You’re not alone. Depression zaps any motivation I have. My big accomplishments today have been my AA Zoom meeting. A shower. And fed and watered the birds. Oh yes, I swept around their cages. That’s going to have to be enough except for another commitment at 7 pm. That will be difficult because I go to bed at 7:30 (I get up between 2:30-5).
look at your eating habits. When I’m depressed I have no appetite which means no energy. Even if you’re not hungry try to eat healthy foods. I know it’s not easy but it helps.?
I am going through the exact same thing. I forced myself to change two beds today, spent hours on the couch but did manage to go for a walk in the evening. I have to force myself to do things. I also have Bipolar. I am also seeking advice on this.
I’m going through this too. I think of it as riding a wave. Feelings are not always facts. Believe that sooner or later change will come and you can get better. Maybe you need a medication adjustment. If you’re feeling suicidal or thinking of doing something impulsive by all means try to get some kind of help and consider going to a psychiatric ward.
I love the saying, "feelings are not facts". I just heard it for the first time a couple of months ago. Isn't it weird that we do think that what we feel is true? It's like how can it not be true? Why would I feel something and have it not be true? Wouldn't it be amazing if we only felt things that were true?
I know that saying from a book that has helped me called Mental Health Through Will Training by Dr Abraham Low. Lately I’ve been feeling very paranoid myself. Sometimes we all have to realize there are a lot of things we just don’t know before we make any kind of judgment or assumption about something.
It's not will power. So many of us think it is or wish it was. Remember, depression/anxiety, like other illnesses, are biological. They are caused by physical or chemical disruptions in the brain. It's so hard to be knocked down like this. It sounds like you are taking the right steps. The meds "roller coaster" can be daunting. Please know that once you and your Dr find the right solution for you, things will steadily improve. I can say with conviction that it's possible to get on the other side of this. And when you do, you'll have learned so much. You will become stronger as you work through it. You will find relief Best regards. Take care of you. Your storm will pass.
My experience has been like that. It took the psychiatrist almost a year before she got the meds straightened out. But once we hit on the right combination, I got much better.
And no, the illness is not solved by willpower. Although it takes a certain amount of that to push through some things. I find taking a shower to be like climbing Mt Everest. So it takes a force of Will to accomplish that.
No it is not down to will power….it’s often cortisol burnout and adrenal exhaustion.
Prolonged stress depletes both…eating a diet high in minerals and vitamins will steer things around.
Some quicker fixes are nettle seeds… only a half teaspoon a day restores adrenal function.
Cortisol will return so it’s important to control your stress… walk, meditate , listen to music, read, eat good food avoid sugar.
Lastly consider using Astaxanthin… this is the
King or queen of antioxidants and works within days to kickstart mitochondria function which boosts energy without causing any highs or lows…it is more powerful than vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ 10… it is made from plants on the seabed and the best comes from Hawaii … bioastin.
Make sure you get enough sleep…
Reducing cortisol and using nettle seeds are explained in tutorials found on YouTube…
Having been through severe depression and anxiety I first used the GP to try to fix this… 28 tablets a day… and things just got out of control… so I went cold turkey and began to walk walk walk…(that part required willpower) and now 40 years later I do not require meds of any description.. my anxiety is minimal … depression left a long way back…
For me, will power is def a part of it! My thyroid, fatty acids, magnesium and lots of exercise. Exercise hard enough to be just a bit winded sets of chemical cascades that help to re-set the bogged down and/or anxious feeling. There was a video years ago by Dr. Ilardi and he has a book as well (that, I have not read) and it is powerful.
Oftentimes, I am not really paying close attention to what precipitated the anxiety/depression. I get lax about exercise, diet, sleep, social connection and I do not have the luxury of slacking in any area.
I know it's very hard because I was there but have to push myself out. It was the hardest thing I ever did but I made up my mind never to stop no matter how hard it is. I feel like staying home everyday even when I resumed my job but refused to heed to that feeling. It's hard but you can do it.
I’m with you…definitely been there before. I just try to keep moving, even if I don’t want to. Somehow that gives me a little boost of energy and makes me feel at least a bit accomplished. Hang in there!
What you are describing are the classic symptoms of depression. You may be bipolar but you are obviously in a depressive phase right now. This has nothing to do with willpower. This is a mental illness that needs to be treated.
You mentioned that you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but the medication you mentioned is an antidepressant. I don't know if you have tried a real medication for bipolar disorder, but there are several on the market which may be useful. You need to talk to your prescribing doctor about this.
I also typically recommend the book Feeling Great by David Burns. While you still would need medication, this could help you think a lot more clearly about your situation and get rid of many of the overly negative thoughts that you have.
There are also newer treatments on the market search as TMS and ketamine which maybe useful although they are often expensive or unavailable in many areas.
I’ve had depression on and off most of my life. I have given my depression a very derogatory name and when I’m crying and have no motivation, I tell it where to go! Sometimes it works but it is exhausting. Take care.
It's not willpower. It's a chemical imbalance in your brain and maybe you haven't found the right treatment yet? Like others have said, just accomplishing anything is great when you are feeling like this. My depression tends to get worse in the afternoon - between 3-6 p.m. - so I really try to get outside when that happens, even for a short walk, and it does seem to help. I hope things are looking up soon.
A combination of things will help, certainly the right meds. Food is important, canteloupe is a great mood improver, and exercise is a big help.
But most important, get up and do. The time you least want to get up, get out and do something is the time you most need to do it. You need the stimuli coming into your head from outside sources -- especially people -- to break up the negative thought patterns. Laying around and doing nothing is the best way to that it will get worse, and get you closer and closer to the cliff.
It's not easy. Some days everything's going great and I'm in a funk or annoyed easily and because of my job I love it's a reason to get up and not sleep in. I love my family but my mom thinks that it's a sign of not being appreciative if have what you want but still upset
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
What to do
What am I supposed to do about summer?!??
I don't know what else to do.
First full week of August......What to do?
Depression, severe depression and overthinking 
