Adherence / Compliance -- How do you make yourself do the things that make you feel better?

[zailleh]

Hi Everyone,

One of my biggest challenges with depression is doing the things I know make me feel better and make a positive difference to my emotional state. Especially when I'm feeling my worst, these things would make me feel better but I can't make myself do them because depression just kills all motivation.

Just hoping to draw on the collective experience here. What kind of things do you to help make yourself do the things that make you feel better?

Cheers,
Zailleh

[Darby88]

First day on these forums. But I appreciate that this topic is being discussed.

I am slowly emerging from a terrible depressive bout. Very fragile. I have continued to pull it together for work and parenting, but that has been my limit.

I have the knowledge but I would like to know if others had the experience of being in a place where doing the things like exercising, (just a small walk out doors) or catching up with a friend is simply too much. I feel so raw and vulnerable in public at times that I can only do the kinds of little. helpful actions indoors.

I am grateful that with new meds added on, I am slowly emerging and am in a place where I am planning to do a small walk this weekend, but I also want to be able not to feel horribly guilty and weak when those things simply aren’t possible.

I am pushing my fear of failing to “get better” out of my head as much as I can, with all the other negative judgements I put on myself.

Depression, anxiety, hallucinations and mood disorder have been my way of life since childhood. I am turning 50 soon. It’s tiring, but I accept it. My child is everything to me and I want to live in this world with him and be the best I can be

[Emotions26]

Hello anyone else reading or perhaps replying only

My first step is actually reading some of the previous posts and most definitely the initial one by Zailleh

I do have a question how on earth would I know to type in search this title to find this thread started in 2015 and last responded to over a year ago.

This is not a criticism. This is a genuine question.

How?

What am I not doing or understanding?

I have tried searching past posts and that is so very draining and exhausting.

Presently I am doing little as my state of health is not at it's best at all.

My step today are reading and writing this.

I already try many of the structured ideas which work well if everything else in life is behaving.

When my mind is affected by external circumstances and worn out which brings on the dreaded I do not have the strength to put strategies in place no matter how many I try.

I do keep on going.

It does slowly pass and I start again.

I think that the answer is different for every single person as are the symptoms and effects.

This has been a help reading this.

Can this be moved to an area where more easily found.

So many new people daily are writing about this dreaded and might benefit from a realistic thread.

Just a humble thought

[sherlocks]

Hi that’s a good question. I struggle severely and need professional help assistance. I straight away loose my daily routine skills and it’s hard to get back. I recently was doing really well in a facility treatment program for 28 days. Right in the middle of the program my work cover insurer deny further admission and had to be discharged. I just can not get back. I am so far gone now I will never have any routine. 
one day at a time 

[Sophie_M]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing what’s been happening for you. It sounds like you were making real progress in your treatment program, and having to leave partway through because of funding must have been such a huge setback. It’s completely understandable that you’re finding it hard to get back into a routine and that things feel overwhelming right now.

What you’re describing; losing momentum, struggling with daily functioning after a big disruption  is something many people experience after intensive treatment, and it doesn’t mean you’ve lost everything you’ve gained. The fact that you’re here, talking about it, is a sign that you still want things to get better, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

You might find it helpful to reach out to the facility you were in, your GP, or another mental health professional to see what follow‑up support or day programs might be available to you. Sometimes there are community‑based options or mental health case managers who can help bridge that gap. If you’re in distress right now and need someone to talk to, Beyond Blue counsellors are here 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via webchat: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support

If at any point you feel you’re unable to keep yourself safe, please call 000 immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.

You’re not alone in this. Taking things one day at a time, like you said, is a really good start, and even on the days when it feels impossible, small steps still count. We’re glad you’ve shared here.

Take gentle care,
Sophie M

[Emotions26]

Hello sherlocks

I have just logged on now after being missing in responding to a minimal number on here for my own peace of mind.  I just cannot get back here regularly and therefore had minimised those who I respond to. 

Sadly this strategy did not work either as I have not responded to the said minimal number for some time now.(hopefully not offending anyone either)

I want to reply to you though as this thread was tagged. I had previously suggested it be brought forward into current or wherever it is. My overactive mind cannot follow computer systems at all these days.

sherlocks, firstly,

can I respond with I do feel for you struggling severely as I have my own experience of far too long being in and out of clinical depression or whatever it is now referred to as.

Personally, I have let go of labels as I found them to be weigh me down.

Daily Routine skills are extremely hard to tackle for anyone with a long term history of struggling with what I refer to as the dreaded D.

No disrespect to aforesaid suggestions for those who are not long term. Those suggestions work for those who do not experience ongoing, even life long,  long term symptoms.

That is a terrible experience for anyone to incur.

I feel that sometimes we are still mice on a turn wheel.

Best thing that I did for myself was continue long term therapy with a therapist whom I can challenge and he stays! He wants more!

Briefly

Be you above all else.

You are there 

You are not the depression

I will write again

I must respond to others whom I have not responded to and feel guilty.

Write whatever you want to me if you feel comfortable.

This is a response to you as a real person.

Ems