I can’t get out of bed

[Casualfriday]

I spent a year of my life majorly depressed, sleeping all day, overeating and hating myself. I was unemployed, not studying and isolating myself from everyone I knew. Then I started getting better and was living a pretty normal life for the next 2 years. But the past few months on the days I don’t have uni or work I’ve been so unbelievably lethargic, just like when I was depressed. I stay in my room all day with no energy to do anything, beating myself up for not being productive whilst not actually doing anything about it. I don’t know how to get out of this rut. I just want the energy and motivation to get out of bed in the mornings but all I can do is sleep - and when I oversleep I become more tired... it’s a vicious cycle. It’s like the physical motions of daily life are so overwhelming but that seems so melodramatic. I’m just scared that this will snowball and affect the other domains of my life (like work/uni/friends) like last time. I can’t be the only one, surely. Please share if this is something you struggle with and let me know what you did to fight against it, even with no energy. I’m exhausted

[monkey_magic]

Hi,

And welcome to BB. Habits and cycles can be hard to break but not impossible as you know since you were able to change them for a couple of years.

I find talking myself out of things can help, or changing my environment completely. When the brain is tired it feels impossible sometimes to make a change. But when u have a bout of energy I'd build on that- do more things and continue to do things to get your levels back to normal then only sleep when ur tired, get up and keep going.

Perhaps there's something unresolved deep down that needs to be purged out and set free.

We all deserve to have a good quality life.

I think u have what it takes to break the cycle.

Physical activity will help u a lot too.

Good luck 🙂

[Samaanthaa_16]

I know the exact feeling. You just feel so mentally,emotionally and physically exhuasted that it has completly burned you out on so many levels. It's kinda like drowing in your own mind and failures over and over again, and then being too weak to try and fearing it will just happen again. It is such a painful and draining feeling.But,you can get through this,you are stronger than you think and are not alone in this. Try to keep your head up high and distract yourself whenever it feels like this. I'm always here if you need it and to vent about anything at all!

[Sadie23]

Hi Casual Friday.

I also struggle to get out of bed. ON the days I am working I get up at the absolute last minute and am invariably late. The days I am not working I stay in bed late berating my self for not getting up and doing something - anything would be an improvement. I have been doing DBT which advocates "Opposite Action" which is basically doing the opposite of what you want to do and I have been having some success with this. But it is very hard. Just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one. All the best

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Casualfriday and a wave to all reading,

Thank you for your post.

Yes - absolutely. You are not alone on this and it's something that I've struggled with myself. I think it's part of the battle with depression - it wants us to stay in bed so we do, and yet we feel awful for doing so.

My own way? Get out of bed. It sounds simple but I know that it's absolutely not. Sometimes it will be the hardest thing that you do that day, but get out of bed. Even if you put clothes on and go and sit on the couch - get out of bed. Try to believe that I understand what it's like to not want to do that, and it feels like torture to get up with zero energy or motivation, but you will feel better for it.

Is there one thing that you like doing or like in general? Maybe it's coffee in the morning, or a television show, youtube, playing with the dog, calling a friend. It doesn't matter what it is or how small it is. This can be your go-to. For me, some days it's because my boyfriend made me a coffee and I don't want it to go cold (I make him put it on the desk in the other room). Other days it might be that I told myself I'd go on the forums. Pick a thing. Then when you're laying in bed, know that you now have a reason to get up in the morning, even if it's small. Uni was your thing and now for a little while you have to find another, but I know you can do it.

I hope this helps 🙂 You're in good company.

[DGoldman]

@Casualfriday

yourpost really struck a chord with me because I do the same thing. It’s really, really hard for me to get up. I don’t want to get up, I want to stay in bed, not go to work, just sleep.

i agree with what others have said here - do something nice for yourself. To motivate yourself to get up. For me, I buy myself a coffee at a really nice coffee place near my work.

I totally understand when you say it’s so hard to get up - it is ! I wake up and literally think oh my god I’m awake I can’t do this. But I force myself and I do it and I go.

This is not really an answer for you, but please know that you’re not alone in feeling like this.

[Rjade]

Hi Casualfriday,

Thanks for sharing your post.

Three years ago I was in a very similar situation. I had just dropped out of uni and I shut myself off from everyone and felt like a complete failure. When I returned to uni and work, it gave me a purpose. But when I wasn’t doing those things, I felt like my life didn’t have any meaning and it too made me exhausted.

The key for me was to keep my myself as occupied as I could. Talking to someone, going for a walk, engaging in a hobby- even just watching TV took my mind off being depressed, no matter how much I didn’t feel like doing it.

Is there anything that you have always wanted to try? Maybe there’s a hobby that you haven’t pursued yet? You could occupy yourself with this on the days you don’t go to uni or work.

You might also want to consider going to your doctor and going on an anti-depressant. You never know, this may help to elevate your mood and give you balance with regards to how you feel on your days at home and when you’re not at home.

I hope my experience and advice has helped you. Feel free to keep posting if you feel the need 🙂

- Jade