Can’t cope

[Cailin]

Have suffered from depression for years and for past month overwhelming

not showered and in pyjamas all day, the house and garden and a mess and I have no energy

All I do is watch tv and feeling such a failure. My mother is constantly telling me to do housework etc and echoes all the self critical thoughts I have. Don’t have the energy to talk to anyone.

How can I start to get motivated? I do have a doctors appointment next week and have been off medication for 2 years and had been doing well. Feel like I’m caught in a mouse wheel of tv and sleep

[Cozy]

Hello Cailin

I hope that you take some time to look after yourself ,your body must be advising you to rest and recover

Perhaps if you give some thought to when this started you may be able to identify what triggered it and see how you can work with your GP to heal

[jess334]

Hi Cailin,

Welcome to the forums.

I'm sorry you're stuck in that space right now.

Sometimes it can help just to take one step. Stop worrying about getting everything done and just get one thing done. Doing 10% is better than doing 0%. It doesn't have to be an all or nothing scenario.

Hope your doctor appointment goes well.

Kind thoughts, Jess

[Guest_1643]

Hey Cailin, what sort of stuff do you watch on TV?
Maybe you could watch something different that you really like... or even watch something that has some educational value... that could possibly open up a window to motivation.

Glad you're doing well off meds- that's fantastic. The doctor might have some ideas but I think it's great you're doing some research. Maybe the forums could be motivating, or trying beyond blue or lifeline call lines, social media groups/forums?
Hope you are feeling okay today, try not to be too hard on yourself.
whatever your doing now, is enough for now. Maybe tomorrow you'll do more. But you are trying your best and are worthy

[Balance]

Hello Cailin,

I am sorry to hear you are walking the tough road of depression.

I feel for you!

You asked for tools to motivate you, to pull you out of the current spot.

During a very long period of depression, I had regular appointments with my counsellor.

At one of those appointments the counsellor simply said to me: "When you don't feel like having a shower - just VISUALISE how you feel when you did have a shower, and how you feel when you don't have a shower".

This tool you can apply for lots of situations in life. VISUALISATION can literally spin you out of the feeling that a task is too difficult.

My second tool I use every day:

LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Living this way can help with a feeling of overwhelm and depression. May be make a list of a few achievable things and tick them off at the end of the day. Also going for a little walk or spending time outside can be very uplifting.

All the very best.

B

[green_tree]

Hey Cailin,

I'm wayyyy overthinking this response because it's my first but I totally understand where you're coming from and wanted to let you know you're not alone. It can be really difficult to get up and do things and it's something that's become pretty common with the COVID isolation, I feel the same too. I think what drives me to find the motivation to do something is just starting small. Maybe go for a walk with a friend or family member? A dog if you have one? Personally I prefer to crank up some tunes and go for a quick walk on my own. I hope that you find a way to break out of the hamster ball in your own way xx

Good luck

M x