Any tips to stay focused and at least a little productive while dealing with anxiety and depression?

[Iamhayley]

I just can't get myself to do anything. I have a lot things I have to do and I would really like ideas that would help me focus. This just sort of paralyses me for days and it takes too long sometimes to get out of it especially because of the pandemic. So help please?

[teen_anxiety]

small steps and having fun

[Iamhayley in reply to teen_anxiety]

Yes💪🏻

[Hidden]

Plan easy activities, small goals, and listen to upbeat music while you take them one at a time. Sometimes if I start the day by getting outside for a walk while listening to music, it puts me in a good mood and I can keep going a bit longer and get more done. (I like Bluegrass.)

[Iamhayley in reply to Hidden]

I have been thinking about a walk for quite some time.I think I am going to have to force myself outside my house tomorrow.

[Hidden in reply to Iamhayley]

Sounds like a good idea. I hope you have nice weather and enjoy your walk!

[Help_Me_Please]

I’m sorry your going through this. I feel like I am going through the same thing and just can’t get motivated.

[Starfish_]

I can relate, apathy gets me bad. My therapist suggested to me breaking down any task into the smallest components and taking them one at a time. Want to get something to eat? First, sit up in bed. Sit with your feet on the floor. Stand up. Leave the room. Etc. It doesn't need to be that small but sometimes it's what I need. Shifting positions physically can help start your movement.

Try and set small goals but not expectations. This way anything you complete is a win and you don't have to feel bad about what you didn't get to. On a similar note, write a "got done" list rather than a "to do" list to see your productivity again without feeling like you should've done more.

[Iamhayley in reply to Starfish_]

The "got done" list seems like a good idea..because the to do is definitely not working

[BlueSky125]

Its very difficult to have any motivation while depressed. Sometimes its as basic as saying if i work on a certain task for 10 or 15 minutes a day , then that day is successful. Keep expectations low. Put off as much as you can , focus on one most urgent item. Consider asking someone else to help you make progress on a task you are putting off. Also , there maybe times of the day that you feel more or less depressed / motivated. I always felt more depressed in the morning and less so at night.

[Iamhayley in reply to BlueSky125]

I too feel a lot better at night..I should try that

[Jim-Z in reply to Iamhayley]

Mornings are definitely tough. Sometimes I get a calm feeling in the evening. I tend to take advantage of the calm and do things such as laundry. I take a sleeping pill that lasts about 4 hours. When I wake up at say 3am I have much more calm and clarity. Last night I thought I took the sleeping pill around midnight. I was awake until 4:30am this morning. I looked in my daily pill box and saw that I did not take the sleeping. I then took it and got 4 hours sleep. Now my daily to do schedule for today is way off .

[bonkers65]

What I do is just start doing what it is I want to do without thinking about it, and I usually finish it.

[Frazzledcat]

You have come to the right place and everyone has good advice and ideas. Best thing is to do small tasks and try not to overthink the task. I will want juice and will spend more time thinking of getting than it would take to get. Try Small things preferably something you must do and don’t think, think, listen to some music, think of anything happy and you hopefully can get moving past the anxiety. In the same place and it’s hard. Just hang in there, don’t beat yourself up over what’s not done as the anxiety will stay and you need a break, take small steps to keep anxiety down. It’s not easy to do but helps me.

[Iamhayley in reply to Frazzledcat]

I hope this happens and I am able to move past my anxiety...

[Frazzledcat in reply to Iamhayley]

You will get past this and reminding yourself that will help. Things can change by the hour but just hang in there!

[Hidden]

This is how I deal & I'm doing it right now since I'm currently fighting depression.First of all thinking is not our friend, so distract whenever possible. Accept you can't stop thoughts & it's ok. I know polar opposites. I take omega fish oil tablets since they help me with my cognitive thinking that goes out the window when depressed/anxious. Tough times like now it's two in the morning & two at night.

It's going to suck to hear this but you have to exercise. I do want to be fit but depression drags me under & I would happily sleep forever. Oxymoron I hate exercise but do it because for a depressed person it's medication. And you have to take medication daily....sux right??!!

Be slack, be depressed, do nothing all day & don't punish yourself over that. You have to learn to be super nice to yourself. Tough stuff!

I taught myself to do things whilst miserable, melancholy, emotionally detached or crying. Fact is....you don't have to be happy to wash the dishes, vacuum, clean the house. Do clothes washing & if you have to lie down after...when you feel better get up again & vacuum or even better feed yourself something nice. Be patient with yourself. Baby steps.

It's a slow fight but you have to start that fight. If you have a shower.....bravo!!! Just realised today that I hadn't showered for 5 days.....like I said I'm fighting depression atm. But soap is your friend lol.

Ever read the book, "Feel the fear & do it amyway" well it's a bit like that. I trained myself to ignore the deep melancholy & do it anyway. Some days you will get far & some days you might feel as though you have done nothing.

Also every night I use the anydo app & list things I want to do. In the morning I'm suffocating with my depression....the list helps me remember some of the things I wanted to do when my mind was more focused.

Really raved on there but I hope I helped even a little

[Iamhayley in reply to Hidden]

I think maybe subconsciously I was expecting too much..I was a complete workaholic before..I mean I did not even like sleeping and I did a lot in a day and since the time I have been struggling with this I am just not able to do anything and that just makes me feel even more doubtful and results in lack of confidence... I am really desperate to get over whatever this is...

