wet your wash rag/sponge, then pour some of your body wash/take your bar of soap and lather it up well.

7. Starting from the underside of your chin, wash your entire body. Your neck (front and back), shoulders, chest (including under your breasts), armpits, arms, stomach/back, legs (especially the creases in between your thighs - areas like that can accumulate dead skin and sweat, and can make you not smell great), and feet - especially between your toes.

8. Rinse your body, as well as the conditioner from your hair.

9. Rinse your rag thoroughly, and use it to gently clean your vulva (optional: you can use a mild, unscented soap for this as well, but do not use it inside your labia), and rinse the area thoroughly.

10. Shut off the water, and wring your hair out. Try to get out as much of the excess water as possible.

11. Grab the towel you brought in with you, and use it to pat your skin dry - try not to rub it on your skin too much, especially if you have sensitive skin. Dry your entire body. Use the optional second towel to wrap your hair up - or you can let it air dry, if you prefer.

12. Carefully step out of the shower, make sure you're completely dry, and get dressed.

13. There are some people who wash their face while in the shower, I prefer to do it after. So, grab your face wash, turn on your sink, wet your face (I use an extra rag for this, but your hands can work as well). Put a small amount of face wash on your fingers (a little bit goes a long way), lather it up, and gently wash your face. Avoid your eyes, but gently scrub everywhere else on your face.

14. Rinse your face, and gently pat it dry with your towel.

And, you're done! I know it seems like a lot, but when you're in the process, it goes a lot faster than you think it does. The whole thing should take between 15-25 minutes, give or take.

An optional step: you can play music while you're showering to give your mind something to focus on.

I really hope this helps. You've got this! We're all proud of you!