[Fixated]

I'm trying to figure out if this is part of (and an escalation of) my depression.

I just really haven't done anything in the last ten days or so. I've left the house to go to therapy and some other commitments, but if I have a choice, I am in my room and in comfy clothes 24/7. Sometimes, it is like the commercials where I am overwhelmed with (negative) emotion and just can't move, but 70% of the time it is just a desire not to venture out. I still read, watch movies, and work on a digital scrapbook on my computer. I just don't leave my room really.

I am in a lull period b/t the end of my backpacking trip and the start of grad school and job. I know my insane fear of failure is stressing me out and contributing to my laziness. It's like even the pressure to do things like hang with friends or put my clothes away is too much in addition to the other stuff. So isn't this laziness sort of helping?

What do you guys do?

[stopdog]

When it happens to me - it is a worsening of depression.

[pbutton]

I have learned that doing very little makes me feel worse. I have to power through and start doing things to feel better.

When this happens to me, I am usually feeling fearful about something (triggered); therefore, the house feels like the safest place, so I stay there.

For me, it is a safety mechanism.

[healed84]

If I get to the point that I am only leaving my house for appointments and other pressing commitments I know that my depression has escalated. However, that is true for me b/c I am generally a social person. I think, though, some people just prefer being home better than being out and I don't think there is an issue with that. Like you said, you are still doing the things that you enjoy. If you think it's beginning to be a problem, maybe you could force yourself out, just to know you can still do it .. Go for a cup of coffee or to a book store, etc.

[Asiablue]

Nope i am the same as you, i barely leave the house. Outside has too many stressors and i'm safe inside. But it certainly doesn't help with my depression to stay in all the time. But that's where i am at just now.

For me, it normally means I am really depressed and that my anxiety is out of control. But, I will FORCE myself to get out and do anything. Maybe take a little walk in a quiet neighborhood or take a little walk in the woods. I do something where I can still find quiet and alone time. But, normally when I get back I'm glad I got out. That's just me though-everyone is different. You may be more comfortable staying home. Did you or will you discuss it with T? T can ask some leading questions to help you pinpoint what exactly is going on.

[Fixated]

Originally Posted by pbutton

I have learned that doing very little makes me feel worse. I have to power through and start doing things to feel better.

Yeah. I can totally understand this. For me, it's like the very zoomed out picture of what I'm doing would indicate a not so great pattern/direction, but I am only experiencing the zoomed in part where I get to avoid all of the pressure.

I only leave th house if i have to- just for work. Or maybe grocery shopping, but usually my husband does that. For me, its depression. I used to go out a lot.

[Fixated]

Originally Posted by healed84

If I get to the point that I am only leaving my house for appointments and other pressing commitments I know that my depression has escalated. However, that is true for me b/c I am generally a social person. I think, though, some people just prefer being home better than being out and I don't think there is an issue with that. Like you said, you are still doing the things that you enjoy.

Yes, I am definitely a natural introvert. Most social situations are emotionally taxing on me. Even with that said, if I am honest with myself, this is a whole different level for me. Like the other day, I recognized I should get out, so I invited a friend to a sports game, but once they tacitly agreed, I felt this pressure to attend and eventually bailed. Ugh. It's like part of me definitely knows what I'm doing isn't good, but I will play any mindtricks necessary to rationalize a continuation.

[Fixated]

Originally Posted by TryinToGetBy

For me, it normally means I am really depressed and that my anxiety is out of control. But, I will FORCE myself to get out and do anything. Maybe take a little walk in a quiet neighborhood or take a little walk in the woods. I do something where I can still find quiet and alone time. But, normally when I get back I'm glad I got out. That's just me though-everyone is different. You may be more comfortable staying home. Did you or will you discuss it with T? T can ask some leading questions to help you pinpoint what exactly is going on.

I said something a few weeks ago when I was going through a similar rut, but we glossed over it a bit because I followed it up by telling her I wanted to go back on meds due to that particular episode.

