Motivation is hard to come by

Tom87 · ‎29-04-2015

Hi,

I have been dealing with depression for 10 years off and on but in the last year or so it has gotten worse. I feel tired a lot of the time and don't have much motivation to do anything. I am studying at university and I often find it hard to even get to class. I am on anti depressants and have seen a few psychologists about my problems but it only seems to help for a week or so before returning to how it was before. I have tried CBT and ACT and they do help but I feel like I need something else to help me get up and start living my life again. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what I should expect from my anti depressants, when it might be time to try a new one and any other tips I can try?

white knight · ‎29-04-2015

Hi Tom, welcome

In the words of my doctor "all of them are tranquillisers" when I told him of my tiredness and lack of motivation.

Keep in close touch with your GP about this. I tried many meds before I got the one that best suited me then with the approval of my GP raised it till I was really sleepy then lowered it to a managable level. But we are all different in this respect.

When you consider that each med takes 6 weeks to really kick in then it can be a couple of years before you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Then as you feel less and less depressed you might end up on a very small dose to keep you stable. Thats what happened to me and it worked.

You are doing all the right things IMO. Persistance is also one of the requirements.

Tony WK

Tom87 · ‎30-04-2015

Thanks Tony, it is good to know that they do make you tired as I was not aware of that. I think I will give it a week and if I still find it's not working I will go back to my GP and talk with her about it. Thanks for your input.

Tom

JessF · ‎30-04-2015

Hello Tom, Tony is right, some are worse than others but you'll see drowsiness listed as a possible side effect on most of them. Regular exercise helps, and I resisted doing it for years, but I find it can keep me alert for hours and hours afterwards. Even small things like getting up and walking around if you have been stationary for an hour, keeping your body moving can help to restart your brain.

Tom87 · ‎01-05-2015

Thanks Jess, I have been trying to keep active by going for walks and I went swimming yesterday which was good so I am planning on doing that more often.

cheers for your response

Doolhof · ‎01-05-2015

Hi Tom,

Welcome to the community here at BB. I have recently changed medication through my Dr. as my last anti depressant was not very effective any more.

I have found this new tablet has calmed me down maybe a little too effectively compared to how I was before. Then again, I was so high strung I was about to go BANG! Ha. Ha.

Like Tony mentioned, finding the right balance may take time.

I try to keep myself active, going for a walk or swimming are activities I enjoy as well.

Do you have friends at Uni whom you could go walking with, or socialise with? It helps me to have friends around, to keep in touch and share stuff with. If I have something planned, then I will definitely get out and about.

I sometimes find that a list helps me as well. I write down things I would like to get done for the week, choose something obtainable and then cross that off. I feel like I have something to strive for, then once those things are done, I have a sense of achievement.

Hope some of this helps,

From Mrs. Dools or Lauren