Hi bookmadness! I feel like depression and motivation are really interconnected so being able to separate the two is difficult for me. Honestly I feel like the lack of motivation is a symptom of depression and something that's extremely difficult to gather the energy for.

But in all honesty, depression for me is that voice in the back of my head beating me down and making me sad. It brings up SI and suicide and asks the existential questions that really have no answers.

Motivation is just linked to the energy I can gather in myself to do something and a lot of the time it can't be grown inside of you when you're sad. I've been working on making it easier for my future self by working hard as my past self if that makes sense. So when it comes down to it I guess I just try to rationalize it out and then move my brain into auto mode and hope for the best. Sorry I'm not that helpful :/

Best of luck!