She's away on vacation now, so I won't see her until next week. I wish I could talk to her about it. She really helped me with some of the pressure I was feeling last time. I hope to bring it up, but I have a tendency to avoid these topics.

[missbelle]

Well, if you are between a backpacking trip and then grad school and a job you might need to do exactly what you are doing. Now if you had no future plans were always in your room, and had not come home from a trip I would say you are isolating and maybe depressed, but you sound like there is a lot going on. This lull may be what you need for your sanity so you can get on with life.

...but then only you really know.....

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by Fixated

What do you guys do?

For me, it marks despondency.. numbness... an absence of anything positive going on within. My therapist calls it my "cave." She says it can be okay to do that briefly to regroup, lick a wound, etc.. but that if it turns into a "I can't think of a reason to leave my cave" - - - then the depression has escalated too far.

Nope. I keep in my cave.
I do go out to hunt for food at Walmart once a week.
Go to the medicine man once a month.
See my mind keeper every 2 weeks.
Go to see the Wizard for my meds.

heck! I been busy!!

there's no place like home...there's no place like home...there's..

[KazzaX]

When it gets to the stage where you CAN'T go out even if you really wanted to, then its definitely depression. That's how I am. Been stuck in this place for 4 years now!

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by abscondist

Nope. I keep in my cave.
I do go out to hunt for food at Walmart once a week.
Go to the medicine man once a month.
See my mind keeper every 2 weeks.
Go to see the Wizard for my meds.

heck! I been busy!!

there's no place like home...there's no place like home...there's..

Man abscondist - it may take me forever to stop laughing!!

[WikidPissah]

I have a tendency to hibernate. I don't stay in my room, I move from room to room, and I play out back with my dogs. Being in public causes me great anxiety these days. I have been letting myself withdraw worse and worse, and am about to take steps to move out of it.

[Butterflies Are Free]

Well, I usually call my doctor because I know I am in a depression. It's a hard place to be.

[stopdog]

I know how I am bad by how many dog toys I find dropped on me and the bed.

Originally Posted by Crescent Moon

Man abscondist - it may take me forever to stop laughing!!

wats so funny ?

heh..heh..heh..

Originally Posted by stopdog

I know how I am bad by how many dog toys I find dropped on me and the bed.

Too bad they wer'nt biscuits..you'd never have to get up to make something to eat...

[stopdog]

My dogs are not that good about sharing. The biscuits would never make it all the way to me.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I'm an extreme introvert, so not leaving the house if I don't have to is pretty common for me. I'll go outside to play with the dogs, or take them for walks in the neighborhood if the weather is decent. Actually going places, though...only when I have to or really want to. I become worried when I can't leave to go do things I need to do, or want to leave and feel like I can't. If I just need down time and to be away from people for a bit, then I'm okay with just staying at home. I tend to get overwhelmed with people and sensory input, and need a break sometimes. I can't be on the go all the time.

Originally Posted by blessedrhiannon

i'm an extreme introvert, so not leaving the house if i don't have to is pretty common for me. I'll go outside to play with the dogs, or take them for walks in the neighborhood if the weather is decent. Actually going places, though...only when i have to or really want to. I become worried when i can't leave to go do things i need to do, or want to leave and feel like i can't. If i just need down time and to be away from people for a bit, then i'm okay with just staying at home. I tend to get overwhelmed with people and sensory input, and need a break sometimes. I can't be on the go all the time.

well we got 2 things in common...

[rainboots87]

Even though I'm naturally introverted, the desire to stay home all day is definitely depression for me. My group T pointed out once, that how good of a day can I have if I haven't left my room all day except to go to the bathroom? Even going downstairs & interacting with one of my roommates or cooking a real meal was already a step up from staying in my bed. Getting out of the house, though incredibly freakin' hard sometimes, usually leads to me having a much better day than is even possible by isolating myself in my room.