[pollypinkow]

Is inability to even start a task, being stuck, normal for us with bipolar? I heard it is. I cannot motivate myself to do anything around my house--not even for the 5 minutes I've been advised to set for myself. I'm just stuck in my chair. My thoughts just go round and round, and I become anxious and almost fearful. HOW do I do what I KNOW to do?? I have plenty of head knowledge but can't put it to action. HELP!

[BipolaRNurse]

It's not "normal" at all, but it is common in bipolar depression. Please call your mental health professional as soon as possible.....you need some help to get your out of your funk and your chair.

[hamster-bamster]

Chairs in general are bad for us. Prolonged sitting causes back pain and obesity and shortens lifespan. Can you use the computer on your tummy instead? If you are not motivated to do anything at all, the best course of action is to take a walk.

[BlueInanna]

Originally Posted by pollypinkow

Is inability to even start a task, being stuck, normal for us with bipolar? I heard it is. I cannot motivate myself to do anything around my house--not even for the 5 minutes I've been advised to set for myself. I'm just stuck in my chair. My thoughts just go round and round, and I become anxious and almost fearful. HOW do I do what I KNOW to do?? I have plenty of head knowledge but can't put it to action. HELP!

I get this way too... a lot. I cannot do even the simplest task at times. I wish I had an answer of how to fix it, then I would fix it for us both.

[sugahorse1]

A very common sign of depression and you need help from your pdoc to get through this

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

I get this way too... a lot. I cannot do even the simplest task at times. I wish I had an answer of how to fix it, then I would fix it for us both.

I get this way too. you would be fixing it for all three of us Blue.

[Clinte89]

I have this same problem sometimes just can't seem to make myself do anything. I think it's a sign of depression so you should defiantly call your pdoc when you can to try and sort his out.

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by pollypinkow

Is inability to even start a task, being stuck, normal for us with bipolar? I heard it is. I cannot motivate myself to do anything around my house--not even for the 5 minutes I've been advised to set for myself. I'm just stuck in my chair. My thoughts just go round and round, and I become anxious and almost fearful. HOW do I do what I KNOW to do?? I have plenty of head knowledge but can't put it to action. HELP!

I get this way a lot. Or if I do start tasks, I can't get very far and give up. I feel frozen and overwhelmed by everything.

Best to reach out to your T or pdoc. I don't really have an answer because, I dont' have any help here. So, I just kind of have to ride it out.

[canacrip]

Again, no help. I've been doing this all my life and just told therapist about it last week. I don't get it. It sure pisses me off sometimes, though. Especially when my wife gets mad at tme about not getting things done.

[faerie_moon_x]

The thing that always makes me mad is to be called "lazy." I'm not lazy, I'm stuck...

[Clinte89]

Oh being called lazy is not cool at all! I've been called lazy and it just pisses me off, I agree it's like I'm not lazy just stuck they are two very different things.

[moremi]

I do this all the time in depression. Its like I am overwhelmed so easily, I sit and cry because I dont know what to do first. I can have an appointment that day and if I get called or asked to do something else I have a meltdown because it seems to much for me. the housework really gets me down because sometimes I just cant do it and my husband expects it to be done. I am a stay at home wife. But sometimes with dishes and laudry piled up and from having kids friends over the house just gets destroyed and I freak out. Its like my mind is spinning out of control and I will sit there for days not knowing where to start just crying about it. Also I have OCD thoughts so they make it all the worse.
When this happens it is always time for a med adjustment if it lasts for more than a couple days.

[perseverance11]

Originally Posted by pollypinkow

Is inability to even start a task, being stuck, normal for us with bipolar? I heard it is. I cannot motivate myself to do anything around my house--not even for the 5 minutes I've been advised to set for myself. I'm just stuck in my chair. My thoughts just go round and round, and I become anxious and almost fearful. HOW do I do what I KNOW to do?? I have plenty of head knowledge but can't put it to action. HELP!