[Jim-Z in reply to Iamhayley]

It does take time. I too buried myself in work. Years ago I use to think to myself that I was going to die at age 55 while at the office working. But I enjoyed the work. I am now retired and will turn 65 later this month. I fell into depression and anxiety around Oct 15. You may want to try mindfulness meditation on You Tube. Jon Cabat-Zinn has a 45 minute guided body scan video. You can relax in bed while listening to the video. It is very good but challenging to focus on the words and try to keep your mind from wandering. Please consider seeing a psychiatrist and thetapist.

[Jim-Z in reply to Iamhayley]

Some type if exercise is good for many reasons. For me, one hour walking on a treadmill is one hour detached from my depression, worry and anxiety.

[Hidden in reply to Iamhayley]

I have been officially unemployed for 6 years, before that I was the office manager. Now I'm a carer & I have completely lost all confidence. I don't see myself ever getting a job again. And I obviously have lost all faith in myself as a worker. This is not a helpful reply but a honest one. Life is hard....really hard and most of the time, unfair.

I am spreading a lot of sunshine today lol.

[Frazzledcat in reply to Hidden]

Love your posting. I feel like people here share their true feelings and experiences that others don’t and that alone is calming. Not good that we feel this way but it’s been a rough year in general and others having the same experiences says it’s not just me? I tell people a flavorful cup of tea with some honey is calming to read an article this morning saying have a cup of tea or coffee as soon as you get up can lower you anxiety through the day. Holding a warm cup just having a few minutes to turn the panic button off helps me. Eating healthy and getting your supplements is critical and say do baby steps to move. Showering while home is sort of hard l find l do feel better even if l just put on clean pj’s. Keep your head up as this will pass!

[Hidden in reply to Frazzledcat]

I believe that depression/anxiety etc is not for the weak. You got to have balls to keep fighting everyday. Merry Christmas to all the warriors out there!!!!

[Hidden]

Ps. The puppies in your avatar are adorable

[Iamhayley in reply to Hidden]

That is literally what I thought when I saw your avatar...cute dog pictures do help!

[Bindi2020]

Try to take small steps. Routine.

[Hidden]

Well, what can you do that would make you happy or give you a more positive sense of well being??? I like to write. Not just journal or diary entries, but I like poetry and I like to try to write songs. I love music a lot too, besides listening to it, I can play the piano and acoustic guitar and I'm not really great at it but sometimes it can just be fun to pick out tunes and melodies you know. And as for exercise, just try going out for a walk a half hour a day, with your mask, just to get away from the house for awhile. Even doing some kind of hobby, working with your hands, just get your mind off of yourself and your problems for awhile .

[Iamhayley in reply to Hidden]

I used to hand letter lyrics a lot before... now picking up a pen feels difficult but at least I went near the pen today...

[Hidden in reply to Iamhayley]

Sometimes it helps to just write all your feelings out. Just get it all out of your head and on to paper. You can always choose to rip it up or throw it away later if you want to.

[Jim-Z in reply to Iamhayley]

Walking to the pen is a step on your daily to do list.

[X01WOOG]

I am in the same boat. It is very, very difficult to do even the things that need to be done. I have always kept my bed made and dishes done. Now, most of the time I don't make the bed. What's the use, I say to myself. No one is going to be here or see it. That never stopped me before. I just loaded the dishwasher from yesterday. I should clean the stove, counters, etc., which I have always considered as part of the job. I will do it later. My Christmas cards are sitting on the kitchen table. Yesterday I ran the sweeper in part of the house. I usually complete the job but yesterday I hurt all over and I had to quit. I don't have one decoration out. However, I have a full basement and an eighth of it is full of boxed Christmas decorations. No one is coming (at my request). I am now OLD! I have been on social security for a long time. I need three operations, maybe four. I have severe this and severe that! I won't go into all my ailments but I do have them and they are documented. My daughter thinks otherwise. She hates me. Hate is a very strong word but if there was a stronger word, I would use it. That is also depressing. I lost my two sisters who were also my best friends within one year of each other--one in 2018 and one in 2017. They were wonderful. I also lost my son to cancer on my birthday in 2013 and lost my daughter to chemical dependency in 2016. I lost my lifetime friend in 2017. Each year I have lost dear people. This year, I can't see my son or daughter who are living because of COVID--my age and my illnesses. I have a husband who is also depressed. He has children from a former marriage whom we never see because they live many miles away. I have grandchildren and great grandchildren whom I love dearly and miss severely. Is it any wonder I am depressed? Yes, God is good. He gave me the children. He has given us everything we have. I miss going to my Bible study. We are a group of praying grannies. May God bless each of you.

[Iamhayley in reply to X01WOOG]

I am so sorry...it is inspiring that you are moving forward despite all of this..thank you so much for typing this out for me. I hope things look brighter for you as well.More power to you and I hope you get to see your loved ones soon.

[Jim-Z in reply to X01WOOG]

Please consider using your cell phone to connect via video.

[Iamhayley]

I have a feeling this will help me the most...

[Tillymay]

Bless you take one step at a time maybe set one thing to do a day and mark them off your list,It’s horrible when things build up.It makes my mind feel muddled and then things get harder to do.When you have done one thing you have to do then choose something you would like to do a little reward.take care and remember your not on your own.