Guilt about doing nothing/feeling like a burden

My husband says I need to not be idle and that will help. I know he is right, to a point. But I feel like my body weighs a million pounds bc it's so hard for me to move. I tried to work out. I have always worked out regularly. I couldn't do it. I just didn't care and had no energy.

I have put off going to the grocery for 3 days now but the thought of showering and getting dressed and going out in the cold... ugh. It's sad that I am counting just putting in the workout dvd a success. I even took the vacuum out of the closet to clean but that is as far as I got.

And I just feel like a burden on my family right now.

This is how I've been for 19 months. Luckily I'm alone but it's still horrible.

I relate to this 100% But it will pass and you will go back to being productive. I hope that can be some comfort to you. I'm sorry you're feeling like this

Somebody on this board mentioned getting groceries ordered online through peapod (I think that is the name of the service). Is something like this available in your area? Then you do not need to shower etc. And yes, making an online order still counts as working and not being idle: you would make selections, navigate your way through a new user interface, compare prices, etc. All of this is still work, even though done from your home.

I had to use such a service for another reason - I was too physically weak due to hypothyroidism, and nobody to help me out. Our main grocery store chain is called Safeway and they deliver. The first online order is free of extra charges. Then when you sign up, they send you offers of free delivery from time to time. I now take a thyroid hormone (Synthroid) so I am not physically weak anymore, but still when I receive the promotions, I order stuff that is heavy to carry - canned beans, canned tomatoes - and they deliver to the door. It is very convenient and the selection is bigger than at my local Safeway, because the delivery truck picks up groceries not at my local Safeway, which is small, but from a huge Safeway several cities away, and they have a much bigger selection over there.

Some non-perishable groceries can also be ordered from Amazon.

In the end, only that you put the food on the table matters, and whether you showered and went to the store or ordered online matters not.

I have been ordering from pea pod since 2009. They're really a huge help.

Your just starting on Lithium so that will need time to kick in... meanwhile.. Stop looking at the Big picture of things you need/should get done.

Use the "Timer system" ... Set it for 15 mins, vaccum for 15 mins and stop. take a break.
Set times again finish the vac job if it wasnt over. take a break
Set the timer for 15 mins walk through your house and pick up out of place things. take a break
Set timer for 15 mins make a grocery list. take a break .

I can set a timer for 15 minutes and wash, dry and put away a sink ful of dishes.

It's amazing what can be done in just 15 mins. It's a "mental game" you know that Timer is going to go off and you can stop what your doing and take a break.

Its easier to eat a pizza in bite sized pieces instead of trying to stuff the entire thing in your mouth at one time.

Grocery shopping (yelch) I hate it , but it needs done, Just put on a sweater, coats whatever to stay warm , Don't waste energy bathing if you dont have it in you... your going to buy groceries not win a beauty pagent or run for mayor.

Buy one thing as a treat to yourself for doing the grocery shopping.. Bribing ourselves is an okay thing to do

Any who, that is how I manage when I have zero ambition and want to be a lump on my sofa.

Hope your feeling better soon

Oh we go through these phases from time to time.

It's so hard to look after others and do the day to day routine activities - it can feel overwhelming.

When I'm like this I choose to do only one thing for the day. It might be vacuuming the carpets for one day. It might be going to the grocery store and getting food for two days. It might be doing the washing on another day.

I make myself do these yucky things first thing in the morning. That way I have the rest of the day to myself.

Be well and try not to burden yourself with thoughts of having to get too many activities done - focus on one at a time.

So many people, depressed or not, do not do that and would call this a success if they did.

I often go through periods like this when the simplest task is just so overwhelming. I was once surrounded by very negative people that shared my house so it's nice to have positive people around especially when I'm struggling. It also helps to remind ourselves we are not alone. I'm working hard at being much nicer to myself on days when I feel like a burden & that I'm not puling my weight-my therapist had suggested to me a few weeks ago that when I'm having a hard time instead of berating myself mentally to treat myself as I would an inconsolable child-I thought it sounded pretty hokey when he told me but I have done that the last few times I was slipping downward & it did help. Sometimes I write on my dry erase board This too shall pass to remind myself that I will not always feel this way.

I love all of your helpful responses. I did go to the grocery store, vacuumed upstairs, and even prepared dinner. Way more than I thought I could do today.

Wow! You go!!! I can't manage those things all at once!

I understand how you feel. He doesn't and I've been encouraged to do "pointless activity" by others who think it will help but are truly ignorant of the condition. You can only do what you can do, when you can do it. Rest as much as you need and don't apologize for it.

Hellboy