Cannot get out of my own way.

I know there are things I need to do to keep myself going. I just can't find the drive to do them.

Oh, yes. I've thought that.
Drive? That's something from my past I barely remember...

MotherMarcus, if you had the drive, what would you do with it?

Start with something basic. Like get off my *** and lose 20 lbs. Also, no matter what the weather is like, just get up and get moving. Update my resume. Travel Route 66. Etc....

I'm right there with you. I need to set some goals but I can't even really think of anything beyond my basic responsibilities.

Dear motherMarcus,

You know that you can likely do what you set your mind to...getting off your *** and losing 20 pounds can happen fairly quickly...and it helps with the mindset. I lost about 50 pounds in the last year. I found a ton of support on www.myfitnesspal.com . There are a lot of people who will support you in your drive to lose weight. And once you start doing that, then I think that other things can start to fall into place. Sure, you may not travel Route 66 in the very near future, but it is a nice goal to shoot for...I'm still trying to figure out how not to end sentences with prepositions...kidding...seriously, start slowly...don't focus on the weight. Just start with a bit of exercise. I know a person who lost 200...yes TWO HUNDRED pounds with only diet and exercise...and his motivation was to be around for his GRANDCHILD...so, he's no spring chicken, and he did it. I lost 50 because I was too tired of picking 50 extra pounds off of the gym floor...

I'm mired in depression now, but I'm setting small goals. I'm doing what I can do each day, working on successive approximations...if I get close to what I set my mind to for a day, I'm happy with that. It's operant conditioning at its finest...

Good luck!

I woke up tired and very grouchy. I didn't even to be talked to, but in my life mother of 3 that's not possible. Its been very hot a humid where i live, and i knew i didn't want to go out and work in the yard, but it had to be done. So when the sun started to set, i drug myself off the chair and made myself do it. It was really hot, i was sweating. But after i got it done i have such a good feeling of accomplishment.
I know how hard it is to get motivated, but once you set your mind set to something, it makes it better. I would start small, like maybe walk around the block, then you can move up. With depression its really important to stay active. It makes the feel good chemicals in the brain work better. I hope you can find something that makes you feel better and stick to it. The more im active the better i Feel! Best wishes to You!

I actually manage somehow to go out for a ride on my bike. Unfortunately, it's only about once every few weeks. I do take the dog out though. I just wish I could stop having these internal arguments with myself. By the time I'm done arguing, the day's pretty much over.

I know what you mean about the internal arguments...That dialogue is tough. If you can do whatever it takes to get yourself up on that one day every few weeks, then set your goal to once every couple of weeks. Best wishes.

Amen to that....small goals. It's funny that this conversation is happening today, because I'm having one of those days when I'm feeling sooo overwhelmed by all that I need to attend to, and then with the weight of the great sadness I am feeling, it all seems so impossible to deal with....and yet some things in life are time sensitive and just can not wait until tomorrow. As a former therapist of mine used to say "depression does not care about anyone". It does not care about late charges, or getting the garbage out to the curb so it will not overflow the following week.....or anything. It's horrible to be so devoid of energy and /or motivation that I can't get near as much done as I would like, but something's always better than nothing, isn't it? Having been in the medical profession, the term that constantly comes to my mind is "triage"....in other words since you can't possibly do everything at once, or even within the day....try your best to get the most important ones done, and be kind to your self about the rest. Hmm, think that might have sounded a little "preachy". Wishing everyone the best day possible

MotherMarcus internal arguments are a good thing. It means you are fighting your depression!

How do you eat an elephant. Answer: One bite at a time. With that being said, I believe an average adult african elephant will net about 1200 to 1400 lbs of meat. Enough to feed a whole village for a week. So while we eat an elephant one bite at time, It takes a village.."

regretful is right. Set small, attainable goals. My village or support system (sometimes to my great annoyance) keeps checking in with me. Keeping me on task as it were.

Glad you took your bike out!

Hmmmm... Wonder what elephant tastes like. (that's the ADHD talking. )

I know what you mean. I find it useful to do things in tiny little bits. So if I need to clean up my room, I sort of talk myself through it in tiny steps like, "and now I will put this book away" and "and now I will hang up this shirt" and I remember that after I do it I can do what I want...but usually I feel better after forcing myself to do something anyway.

Sigh, I really need to start making a " To Do " list. Item # 1 : make a " To Do " list. Grrrrr..

I got tired of the arguments and To Do lists, etc. so made a "To Don't" list; a list of what I knew I was NOT going to do today Very freeing and made me smile.

Perna and Everyone Reading This Post,

Hahahaha, that is funny, After reading this thread i felt so angry at depression...we all try so hard, battle with the voices/thoughts of what we ought to do but arent doing and then how that makes us feel bad, a list of what to do , not to do! etc.....driving ourselves crazy trying to fight anhedonia..the worst..uncaring,life sucking depressing form of depression...tgat like one of us said their therapist said..depression does not care about anyone....but we keep going...so ***k depression...it has not and will not beat us...yesterday I had kind of a decent day because i spent the entire day working on keeping my mind free from thoughts...just empty,b/c I am my own worst enemy....draining myself with "u should do this, that....or paranoid thoughts or anxiety etc." and it worked....at least for yesterday...I didnt think about anything and I gave my mind a much needed break...I just was...I do not know if anyone reading this thread could try this, but I am just so sick of myself..just turning the thoughts of in my head was such a relief...I had to keep pushing them away..it took some practice, but it worked. Anyway, dont anyone give up. Miracles do happen. Facing Chains

This just basically tells my poor, unemployed and unsociable life.

I'm doing all that I can to not give up, but this has been a real battle lately. Getting out of the house for a couple of days to visit a friend was worthwhile, but now that I'm back at my office, the depression has returned. I'd love to be able to kick this illness out of my life, but I'm afraid that I'm stuck with this until my business situation changes or I die, whichever comes first...Thank you, however, for the ray of hope...I won't give up...

Wow....I love this, and could not agree more. And it is so incredibly relevant to me personally today....Seriously!

Sigh.. I need to get the blood pressure down.

Sigh. Still haven't made that to-do list.

my brains seemed to have turned to mush over the last few weeks. Can't really focus on anything and I have to read stuff at least 2 or 3 times to absorb it.