Cant get going today.

[Golfer15]

Hope everyone is ok. I cant get going today. I have no energy or motivation. I dont like this not working business. It wasnt really my choice to stop working completely anyway. I could cope with part time - even though that was making me a bit stressed.

I have just completed a course about stress control. I was told stress doesnt go away, in fact a bit of stress makes us perform well ie. interviews, work situations etc.

It is just about controlling the amount of stress we put on ourselves and how we react to it.

I just cant create more energy at the moment. I have given myself activities to do like going to the gym, cycling and swimming, also little jobs like gardening and cleaning the car. But I cant muster up the energy to do these things.

What can I do to make more energy?

David

[Binky1]

Morning David

Oh I empathise completely as I am the same, I can't muster any energy whatsoever to do even the simplest task

I am continually cancelling appointments etc as I just

don't have the energy or motivation to even get out of bed, even this morning I have just cancelled a lawyers appt I should be going to at 11.30 .... it's not anything heavy either it was just to sign a piece of paper & I can't even do that

Just wondering do you actually do all the things you've mentioned or do you bale out at times?

That's a shame as you hoped maybe not having your job would've helped your stress levels but as always everything shifts so I'm sorry to hear how you're feeling

Best wishes

Lesley x

[Golfer15 in reply to Binky1]

Hi Lesley

Thanks for the reply. It is always good to know we arent alone.

Yes I have been unable to do what I had planned for this morning due to feeling so tired.

I was going to go for a ride on my bike but had to forget that. Im sat drinking coffee now watching daytime tv. I managed to do a couple of emails I needed to do earlier. So that was good.

Im cross with myself over not going for a bike ride. Why do we beat ourselves up.

Im just resting now but got a few things I can do from this chair on my tablet so thats ok.

Have a good day.

We need to take small steps.

David x

[Binky1 in reply to Golfer15]

I agree David, we are our own worst critics

I was once told at a support group that I should get the biggest stick I could find & just thump myself with it as that's what I was doing

anyway on a daily basis

What can help me when I'm really low on energy is actually write down the things that I HaVe done ie shower, make a phone call, put bins out, wash dishes ... anything that will take the focus away from what we haven't managed today it helps us to see what we have achieved today rather than focusing on the negative

There's always tomorrow

Lesley x

[Golfer15 in reply to Binky1]

Thanks. I will try that, writing down what I have done would be good.

Ive just done another job whilst sitting here. Phoning a Sky engineer.

x

[Binky1 in reply to Golfer15]

We seem to dwell on the things we haven't managed to do and completely overlook the chores we have done without even acknowledging them

At least at the end of the day you can see how you've filled your time and go a bit easier on yourself

X

[Golfer15 in reply to Binky1]

It will also be good to show my family what I have achieved. X

[Binky1 in reply to Golfer15]

That's good David, hope it helps

And nothing is too small to go on the list it all takes up time

Have a good day

X

[Golfer15 in reply to Binky1]

I will add chatting on here to the list. It has been the most positive thing I have done today.

Thanks

X

[Binky1 in reply to Golfer15]

Ha ha it's always good to chat where would we be without our friends X

[Photogeek in reply to Binky1]

Hi Lesley

Ah it's hard to do everything as Lack of motivation is a big thing in

depression. Don't be too hard on yourself, as no one , not even

Undue pressed people can be " bright eyed and bushy tailed" all

The time.

Lots of hugs for you

Hannah x

[Binky1 in reply to Photogeek]

Hello lovely Hannah

How are you doing today?

Big Hugs

Lesley xx

[21esme]

Hi David,

It is only day 2 of not working after half term so give yourself a bit of a break. Don't beat yourself up. Pick one thing on the list and try and do that, even if it is 10 minutes cycling. You might do 10 minutes and decide to cycle for another 10 minutes. I lack energy and motivation, I find without the structure of working that there is little urgency or desire to really do anything. I have to make myself do something everyday. You were working between 1 and 3 so you fitted other things around that and I think it gave you structure to your day. Try and do one thing, baby steps, what about a walk around the block? You are allowed to have days where you accomplish more and others where you do less. It doesn't help when it is raining.......

Sarah x

[Golfer15 in reply to 21esme]

Thanks Sarah. Your messages are always good. You seem to know how I feel and what I do. It shows you read my messages and remember what Im doing. Good to know you care. X

[Hidden in reply to Golfer15]

Hi David

Sorry you are feeling bad and putting yourself down for not doing the things you planned - I was going to say the same as Sarah - try to do just one thing at a time until you have established that as a routine, then add one more and do the same etc. It is demanding a lot of yourself to expect to be able to take on several new routines at once.

