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- How do I keep doing the little things….
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How do I keep doing the little things….
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It sounds gross, but I can barely get out of bed to take a shower any more. I’m quite often going to work without showering because 10 minutes of lying in bed is better. I’ve tried to set an alarm or force myself to get up out of bed… but it’s too hard. Also, in the past eight weeks, apart from going to work, or to the supermarket I have left my home once… and with meal delivery services I’m worried I’m becoming agoraphobic.
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Hey, I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling. Thank you for posting here, it's great that you're able to reach out.
Depression has a way of keeping us in bed, because that's often where we feel most comfortable. Simple tasks like showering may seem like such a chore.
Something small that I did when I was quite deep in my depression was making a checklist of tasks I wanted to achieve for the day. Albeit, it was a way for me to procrastinate when I had other more significant tasks to do, but even putting things like "making the bed" on there can help you feel a sense of accomplishment if you can find the strength to do them. You can start with extremely small tasks, like going for a walk into the kitchen and making some toast, and then work your way up to bigger tasks when you're feeling more able, like visiting a busy shopping centre just to surround yourself with people. Reward yourself for the small things, and it'll keep you going so you can eventually accomplish bigger things.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. If you're finding that you can't leave your bed, it's because your mind needs rest and care. If it would interest you, you could try taking something like a book or a journal to bed with you - it'll help if you're feeling like staying in bed is unproductive or is depleting your motivation.
Do you have anyone close to you who you would feel comfortable talking to about this? Otherwise, would you be open to having a chat with a GP, therapist, or psychologist? Professional help can also be really useful.
I hope this helps, and just know that we're here to support you if you want to chat some more.
Take care, SB