I think you should see your T for that. It is not your fault if you are stuck.
It is a sign that you don't feel well.

[Anika.]

I do get like this often, and not just when depressed. My mind is always going high speed, even when I am depressed.. it never stops. When I am manic it's really bad, I can't even make out the thoughts because they just become little pieces of words. I am not sure my experience with that is so common, since many people complain of slowed thoughts with depression. Because my mind is so fast I find it really hard to focus and direct my energy into getting something done. Ahh sorry, you are talking about looping thoughts, and I am thinking about other stuff, sorry.

But the not being able to get stuff done, I always make lists. Every morning I sit down and make a list of what I want or need to get done. Then I go back through the list and number them in the order to do them, and group together the things that i can multi-task on, and mark which order to start those in. Maybe a little bit much but it helps me get moving and get stuff done. Plus I love the feeling of checking them off, a visual for me of what I accomplished.

Sometimes I try to to remember how good I feel after I get my stuff done and that can help motivate me a bit. Or I use the time I spend doing chores and stuff to practice mindfulness.. which helps to de-stress me.

I also give myself small rewards for getting my stuff done, because procrastination has always been a problem for me, and depression, but I do know that once I start getting back into doing, the depression does lift somewhat. Just small rewards like getting my favorite coffee, or some time with my sister ... could be anything.

I don't know if any of that would help you, but I know it does help me.

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by Anika.

I do get like this often, and not just when depressed. My mind is always going high speed, even when I am depressed.. it never stops. When I am manic it's really bad, I can't even make out the thoughts because they just become little pieces of words. I am not sure my experience with that is so common, since many people complain of slowed thoughts with depression. Because my mind is so fast I find it really hard to focus and direct my energy into getting something done. Ahh sorry, you are talking about looping thoughts, and I am thinking about other stuff, sorry.

But the not being able to get stuff done, I always make lists. Every morning I sit down and make a list of what I want or need to get done. Then I go back through the list and number them in the order to do them, and group together the things that i can multi-task on, and mark which order to start those in. Maybe a little bit much but it helps me get moving and get stuff done. Plus I love the feeling of checking them off, a visual for me of what I accomplished.

Sometimes I try to to remember how good I feel after I get my stuff done and that can help motivate me a bit. Or I use the time I spend doing chores and stuff to practice mindfulness.. which helps to de-stress me.

I also give myself small rewards for getting my stuff done, because procrastination has always been a problem for me, and depression, but I do know that once I start getting back into doing, the depression does lift somewhat. Just small rewards like getting my favorite coffee, or some time with my sister ... could be anything.

I don't know if any of that would help you, but I know it does help me.

Thanks for this!

Lists don't help me, (I try. I need to put making a list on my list...) but the mindfulness thing is something to work on. That's a good idea. Also rewarding yourself. It works with kids. I was actually thinking of making a chore chart for myself. (I know some people think that sounds like a little kid, but maybe getting stickers will help me too.... )

Also, Anika, I have the racing thoughts in depression as well. Difficulty with concentration, racing thoughts, and difficulty making decisions. That never stops for me regardless of my mood.

[Anika.]

Dark, I was finding it hard to make time for stuff like mindfulness, and I remembered my pdoc telling me to be mindful while I am cleaning, because I used to be very ocd with it and get very carried away. And really what better time to practice being mindful than when living. That's the whole point after all, somehow that passed over me, and I kept thinking I needed some special quite time alone to do this, which doesn't happen.

I didn't used to be good with lists at all, mostly cause I would not go back to look at them. Somehow I got in the habit and found a way to refine my lists in a way that worked for me. But without my list I am sort of pacing and fumbling around, just thinking. Since I have to be my own boss at home, Nothing would get done if I didn't have a guideline for myself to follow, or rewards.

Nothing childish about stickers or charts, during my 90 day yoga challenge, they used a chart, and stickers. Putting up a sticker signifying " yes, I did it " really does work. It's a good way to see what you have accomplished. I bet it would help.