Enjoy the sun if you have it. We don't actually have any sun but we do have a nice mild day and I've spent five hours in the garden and feel very much better for it! My joints ached terribly while I was doing it but now I've finished I find at the moment they are not aching. Fingers crossed that it will last and I won't suddenly find I can't move!

Take care and try to enjoy the enforced break.

Suex

[Hidden]

Hi David

Snap that's me in a nut shell. I go to bed on a night and plan what I will do the next day do I do it NO what are we like. What did we do before I pads and computers. You take care janet xx

[Golfer15]

My tablet is my lifeline. I keep a diary, calender and write notes on here. Aswell as chatting on this forum I use a local forum on facebook for anxiety sufferers.

An essential thing for those of us with various issues. X

[Golfer15]

Thanks for everyones encouragement today. I have just been for a short bike - 30mins.

The sun came out and I pushed myself. I feel better for it. X

[Hidden in reply to Golfer15]

Well done! That sounds great and you are lucky to have seen the sun! Sun? I spent three hours in the garden despite joint pain - but no sun :9

Take care,

Sue x

[21esme in reply to Golfer15]

Oh David, that is excellent. 30 minutes, you put me to shame! I felt better this afternoon when the sun came out too.

Sarah x

[Hidden]

I am in a terrible depression myself. It is noon and I'm trying to get the energy to get into the shower. My 86 3/4 yr old mom was in the hospital 10 days with pneumonia and is now in a "nursing home." They put people there who are weak and unable to go home. She of course begs to come home with me and I feel horrible saying she is not ready. The doctors say she is not ready. I am slipping deeper and deeper into the depression, not wanting to leave the house, but I force myself to, so I can visit her even tho she complains most of the visit. I was staying 3 hrs at her request and I'm going to cut that time down to an hour or two. Physical and Occupational Therapy are trying to work with her, but she needs to want it and to get well. She is not showing us that. She stopped eating, even before she went in and weighed only 98 pounds. I don't know what she weighs now. I know this is a situational depression, but it is going into one where I am fighting to stay out of the hospital. Thanks for listening to my rambling. I don't want to talk on the phone, text or anything. My friends understand but mom's friends don't get it. Thank God for my boyfriend Bob.

[Photogeek]

Hi David, glad you got to go for a cycle. So now that's positive. Don't be too hard

On yourself about filling every hour. It will take take a bit of time to get used to your new situation. Eventually you will get into a groove.

Try doing one thing that needs to be done. ( paying a bill, mowing the lawn)

Try doing one thing that's good for your health. Excercise

Try and make sure you spend some time doing something you enjoy This will be

Different for everyone.

Hannah x

[Golfer15]

Thanks Hannah.

[angel28]

I know exactly how you feel I have been looking for a job for over 6 months I hate temp work in when your not working you just feel what is the point of trying but I put some music on have sing when im cleaning maybe eat something with fibre in it that will get you going

[gardengnome]

hello david first non-school friday for you . One bit of me is just a little envious, as it has been a bizarre roller-coaster of a week for me at our school, and i'm totally exhausted now..

Are you giving your self some time to recuperate? It does take a while to get into a new routine for anyone, so try not to get too annoyed at yourself for not having done the dozens of activities for put on the schedule. Maybe reshuffle the schedule. Have a small amount of high priority "must-dos" on there, that you know you will complete, and have another set of would be handy to do things some of which may have to carried forward to the next day....

Anyway thinking of you. A

[Golfer15]

Thanks for thinking of me. Had quite a mixed week really. Dont like being unemployed but quite like not having the stress of going to work.

I have tried to keep active but also had some time relaxing watching daytime tv.

I dont like sitting around too much as I start thinking too much.

Just chilling now after having chinese take away.

David x

[Hidden]

Hi David,

You have got some excellent advice and support reading all these posts here, I just wanted to chime in because I know exactly how it feels... so frustrating when you seem to have zero motivation due to depression and the healing process.

I think it's easy to lose track of time when you are not working. It can seem like you haven't done anything in forever. Just doing simple tasks at home seems ludicrous and unproductive. But this is actually what is meant by "relaxing!" And if you are anything like me, a workaholic, this concept just does my head in. Relaxing is the most stressful thing of all!!!

Here's a thought, try some reverse psychology on yourself. Congratulate yourself for doing nothing. Try to get through the day doing the absolute least necessary to survive... Be as lazy as you can on purpose. Watch the absolute worst tv for hours at a time. Completely embrace your unproductivity.

This recipe has worked for me. The more I embrace not doing anything, the more I very irritatingly realize that I am getting so many things done behind my own back!!!