[Continuum35]

I have some serious procrastination problems. I have real problems absorbing reading material and timekeeping. When that happens, my classwork falls behind. Sometimes i wonder if it's the BP or simply laziness causing the problem. I'm currently on zyprexa and celexa and i'm thinking about bring this issue up with my psych doc. A part of me feels like i'm worrying over nothing major though. Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?? Thanks in Advance

[Julial]

I was going to clean the bathroom, I was going to plant that rose bush I bought 2 weeks ago, I was going to do a load of wash so I didn't get behind, I was going to make the bed, I was going to freeze the meat I bought 2 days ago (I better hurry), I was going to clean out the wood stove, I was going to call my youngest son,
I was going to start my novel and I did not do anything but turn on my computer. I haven't been diagnosed yet but I feel pretty sure that this may be part of mental illness. I have never been lazy in my life, at one point I was an overachiever. So now I resort to bribing myself but that doesn't always work because I don't really seem to want anything. I usually end up forcing myself to do these things on my bad days and I feel like a sulking child when I do. Sorry for having no solutions but I sure do understand. Keep the faith.

[Anneinside]

I also have problems with motivation. But, today has been a GOOD day. I actually took out the trash, went shopping at Sam's for supplies, and cleaned the living room, except vacuuming the carpet. My pdoc gave me Concerta 36mg. to help with it. I don't always get going on things, but it has been better since going on the Concerta. Without it I just sit and sit.

[venusss]

Does it mess up your life in a major way?

Otherwise 99% of people would have a problem. It's natural to try to post-pone doing things you don't like. Majority of people do their work just before the deadline. Laziness comes natural to us humans.

The difference between healthy individual and one with problem is if they bring themselves to do the it in the end or if they let their "do not want to do this" affect their life...

[NuckingFutz]

I am on the bus to pay my phonebill because it was due yesterday. My sink is full of dishes, my bed is unmade. And I had the best of intentions too. I can usually tell if it's me or the bipolar. Today it's me. Gonna go make some friends with some dishes. One day you too will learn the difference in yourself. Good luck!

[Julial]

The problem with my procrastination is that the things I need to do are things I have always enjoyed. I delight in my house shining and smelling fresh. I look forward to speaking to my son,etc. I understand what you are saying about putting off things in the "normal" way (my husband is a good example of that). But when I don't do the things I need or want to do, I feel bad and ashamed that I cannot get my butt off the couch or out of the bed. I get such a sense of satisfaction when I am having a good day and I am getting things done and life is smooth and even. I miss that feeling.

[musikcrazy]

I also have procrastination and memory problems. I have read the Bipolars naturally have problems with information processing, and I find that to be true. Keeping a Daytimer with me at all times helps. As for the procrastination, I find it easier to break everything down into small steps. Maybe you don't get the whole house clean, but you can do the kitchen. Or maybe you run to the grocery store to get you through a few days instead of shopping for a week's worth of groceries. Giving yourself permission to take more time goes a long way in helping you to get things done. It is hard to fight these feelings, especially when you are dealing with depression, but it can be done.

[grizmom]

When I'm any worse than just mildly depressed I have MAJOR motivation problems. I WANT to do the dishes, take a bath, vacuum, etc. but I sit there and can't seem to get the proper signal sent down to my feet to get them moving. It's frustrating; I'm going through that right now myself. I hope that the doc can get me started on something thursday that will start working before I get too far behind on my housekeeping, because since November I've been very proud that I've been able to stay on top of the cleaning and in the last couple of weeks I've just lost all the motivation to keep it up, which adds to my depression. Viscious cycle!

[WendyAussie]

I strongly believe it is not because of laziness -I think it is Bipolar Depression, which leaves us with lower functioning - and we become simply incapable of all the things we may have doen easily in the past.

But it's not all bad news. Continuous medication monotoring and adjustment along with rigorous therapy can get you "groove back " with this stuff. I have gone from being a high achiever in a high status career, with three tertiary qualifications, all of which I completed while working, to losing that career due to my Bipolar and panic and anxiety disorders, as well as terrible long term mis-prescription by psychiatrists, down to not being able to get out of bed, not showering, not changing clothes for long periods of time, not being able to shop or cook for myself, to a near successful suicide attempt, to now, a couple of years later where, as difficult as it is I am on the upswing, dramatically different in terms of functionality and doing all the basic things of life consitently and now working to go the next level up such as study etc.

So take the judegment label of lazy off yourself, see your psych about continuing to refine or change your meds.

[cocos421]

I procrastinate,too, usually when I am in a depressed state. The housework and important phone calls will go undone until the depression lifts, or hypomania kicks in, then I feel like doing it all.
My husband thinks I am lazy. I sometimes wonder if I am just a lazy person. I think it is the Bipolar, though.

[Anneinside]

Wendy, you have mentioned "tertiary qualifications" several times. What is a tertiary qualification and what are yours, specifically?

[WendyAussie]

Anne, in Australia, we have Kinergarten, then primary eduation (1 year of preparatory school, then grades 1-6), then seconday school, (years 7 to 12), then Teriary Study, which is TAFE (Technical and further Education -which is the same as Community College in the US) and then Undergrad degrees, post grad degree etc. I did two TAFE courses and an Undergraduate degree all while having a blackout drinking lifestyle, being undiagnosed and unmedicated for mental illness and also no therapy during that period. I was very successful but I was a mess and no doubt an absolute pain in the arse to work with.

I came from a terrible life-destroying upbringing, so I am proud that I did all that study and had my career success. I haven't worked for three years now and tried to go back my career last year with an enormous amount of help from my mental health team and an excellent job agency. I did a transitional stint with a small community organisation and then I got a job in my field (PR and communications), but I couldn't cut it - it is very deadline driven and a very pressured, stressful career and i don't have the capacity to handle that anymore, thus I am going to give study a crack - in a new field for me - Sustainability.

[Anneinside]

Thanks for explaining teriary study. I had never heard of it before. Congrats on what you have achieved under difficult circumstances.

I was a professor and also had to stop working due to stress. Committees, teaching, planning, grading, research, writing, publishing,....it never ended. Now I volunteer and have hobbies... along with friends.

[WendyAussie]

Anne that is an astounding amount of success. But I can see that possibly in the long term, if you have mental illness/s that it would be hard to keep it all up. But where you are now is where I'd like to be - balance, passion, freinds. Just simply those things. (Doesn't mean I don't miss my career like blazes though, but in parallel to you, all that study and the nature of my career and skills are not t wasted - I can transfer them into anything new that I do.)