Hopeless and exhausted

[FigTree]

How do you keep going when you feel completely directionless, alone, and exhausted by everything going on in life? No self-care strategy is working, and no professionals I've spoken to have actually been helpful. I often feel like my mental health is so complex, that no professional is really equipped to properly support me - currently waiting for an appointment with a psychiatrist, but any tips welcome (that are unlikely to have already been tried) xo

[Soberlicious96]

Dear FigTree,

Welcome to Beyond Blue and well done for reaching out when you are feeling so down as you do right now.

I must say though, without knowing what you have already tried, what self-care strategies you've tried, and/or what your mental health issue is, it's hard to know what to suggest. Also, I am not any kind of professional ..... just another human being who has had those same feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.

What I do know is that I don't drink alcohol any more (been sober for 22 years), I do get regular exercise which is GREAT mood booster as it gets your endorphins going, and I try to eat healthy fresh foods rather that fast food or stuff that is more processed than fresh produce. Plus I had many years of mental health therapies/therapists which helped me work through my childhood traumas.

I think, and certainly hope, that it's good you have an appointment with a Psychiatrist. If it's your first time seeing a mental health professional, then that is certainly a great beginning of what could be a turning point.

And of course Beyond Blue is here for you and with you 24/7, so that too is a good resource.

Just try to remember to keep things simple; you don't have to fix your whole life problem all at once, or in the next 10 minutes. Baby steps is all that is needed. Just for today, you've taken one little step towards getting and feeling better by reaching out on here.

Take care, and keep reaching out. After all, it's true what they say in that a problem shared really is a problem halved. xo

[FigTree]

Thanks for your lovely and helpful message.

I think that part of my rut at the moment is that I know what I should be doing in theory (cut out junk food, alcohol, and focus on being active and socialising etc); but the lack of motivation and energy has me caught in a catch 22. I keep signing up for gym memberships, and never making it in the front door! I can blame winter right now; but that excuse is only good for a few months haha.

I'm hoping the psychiatrist will help - I spoke to two online psychologists last night, and neither were helpful - I think I've been around this stuff for too long, but I asked them to stop using motivational interviewing as it was irritating me, and they kept doing it, so I switched off a bit. But then tonight I went for a walk with the pup and a friend, and we had a great chat - even just seeing pup run around and sniff everything new was lovely. But my friend actually helped a little, as did your suggestions. I think I need to stop allowing my inner tormented child to control and narrate my life - it's just figuring out how to let them go/getting rid of them that's the difficult part to navigate.

It's nice to not feel quite so alone now that I've found this forum.

[Soberlicious96]

Well then maybe keeping things a bit simple for now is exactly what's needed?

Walking with the dog is actually achieving two things at one time; you're getting at least a little bit of exercise, and two, you were with a friend and talking and that is sharing and thereby halving the load.

Anyway, hope you are feeling a little better. Maybe if you keep focusing on the small stuff - like walking the dog and talking with an understanding friend, things will improve for you.

After all, we all only have one day at a time anyway, so that's enough to deal with. Take care and keep posting here for as long and as often as you like. Every little bit helps.

Take care. xox