How do you all keep on keeping on?

I'm curious as to what drives people to get through their days as I have lost a lot of motivation and will of late..
For me, generally I keep going because I can't bare the thought of people finding out that I suffer with depression. I feel as though if the people in my life knew what I was going through, I probably wouldn't be able to cope at all.. so I just have to hide it, act like everything ok and then it's fine.. I guess the stigma scares me off a bit.
But yeah, these days I just find myself constantly trying to find a reason to keep moving and I'm yet to find a half decent reason. What is this life for? I don't see the purpose in anything. Ugh

That's my attempt of a story, show me yours!

I have no idea how I keep on keeping on. Mix of stubbornness, fear and getting fed up with some of my fears, possibly.

Some days I couldn't tell how I keep going, but for the most part it's my daughter that keeps me going. Knowing that I would leave her heartbroken keeps me safe. Each day is a struggle to get through but I just keep putting one foot in front of the other until it's another day.

Thinking of my family-my husband and daughter-keeps me going. They do understand if I have problems, though.

I keep going for my kids, my cats, and my husband. And for my sister.

I've written this many times now here on PC. Many years ago, my father used to say: "You're not required to like it. You're just required to do it." I take that as my mantra...

I have days where I just have to get through and I try to get to my bed as fast as I can and do something that I like. Then I hope the next day will be better. It's so up and down with me from day to day. When it's bleak it's really bleak and I feel horrible.

I keep going because of my husband, family and pets.

I attempted to take my life once and now I realize what it would really do to them. My husband, twin sister and mother would probably all contemplate following me if I gave up. My niece would also grow up without her aunt. My cats miss me when I am only gone for ten minutes so I can only imagine how they would feel if I never came home.

I also keep going because I don't want my mental illness to win. I want to win this battle, then hopefully help others win their battles as well.

I also think of all the things I would miss out on if I was gone. I would miss out on my niece growing up into a beautiful woman and getting married some day. I would never have kids, and be able to watch them grow into adults to have their own kids and become a grandma. I wouldn't be able to grow old with my husband and have adventures with him and be his number one fan and support. I would miss out on so many things life has to offer.

I want to win this battle and be able to have a beautiful life some day. I know it never goes away completely, but I want it to be bearable.

I keep waking up, and sometimes maybe there's a sliver of hope. Oh, and fear... fear of waking up under a bridge someday.

I keep on going because some poor person would have to find me. I have been that person. I could never do it to another.

Because taking myself out would not be good for my adult children. Even when I was a net negative in their lives I couldn't be sure that removing myself was the answer.

I wake up. I breathe in and out. I put one foot in front of the other, and I put on my smile as a veil.

I go on because.... well, if I don't, what exactly is the point to living.

(well, what is the point to living now)

but you get my drift.. if you just stop and don't carry on, you may as well have admitted defeat

at least if you're trying to get through, their's a chance things can get better.

Despite having no reason to live or die, I persevere. Each day is a new opportunity. Who knows?

My grown kids and the fact that there are bills to pay (so I go to work).

I tried for many years not to keep on keeping on. Then I moved out of the bad marriage to the farm I bought 2100 miles away where I didnt know anyone. The chance to be free & the chance to make life what I wanted & find myself surrounded by wonderful people who are now more family than I ever had before has given me a LOVE for life. I am involved in so many things in the little town I moved to after being totally lost in the Los Angeles crowds....every day keeps me going.

Honestly I get so busy I give myself a day off like today to just relax around my home & do nothing that I dont feel like doing.

Sometimes I take afew days like that & hope the motivation comes back because for so long it didnt....but now it ALWAYS does & its just physical exhaustion the i have to recover from that causes me to crash

I've learned that emotions are temporary. Sometimes I have to remind myself that depression is temporary, even when it feels endless.

I've learned to keep putting 'one foot in front of the other' like the old Kris Kringle Christmas Special song. If I can keep up with my routine, I can keep going. It's when my routine is interrupted that it all comes crashing down around me.

I've learned to push through my worst time of day. My worst time of day is the morning. Mentally and physically I am not worth ***** in the morning.

I am still learning how I manage to put these things behind me in order to keep going on. Maybe there is a certain amount of 'burying' things. I also live with depersonalization/derealization, so my emotions are often muted and distant.

I hope you find something that helps.

I keep on going because I want to live. I only have one life, and yeah sometimes its crap, its hard, its a struggle, but there are smiles and laughter and so much good too.

I try to think of those times when I am in grip of the most horrid depression, and for the most part I do things and give myself things that make ME happy and no one else.

I never have enough time to do what I planed to do.
perhaps depression is caused by lack of interests? I study consciousness and find that mental energy comes from variety of interests and enterprises. Love, family and main occupation are the necessary sources of mental energy, however everyone needs secondary back up of hobbys, entertainment, sport, music and general variety of nature, landscape and leisure time.
The weather and seasons also affect mental energy. Lenght of daylight, dull,cloudy days, prolonged rain and long summer heat are causes of down time.
The problem is that depression creeps up on a person unannounced and often even the depressed person does not know what is wrong.
I always try to keep some activite in reserve incase boredom creeps up, so I don'nt have time to brood.

In my worst moment it was only my son that kept me going, that and a belief in something more powerful than me which I clung to.

I had times where I went through the motions, got to volunteer job, exercised, made meals - small achievable goals and always kept in my mind that all things pass. This shall pass for you too.

I keep going because I became aware I hit rock bottom at one point in my life. It was the moment I stepped outside myself and saw the pain I was causing others. I will never sabotage myself to end up there again.

I have been thinking about this all week. Things improved after a CBT course - tremendously. But all those coping skills I learned are just not working. My anxiety is sky rocketing. It's been this bad only two other times - both resulting in hospitalization. Hang on woman, hang on, I have been telling myself over and over again. I remind myself I'm not neccessarily being ignorred. It seems everyone has their own crises. I have realised I am partly to blame for the lack of support coming my way. For weeks I have been carrying the weight of everyone else's worries on my shoulders being the one to provide to them steadfast support. Now when I do in fact need it most they too are at the height of their own troubles. I've had to withdraw some of the support I have been feeding everyone else. I just can't manage it anymore. It means finally some of them have stopped and realized little old me needs them too.

So how do I manage and keep going on. Because those very same people still need me. So too I begun to speak up and get - despite the grotesque fear to advocate - the help, the aswers, the details, the possible treatments and prognoses.

Knowing that people need me and love me keep me going.And believing that everyday is beautiful and that everything we do can be enjoyed and lived to the fullest,the only barrier between us and happiness is ourselves(the mass of aquired toughts and experiences that we call "me".).And i believe thoughts can be controlled.

I live to live and enjoy life even though i have a lot of problems.That keeps me going,living to live(it may sound stupid ).

Have a great day!
P.S Remember,you can control your thoughts.

I ask myself this pretty much every day. The one thing I think that keeps me going is the love and support of family and friends. I'm not married, nor do I have any children, but the rest of my family (the ones that know anyway) has been very supportive since they all found out about my being in the hospital.

This is a good question and I suppose complex one too. I am struggling to find an answer. But I think, deep down, I know in my darkest moments, that it will get better and that it will pass. I also have a Pretty big toolbox of ways of coping, ranging from taking a bath, walking around the block, talking to others. I haven't perfected my craft and I am still learning and growing. But yeah.