I read the blog about "not following negative thoughts down the rabbit hole" on the Psych Central home page this morning and got to wondering why it feels just as hard to get out of the pattern of negative thinking as it does to get out of bed or take a shower in the morning. I am taking my meds faithfully (and so I am not crying all the time and I don't feel like I'm in a deep dark hole) but a lot of time I just don't feel like doing anything, whether it's catching up on chores or taking a walk or using cognitive skills that I've learned in therapy. I feel like it's all the same--no motivation or energy, like I just don't really care enough to get or keep going or really make any changes. What can I do to get myself going??

[kaliope]

thoughts actions and feelings are all tied together. if you have a negative thought, you are going to take a negative action and then you are going to feel bad about yourself. the opposite holds true as well. positive thoughts lead to positive actions lead to feeling good about yourself. so if you if are having a negative thought you need to find a way to turn it into a positive thought, the motivation being you want to feel good about yourself in the end, not bad.

For me, the pattern on negative thinking has been repeated for so many years it was almost solidified in stone so it took a really long time trying to rewire it into positive or at least neutral thinking so it really is quite difficult.

I'm in the same boat with the whole apathy thing. At the very least it's a little easier to do stuff than before but sometimes I pause in the middle of something and kind of just wonder what I am doing it all for.

I guess for me, a more major turning point was when I upped my medication dosage during a particularly tough time (under recommendation of my prescriber) and pretty much went manic for a few weeks. It was so exciting and fresh and I had been so sad for so long. Really if I can get just a little bit of that back in my life I'll be happy.

The major problem with motivation is that I've found that it usually comes from fear or hope. Which are both difficult to get a hold of when you're depressed. Sorry I don't know the answer

Best of luck!

[Maskon]

Originally Posted by TortieCat12

I read the blog about "not following negative thoughts down the rabbit hole" on the Psych Central home page this morning and got to wondering why it feels just as hard to get out of the pattern of negative thinking as it does to get out of bed or take a shower in the morning. I am taking my meds faithfully (and so I am not crying all the time and I don't feel like I'm in a deep dark hole) but a lot of time I just don't feel like doing anything, whether it's catching up on chores or taking a walk or using cognitive skills that I've learned in therapy. I feel like it's all the same--no motivation or energy, like I just don't really care enough to get or keep going or really make any changes. What can I do to get myself going??

I feel like I could have written this post myself. Same struggles as u. Sometimes making plans to have a friend come over will get me going to get ready etc. or if I say by noon I'll shower or no tv sometimes works.... It's hard I know.

[JadeAmethyst]

I feel exactly as you all have described when in that deep pit, meds helps some however found that over the years "working" at depression has caused more harm in general. I came across a teaching about acceptance of (whatever illness inserted here......)depression, anxiety, or say arthritis, diabetes, and to be more compassionate for ourselves first. Maybe, this will be helpful when times we are feeling ill. Any and all small kindness we extend to ourselves is helpful. Feel better soon.
Jade

[Altered Moment]

The absolute biggest symptom and complaint I have always had about depression is no energy and no motivation. I truely believe that in my case it is biological and screwed up wiring in the brain. Cognitive therapy has never gotten me out of a deep depression. I am all for cognitive therapy and use it all the time but rewiring a defective circuit takes years.

As someone else noted for me sometimes the best thing to do is just accept it and ride it out. I have been being treated for 20 years and the depression has not went away.

When i can finally get myself into the shower (sometimes after weeks) I feel better and know i am coming out of it. For me it cycles.

[LifeIsCruel]

I can relate friend!

Depression and all mental illnesses literally zap our energy levels!

Somedays, just getting out of bed takes A LOT! My suggestion, start slow...set yourself some goals for example: instead of walking a half mile, walk 50 feet today, 75 tomorrow, etc...slowly build up and you will adapt fine.

[Denman]

I've had to accept for myself that motivation may never come when I am depressed, but I can do the work anyhow. I can create a feeling of motivation and desire to do something by starting it first, than waiting for the feelings to arrive. In most instances I find that they really do arrive. I try to keep moving until I feel a sense of
accomplishment and I try to focus on the outcome, instead of how I feel before I started doing something.

[spartygirl35]

Originally Posted by TortieCat12

I read the blog about "not following negative thoughts down the rabbit hole" on the Psych Central home page this morning and got to wondering why it feels just as hard to get out of the pattern of negative thinking as it does to get out of bed or take a shower in the morning. I am taking my meds faithfully (and so I am not crying all the time and I don't feel like I'm in a deep dark hole) but a lot of time I just don't feel like doing anything, whether it's catching up on chores or taking a walk or using cognitive skills that I've learned in therapy. I feel like it's all the same--no motivation or energy, like I just don't really care enough to get or keep going or really make any changes. What can I do to get myself going??

i feel the same. i don't think my meds are working. depression is a disease, so stigmatized and so hard to deal with. i wish u luck. try one task at a time.

Originally Posted by spartygirl35

i feel the same. i don't think my meds are working. depression is a disease, so stigmatized and so hard to deal with. i wish u luck. try one task at a time.

No truer words have ever been spoken.