[LifeIsCruel]

I have Major/Chronic/Recurrent Depression.....it zaps me!!! I work...come home...and merely "exist"....I have tons of stuff I need to do around home, but I have NO ambition, motivation, energy, or drive whatsoever.....I do not socialize or want to be around nobody....I prefer and even like isolation and seclusion.......

Any suggestions please?

[kaliope]

well it sounds like you are describing my life....cept I am not depressed....I don't do anything at home because I don't see much that needs to be done...I kind of do it as I go.....I am behind on laundry....I don't really clean but I am not messy......but I chose to be content with my life......im ok alone.....with things a little cluttered...I don't let it bother me so it doesn't get me down. I don't let people tell me I should be living my life differently...im ok the way I am.......

Originally Posted by LifeIsCruel

I have Major/Chronic/Recurrent Depression.....it zaps me!!! I work...come home...and merely "exist"....I have tons of stuff I need to do around home, but I have NO ambition, motivation, energy, or drive whatsoever.....I do not socialize or want to be around nobody....I prefer and even like isolation and seclusion.......

Any suggestions please?

Yes, LifeIsCruel, I feel very much the same way, except, when it comes to being on-line, I seem to have loads of energy! Sometimes I think I could be on-line 24 / 7! But to do housework or anything else... forget it!

I don't know if I have any great suggestions for this. The obvious ones are to get on some medications that will lift your mood & energy level, get more exercise, make up an hour-by-hour daily schedule that shows when you want to do various tasks & then try to implement that schedule.

As far as socializing goes, maybe consider getting involved in some kind of therapy or support group, or find some volunteer work you could do. Then you would be around people more, but you wouldn't be socializing. You'd be there to give & receive the support of the group (if you joined a therapy or support group) or to provide needed assistance (if you were doing volunteer work.)

The difficulties you describe are classic symptoms of depression. So presumably, if you can eliminate the depression, you will no longer be weighed down by lack of energy & motivation & the desire to isolate. Unfortunately that's not an easy thing to do. It takes a certain amount of energy & motivation itself, which is just what you lack. This is the core dilemma all persons who have depression face.

[Altered Moment]

I am a lot like kaliope. I found a certain contentment and peace in things being as they are. I can't tell you how many years I only had the energy to go to work and that was it. Never cook, never clean, do the minimum to get by. Funny thing is I did very well at work but all my energy went to it. I enjoyed the down time and alone time even though it wasn't living by "normal" standards.

I have not worked at a real job in quite some time and things are different than those years but that is a whole other story.

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[Idiot17]

You pretty much described my schedule.....i work and after that I have no energy or motivation for house chores or social activity.....no suggestions though.
Good luck.

[Brintel]

Originally Posted by LifeIsCruel

I have Major/Chronic/Recurrent Depression.....it zaps me!!! I work...come home...and merely "exist"....I have tons of stuff I need to do around home, but I have NO ambition, motivation, energy, or drive whatsoever.....I do not socialize or want to be around nobody....I prefer and even like isolation and seclusion.......

Any suggestions please?

I know what you mean. This morning I managed to clip my toenails and felt I'd accomplished something I'd dreaded for a couple of weeks. I can't cook--it seems too hard and complicated. So I just try to buy healthy food that doesn't need to be cooked (and I hate grocery shopping; I cried in the store the other day because I couldn't find something). I dread washing the sheets every week--it takes a long time to make up a bed. But I do make myself be around some friends. They encourage me and help me celebrate the small things on my list that I've done. I have even asked one to just sit with me while I did something that I found really hard (getting out winter clothes and hanging them up). She even helped me. It gave me hope.

[Frankbtl]

Hi Life, in my opinion it's a BIG achievement that you're making it through work!!!!
So you're kind of saying to us "I climb Everest once a day, suggestions on how to do that twice a day??"
But I've got to really admire your motivation, drive on asking us that!!
Still maybe we can help a little............OK, forget the "tons of stuff" to do around the home, maybe you could just list a few priorities to focus on, and is there a slightly better time of the day after work you could try to get them done in?? e.g. maybe you want to try doing them as soon as you get home from work because you know that if you rest you're seriously going to want to do nothing, or maybe you need to allow yourself some rest time before you do anything, or even try to do a little every hour??? Whatever might work best for you.
And have you a "to-do" list, maybe as you start seeing things crossed off it could give you a bit of a boost?? And make that as short as you want.
And either start with the jobs you least want to do, so as they're out of the way and the rest......well they're going to seem a little easier/better in comparison?? Or start with the easiest jobs first, and when you get going it might be a bit easier to do the ones you don't want to do???
But don't go expecting too much of yourself, OK?? You can only do so much
And the socialising bit...........well if you prefer some isolation and seclusion............well that's completely understandable considering the way you're feeling, and allow yourself some of that. Although if you can still keep a bit more contact with people, if you want, even if through phone calls/e-mail, very brief visits???
And make sure you're getting plenty of help e.g. from your doctor with the depression, hey??
If things aren't good spell that out crystal clear to them. I know there are no "quick fixes" but just make sure they know everything, if you're not already, anyway.
And keep talking to us, we're here for you too!!!!
Alison

[ravanger]

you have to keep thinking positive.