[ZeroSymbion]

I've been having great difficulty coping/standing up to my depressive symptoms. Lately I spend most of my time asleep but when I'm awake I try my best to keep my mind occupied by listening to music, watching stuff on YouTube, talking/hanging out with my roommate and when I'm in bed I'll watch nostalgic stuff on my phone like old Pokemon episodes. Though in general I find it difficult to find enjoyment in most activities.

The only problem with the way I'm dealing with things is that it's not helping me feel better enough to feel even slightly proactive about my life. I haven't cleaned my room in ages, same deal with laundry and other things that really need to be done regularly. I used to be able to push myself to do things sometimes. I would randomly get "sparks" of productivity but I don't anymore. I plan on expressing my concerns about this with my psychiatrist when I see him next month but to be honest with the way my condition's been going I've been almost feeling like giving up hope for meds to help my symptoms as I feel like no matter how much they are changed/shuffled, I'm still "decaying".

On top of everything I've mentioned I've been withdrawing and isolating when that's NOT what I want to do.

I could really use some coping ideas or ideas to overcome at least some of these problems...

[Travelinglady]

I don't know if I'm the best example right now--but at least I'm at Psych Central doing my job as a community liaison!

One thing that helps me to is to break things down into smaller steps. Like just sweeping the kitchen--or doing one load of dark clothes--so I just don't feel overwhelmed. Is there anyone who you would feel responsible to? Like a girlfriend or a friend?

Also I am planning on going out with my husband tomorrow to go to a bookstore. That way, I know I will need to get bathed and put clean clothes on......Otherwise I am likely to just pass on those things until later.

I hope these thoughts are a beginning anyway!

[ZeroSymbion]

I don't really have anyone I would feel responsible to besides my roommate and we're both kind of in the same boat with depression. We both have great difficulty taking on tasks that should really be done regularly. Lately I've been practically begging my mother to come over sometimes and try to push me to do things, but it's difficult trying to get her to visit as much as I would like her to and often when she visits we'll both forget what I was supposed to do in the first place. It's kind of a pain

[RJ78]

Hi ZS,

It's great that you can call your Mom over...I like Payne's advice, it has worked for me a bit in the past. When you think of what you'd like to do, write it down, and then when your Mom comes over, go to the list and try to strike one or two things off the list. If you can something small on your as well, that could help.

Good luck,

RJ

[montanan4ever]

Please try to see your psychiatrist sooner. I think that's much too long to wait to be seen, if you can possibly do something differently.

When I am very deep in the hole, I try to plan just for an hour at a time to get through the day. Having a responsibility of some kind is absolutely imperative. My recent round of hell, which was largely due to my medication regimen no longer working well, was hugely exacerbated by having too much time on my hands. It was semester break, so I had no school or work commitments, and that was a recipe for disaster.

I do better when I create commitments in my life.