Hey everyone, I just want to say I'm terribly sorry for posting here again and wasting everyone else's time, but I need help...
Lately I've noticed that my depression has gotten to the point where I don't feel motivated to do anything anymore, not even things that absolutely must get done, like school work. Now, this isn't to say that I'm letting myself fall behind or anything like that. I still do what has to be done, it's just that I no longer have any motivation to do these things, I'm simply doing them because I have to or else I could completely f*ck up my future. However, school isn't the only thing that I'm not motivated to take part in. I'm not really motivated to do anything anymore, and sometimes it gets so bad that I'm not even motivated to get up in the morning, yet I always do anyway because I have to go to school and blah, blah, blah....*sigh* I sometimes sleep in on the weekends to as late as noon even if I went to bed early the night before just because I see no reason to get up when I know I have nothing important to do. I see no reason to get up when I know I'll just have to face the depression again.
Does anyone here know how to help me get motivated again? I used to have such a passion for doing what I love but now I don't even love doing those things anymore because my depression has led me to seeing no point in doing anything that I don't have to do. My depression has robbed me not only of my motivation but of everything in life that I once enjoyed and cherished.
I have felt very unmotivated in the past year or so because of my depression. It really is the depression, it completely takes everything out of you -- physically and mentally.
My mom found out about it though and last week I started the process of getting help. They put me on medication and I start therapy this week.
My point is, the medication they put me on to "take the edge off" really did take the edge off. It allows me to get up in the mornings, think more clearly, and get things done. It certainly doesn't solve everything, but I can finally complete tasks without wanting to just crawl into bed and sulk.
I would tell somebody what's going on. Otherwise the depression will become even more crippling.
Do what you love to do, and you'll never work another day in your life.
I'm sorry you're struggling with this. You're not wasting anyone's time, you're as entitled to support as anyone else.
I have major depressive disorder and have found that motivation was a huge problem for me too. Even though I'm usually quite a motivated person and like to up and about and doing things etc so it was hard for me. I've been on medication an in therapy for a few years now. (with only one break in therapy when I moved areas). Once I found the right medication for me and started therapy I was a lot more motivated generally. When my depression is bad I find it harder to get up and do things but it's not as bad as when I wasn't on meds or in therapy.
Would telling someone how you're feeling be an option? It might really help you feel less alone in dealing with this.
Medication doesn't work for everyone but it really can make a huge difference in your life if it works for you. It's made a huge difference to me.
SheHasHope-Thank you so much for helping me. I'm in therapy right now, although I'm not on meds because my parents don't want me to take them, so that's out of the question. Is there any way I could manage to get my motivation back without meds? If not then I'm pretty much screwed...I've told countless people about what's going on (my therpist, my parents, the school counselor, etc.) but they haven't really helped that much. Thanks you for being so kind to reply. I really do appriciate it.
Demons To Some-Once again, my parents don't want me taking meds, so that is out. I'm already in therapy but it's not helping that much. I'm only in a good mood for the time I see my therapist but once I have to go back home I spiral back down into depressive mode again. I've told countless people how I feel, as i alread said to SheHasHope, but it hasn't done me any good. I don't think anyone really knows how they should help me. Thank you for helping me.
Maybe you could discuss things in therapy that you could do to lift your mood while you're not with your therapist? I made distration lists with my therapist of things to do. Also, I made a list of why I have to get up every day, different things I have to do so I have lots of reasons to get out of bed. I also made a list of reasons to keep going, reasons to keep trying, made up of things that give me strength, like friends,family, pets, hobbies etc etc.
I personally respond well to a routine, I don't work or study but I still have things to do everyday and I plan in my head what I'm going to do the next day. Maybe mentioning those sort of things to your therapist might help?
Maybe you could discuss things in therapy that you could do to lift your mood while you're not with your therapist? I made distration lists with my therapist of things to do. Also, I made a list of why I have to get up every day, different things I have to do so I have lots of reasons to get out of bed. I also made a list of reasons to keep going, reasons to keep trying, made up of things that give me strength, like friends,family, pets, hobbies etc etc.
I personally respond well to a routine, I don't work or study but I still have things to do everyday and I plan in my head what I'm going to do the next day. Maybe mentioning those sort of things to your therapist might help?
How are you feeling today?
I had a chat with my therapist yesterday about my lack of motivation but she didn't really offer anything I could do instead....and I don't have anyone to talk to about it besides on RYL...
Why don't your parents want you to take medication?
I understand that isn't really the point of the thread here but I was actually going to quote this;
Quote:
Originally Posted by SheHasHope
My point is, the medication they put me on to "take the edge off" really did take the edge off. It allows me to get up in the mornings, think more clearly, and get things done. It certainly doesn't solve everything, but I can finally complete tasks without wanting to just crawl into bed and sulk.
because this is what happened with me. Then I saw the other poster agreed and I don't usually like 'pushing' the medication side of things; therapy is incredibly important. But depression in many cases can have a biological cause (ie maybe not enough serotonin in the brain) and that is why medication is often prescribed.
I'm just curious as to why your parents are against it. How do you feel about it? And your therapist?
Medication aside. Is there anything in your life you are passionate about? Sometimes very basic things help me get out of bed. Like, knowing I can have my favourite breakfast food in the morning. Or putting some upbeat music on the radio. Of having a list next to my bed of things I'll be doing that day reminds me I need to get up and do it. (I see the person above me mentioned lists, too! Lists yay!)
Maybe you could make some lists for yourself?
Anything that makes it easier for you to get up, even setting out your clothes for the day the night before. As for homework, sometimes I do think you have to push on through it even when you're not motivated and you say you're still doing it then keep at it, and maybe the motivation will slowly come back as you realise you can do it.
Why don't your parents want you to take medication?
I understand that isn't really the point of the thread here but I was actually going to quote this;
because this is what happened with me. Then I saw the other poster agreed and I don't usually like 'pushing' the medication side of things; therapy is incredibly important. But depression in many cases can have a biological cause (ie maybe not enough serotonin in the brain) and that is why medication is often prescribed.
I'm just curious as to why your parents are against it. How do you feel about it? And your therapist?
Medication aside. Is there anything in your life you are passionate about? Sometimes very basic things help me get out of bed. Like, knowing I can have my favourite breakfast food in the morning. Or putting some upbeat music on the radio. Of having a list next to my bed of things I'll be doing that day reminds me I need to get up and do it. (I see the person above me mentioned lists, too! Lists yay!)
Maybe you could make some lists for yourself?
Anything that makes it easier for you to get up, even setting out your clothes for the day the night before. As for homework, sometimes I do think you have to push on through it even when you're not motivated and you say you're still doing it then keep at it, and maybe the motivation will slowly come back as you realise you can do it.
Don't give up <3 xx
Well, I don't know exactly why my dad doesn't want me to be on medication, but my mom doesn't want me to be on it because she says that those kind of medicines can make the suicidal feelings even worse in teens. I told her that if she put me on medicine and I started feeling worse that I would tell her and stop taking them, but she still refused. I guess my dad sides with her for the same reasons. Even though I would really love the extra help that medication has to offer, they're my parents, so I have to do what they say.
And I'll try my best to think of some lists, but I can't seem to find reasons to do anything anymore, besides for "It has to be done".
And I highly doubt that "It has to be done." will remain a good enough reason for me to even bother doing these things for much longer. I'm getting worse.
Last edited by -Eleventeen- : 09-04-2011 at 02:08 PM.
