anyone else?

[haileym]

anyone else deal with random days or weeks they just feel unmotivated or don’t want to do anything but lay down ? Just not up to do anything.

[MarkUpnorth]

Get outside and take a walk, however you have to do it. If all you do is shoot for that, it will break the lack of energy. I started many years ago when everyday was a lack of motivation due to M.S., but I pushed myself down the block using my cane. Years later, I am now upset if I don't get 10,000 steps a day. The fresh air, and exercise will help. Make it your to do thing.

[Jer29-11 in reply to MarkUpnorth]

Completely agree!

[falalalala in reply to MarkUpnorth]

Yep!

[donna0329]

Yes: It happens frequently with me. Sometimes I think I'm almost "bipolar." Because I will literally lay in bed nearly all week snuggling with my cats not wanting to do anything.

But, then I "snap out of it" and burst into a "must do" clean the house, go grocery shopping, email friends, connect with others on FB, etc.

I was dx in 1994 at age 26 no txs back then started tx in 1997 which I continue today. My MRI is full of lesions and black holes but they have been stable sine 2004. Slow simmering lesions?

I'm certain I am SPMS "ish" as my neurologist says, as he wants me on my DMT until age 65; I am "if it's not broke, why fix it?" As Aaron Boster says, MS is a life-long illness. Why stop a DMT?

Wishing you a Grateful Thanksgiving! 🦃😇🙏🙂🤞🤗😽

[NorasMom]

Frequently! And aside from basic hygiene and looking after the dog, I grant my wish. I don't recommend it every day unless you're in the midst of a particularly bad exacerbation, but once in a while is just a mental health break. I'll grab snacks, a drink, several books, and put on a favorite TV series to binge in the background. Then I curl up in bed with the dog and the remote and just do nothing for a while.

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Welcome to the forum, haileym ! Yes, this is not unusual. I spent almost a year in that funk. I slowly crawled out from that abyss and managed to get back to doing something. Nowadays, I try to accomplish something. I do get into being unmotivated but it doesn’t last any longer than a few days so it is getting better. There are resources on mymsaa.org that might help. Keep Smiling and I look forward to hearing more from you!

[haileym]

thank you so much !

[Helpmeup]

Hi haileym, and welcome! Yes, there are times I cannot find the energy to do anything. I do have a few rules I follow though. Every morning I always make the bed and get dressed, even if I never leave the house. That way, if I do absolutely nothing else, I can say I accomplished something! I really agree with the post from MarkUpnorth about getting outside. Fresh air and sunshine can definitely help. Even a short walk (if you're able), or just ten minutes outside can make a difference. I shuffle and use a walker, but try to get outside even for a few minutes a day.

I will add that if you just cannot get anything done, do not be hard on yourself or feel guilty about it. The doldrums will lift, and you will get through this. Take care. 🤗

[haileym in reply to Helpmeup]

Thank you! I will definitely try these things everyone recommended! Bless you all!😄

[CatsandCars]

Hi, Hailey! Welcome to the group. I'm very glad you found us. No judgement; I spent pretty much the entire pandemic in my pajamas in a comfy recliner. My bedroom is boring, no TV, can't read comfortably, etc., so the living room was my spot. However, along with an awful lot of other people at the time, I was pretty depressed and anxious.

If you're just unmotivated, I would try to push through and get some exercise if you can. Turning up my favorite rock music helps me tremendously because it gets me pumped to do things and gives me sort of pseudo energy. It also really helps to get out of the house and do things you enjoy with other people. I stayed home a lot, and missed out on a lot of life, because I have terrible physical and mental fatigue, which tends to be pretty prevalent in MS. I didn't realize for a long time that if I could manage to drag myself out of the house, I could overcome the fatigue temporarily by getting out and talking to people, which is really stimulating for me. It might help, at the end of the day, to make a note of anything useful or enjoyable that yo u did that day, however small. I find it useful to set a small goal to do just one useful or enjoyable thing the next day. The only thing inherently wrong with being unmotivated, particularly for weeks at a time, is that (for me, anyway) I've missed out on a lot of life because of it.

I've also found that actively participating in this Community has helped me tremendously in many ways. I've made friends, learned more about MS, and gotten so much support and practical tips for coping with symptoms and dealing with people who don't understand what it's like to live with MS.

The other thing that came to mind reading your post is whether or not you might be depressed. Depression is considerably more prevalent in MS patients than in the general population. I'm not saying you're depressed, but not having interest in participating in things you normally enjoy can be just one symptom of depression. And untreated or under trested depression can cause your MS to progress faster. Here's an article about depression in general:

healthline.com/health/depre...

You can also ask your doctor to give you a quick screening if you're in doubt. Another great resource for getting out of a rut is watching MS specialist Aaron Boster on YouTube. All the time I was sitting around, I wasn't aware of all the things I could be doing that could help keep my MS symptoms in check or help delay or prevent progression, He teaches us about different medications so that you can have informed conversations with your doctor about your care, and how emphasizes the importance of advocatimg for yourself. He also tells you how to do it, and he's so knowledgeable, but also very funny and positive.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=uFNF3...(Not working as expected?)

Best of luck to you! I hope that you'll come back and post often. We would love to get to know you better. 😊

[bulldogman]

This happens to me several times a year. I try to get outside and spend sometime with my dogs and friends it helps some. Wish you the best and you’re not alone

[Cwright170994]

Yes! My husband, my family, his family, and my carers know I don't always feel that way 🫂 I have a morning and evening routine, just so I don't really go crazy thinking I'm useless. Like sure, I may need a nap at 2ish, but people understand.

[Robsmom]

Yes, these are the times that we have to push ourselves. I agree with what everyone else said.Hope it helps.

[haileym in reply to Robsmom]

thank you!

[mrsmike9]

That has been most of my year. Just exhausted all the time.

[Irishgirl76]

YES, SOMETIMES I AM NOT SURE OF HOW EMOTIONAL AND DEPRESSION SETS IN. SUPPORT, RESOURCES, FRIENDS AND FAMILY HELP🤗 HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH SPECIAL BLESSINGS TO HELP US GROW. I HOPE WE LEARN WITH ALL THE HIGH’S AND LOWS. 🕊️