How Do You Deal With Your Depression Stages?

I have bipolar, diagnosed. When I am manic, it's not so bad obviously. I feel pretty good, although I might be impulsive and get myself into some trouble. But when I am low and depressed, I can BARELY function. The depression side totally wipes me out completely. How do you function when you are in a low cycle?

I try to take very small steps at a time. Like if you're laying in bed set a goal to get on the floor, then set a goal of getting on clothes, then walking down stairs. Just set very small goals at a time. Don't think of getting ready as a monumental task, but of a few small tasks. If your depressive phases ever do get dangerous though, obviously contact a medical professional.

I don't really know how I function when depressed. Not very well.
Somehow I can usually force myself to go to work and I am so busy at work I don't have time to think of how miserable I am. But I definitely am just surviving, not really living. Even showering and basic hygiene can become too hard at times.

When stuck in a low mood I tend to treat my life how doctors do triage, treating the life threatening injuries first. I only keep up with only those task that I absolutely must do so I can keep my job and pay rent and eat. Everything else takes a backseat and doesn't get done, until my mood climbs back up and i get energy and motivation to do all of those chores and things I couldn't handle while down. It's a pretty crappy system of survival but I suppose it works, as I have been at the same job for over 10 years and manage to keep me and my cats alive in our own place. Idk. I like the idea of breaking up tasks into parts.

Try to be gentle with yourself when depressed. My not being able to function well enough to accomplish daily chores is hard enough; also mentally berating myself for it and for being such a fuccking failure at life just makes things that much worse. Celebrate even small accomplishments. There have been times when just doing my laundry has felt like more of a feat than getting my masters did... hang in there.

My depressions are severe when they occur and I barely function as well. I can't even begin to tell you how much of my life has been spent in bed or a recliner watching tv. I've started making a list of 3 very small tasks...feeding my pets, brushing my teeth and meditating for 10 minutes was a recent list. If I feel more motivated I can add 3 more. If not, I've accomplished something.

It's very difficult, I know. I empathize with you.

Routine.

And auto pilot.

I just do and don't think. Get up. Wash. Go to work etc.

It's tough, I know firsthand but try get into a mode of "just doing it".

I don't function well. It's all I can do to get up, go to work, and interact with my family. I can't really say how I do it, it's more doing things where I don't have a choice.

For the weekdays, I follow the same routine I've established when well. I just follow it on autopilot.

On the weekends, I pick a few things I must do and just force myself to do them. But it's the bare minimum.

In the worst of depression, I feel paralyzed and everything seems impossible.
I push to do the best I can, which is very little.
My cognition slows, too, which makes "thinking types" of activities difficult.
It's astounding, and deeply frustrating, to see how much power depression has over one's own will when depressed.

WC

I function best when depressed. I know: it's depressing, really. But true.

90% of life is just showing up.

Not such a great idea when manic/psychotic.

But it does explain why I function best when depressed. Our severe depressions are (edit: or tend to be) atypical, so just show up indeed. Don't think, just focus on how you feel and trust your former self and what you can do. It's like moving when catatonic. It's impossible when you think about it.

Edit:
And it kills your personality. For some, like me, that can be a good thing.

When I'm really depressed, I make attempts to do small stuff. I congratulate myself for doing those small things. My family is also aware and will do things to help. Sometimes I just give up and stay in bed or on the couch all day. I usually have a laptop, or tablet, or book. I just try to keep my mind occupied.

I also talk to my therapist and/or get my meds readjusted with my pdoc.

I have severe problems with motivation and interaction when I'm depressed. I turn a lot of things inward. It takes a toll on all aspects of my life. Sometimes I need to take a break from working, which isn't ideal. Other times, I don't have a job. One job blew up in my face when I went from mania to depression.

As far as what I try to do: These days, I recognize when I'm depressed that I must force myself to talk to someone who is seemingly non-judgmental. This is when I seek out a therapist who can track me weekly. Regular med visits are important too (my pdoc will sometimes see me weekly starting out for meds, then biweekly). I admit I withdraw a lot, but finding little things to comfort me sometimes helps a little bit. When in the darkest deepest depression though, it's hard to do anything at all.

---response. I always go out to run errands. It always helps to get out and to feel i accomplished the errand. Or. I just go for a drink at mcd's. Hugs.

At my worse I just take it one tiny task at a time. Like just going from laying in bed to sitting up is step one. Then putting my legs to the side of the bed sitting up. Sometimes from there I will then stand up and other times I will lay right back down again. But I do try to make the effort.