Trouble getting started in the morning?

I've been making some progress lately in managing this condition, but waking up and getting moving in the morning is still a huge challenge for me. I'm in the process of getting back to work as a grad student after a medical leave, so although I have some tasks I can work on I don't have a full schedule, and have no pressing deadlines to get me up and working. I was kicked out of a volunteer organization in the spring for having a mental illness, where most of my friends were, so loneliness is a big issue for me and I think I avoid it by trying to stay in bed.

I know mornings can be hard for a lot of people--does anyone have strategies they've used to tackle this? I try to stay mindful and identify a few small, achievable goals to work on, which works later on in the day, but in the mornings it seems like nothing I've tried has helped.

Yes mornings are the most rough for me also. Do you have a morning routine you can try to stick to? Mine is pretty simple: wake up, make the bed (so I don't crawl back in later), stretch, get ready for the day, and eat breakfast. I've also found going on a short morning walk gets me out of my head and the sunlight is good for depression. Now I don't do it ever day, and its important not to be perfectionistic about it. Just make some goals and the more you do it, the easier it gets. Best of luck to you!

it is very hard ... of course I sleep so poorly I am usually up around 1-2 am then 3-4 am ... some mornings just lay there and stare into space for an hour or so then get up ... way to early to go to work ... but I can't go back to sleep anyway .... weekend my internal clock will let me sleep till 5-6 usually ....

the only trick I can suggest is fix a bedtime (early) and stick to it 100%.

I found going to bed earlier makes a big diff. If the meds are screwing your life up worse then the disorder, IMHO, find other meds.

Ditto the above about going to bed earlier...with meds it helps to take them earlier and go to bed earlier depending on the meds.

Mornings suck. I hate mornings. Ditto on going to bed earlier. I struggle with that but on the days I wake up earlier, when the rest of the world is heading to work, I automatically feel like I'm going to be productive.

It helps to develop a routine. For me, the biggest thing is getting fully awake and trying not to dawdle. I feel so much better if I take a shower, get dressed and do my makeup. Even if I'm not going anywhere, it helps my mood to look like I am. It also encourages me to leave the house because I'm ready to go, even if it's just to the grocery store or getting my oil changed.

I tend to wake up very early regardless of what time I go to bed (so, I go to bed early too).

But, I definitely have a morning ritual. I can't just bounce into the day.....I have my coffee, I sew a little, I shower and dress for the day, fix my food for the day....then head out the door.......every single morning through the week this is my routine. It just grounds me and helps me face the day.

I also suggest going to bed early!

I get myself up early so I have plenty of time to wake up, and I also have somewhat of a routine. I often do simple chores in the morning before work.

By the time I "get started" it's time to go to bed. I am pathetic.

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I go to bed late and get up early. I usually have to wait til kids bedtime to have time to myself or spend time with my boyfriend. But i also need to have a little time in the morning of peace and quiet before the kids wake up because if I am waking up to one of them yelling at me or crying then I am in a bad mood which kind of sets the tone for the day. My normal routine is to get up with my boyfriend for work, then I make my coffee and read news. Then I have been watching tv series on netflix and sometimes its even hard to stop watching once the kids do get up. Not really sure what thats about. Im not depressed. I used to get up and be all about getting stuff done..wanting to get the entire place cleaned in one day then Id get overwhelmed and irritated. So once I figured out I was doing too much, I starting slowing down and now I am at the point where I am afraid to do more than one or two things a day becauss if I do a bunch of things I feel like I am headed down the road again, and that road leads to anxiety and irritation and yelling.

I have routines I use. I get up and have coffee, first thing. Then after my coffee, it's right into the shower and into makeup and clothes. Then I can usually manage to roll into tasks once I'm clean and dressed and made up.

The key is to find out what triggers you getting out the door in the morning and do that thing -- but before that, I found out that I needed to get my meds tweaked quite a bit to get over depression. Have you discussed this with your pdoc at all? And getting restful sleep is also important; if you're not sleeping well mornings are impossible.

Get a wife like mine. She'll make sure you're up in the morning.