View Full Version : Motivation to shower/bathe/do anything
Hi,
I am struggling at the moment with a severe lack of motivation and zero energy. I find this time of year hard as my depression returns during the winter months and dark days. My GP writes it off as SAD, has zero interest and just says 'well, the days are starting getting longer now'.
I have been ill for the past few days with a sore throat and ear pain, so I put it down to a virus tiring me out, but now I feel a little better I feel so low and have no motivation to do anything. All I want to do is sleep or pay card games on my laptop.
I have not had a shower or washed my hair since Saturday and feel pretty disgusted with myself. It just feels like such a marathon to get up and do anything right now. When I am well mentally I have no issues with this, but when my mood dives, everything goes to hell.
I don't really know why I am posting. I guess I am just seeking some shared experiences of this maybe or thoughts. xx:shrug:
Catherine S
25-01-17, 14:59
Hi debs, sometimes it takes a while to recover completely from a virus, particularly if it comes ontop of feeling down during the winter months. We get cabin fever cooped up at home, and even outside there's not much fresh air around. There's been quite a nasty virus in the UK for most of the winter too. I think your immune system is a bit low still, and can result in low energy and motivation. Hopefully when the virus has cleared completely your energy levels will improve and boost your mood.
Be kind to yourself
Good to see you
ISB x
almamatters
25-01-17, 15:25
Hi Debs, it's pretty normal to feel like this after being ill and it takes a while to get motivated again. I've just got over an infection and couldn't be bothered with anything for about a week, eating, washing hair or cleaning up, i looked horrendous with not washing my hair! Hopefully you will start to pick up again soon and begin to feel better :)
Hi Debs, Snap. I had a terrible day on Monday Tuesday too. no motivation what so ever. I have not been bothered since Saturday. We have both had bad colds, even though we have had flu jabs. It's that time of year. The worst for feeling down.
I have just decided to have a bath. I have made my mind up to shift myself from doing solitaire all flipping day.
Don't feel disgusted with yourself Debs.:hugs:Hope you feel better soon x
By the way. My neighbour has had pneumonia just before the new year. Now she has a virus and she feels worse then ever with the virus.
Don't be hard on yourself. Rest,rest, rest. x
I can relate to your situation Debs, and have been there myself.
Sometimes we just have to do things regardless of how motivated we feel.
Just getting started in a small way can make us feel better, and then we are motivated to continue.
So.....
START SMALL
Wash your face. Or your hands. Just do something trivially simple, and see where it takes you.
This is all so very very familiar to me. Totally unable to motivate myself to do anything and yet knowing doing something would make me feel better.
Getting completely het up and panic about the huge task of taking the rubbish out to the bins - eventually picking up the bin liner and walking the 10 yards to the bin and dropping it in, then thinking "why did I make that such a huge thing....."
If motivation didn't exist then we'd just get on with it (whatever it is).
I'm trying to forget about motivation and it is making me so much more productive. If I need to do something (like a task I don't like doing at work, for example) I've been able to stop putting it off just my telling myself that I don't believe in motivation anymore, so there is nothing stopping me for just getting on with it.
Since then my job has dropped from being stressfully busy to being comfortably busy and all because I forgot about motivation!
Hope you are feeling better today .:flowers:
I get depressed in the winter more easily as well. Sometimes I up my mess in the winter time to compensate. Are you on any meds?
The other thing I've done during my lowest points were to put motivational signs up around the house like, "you can do it, get up and get moving"
Hi Debs - I'm sorry you are feeling this way at the moment. I've wondered where you've been. You always have such great level headed advice for people. I tend to think this is going to pass for you but when one is in the middle of it it seems like an eternity. Do you work? I've been through stretches where I would be going to bed at 5 o'clock. And like you only did a couple of things to pass the time. But those down periods did pass. And yours will too. And I think you know that. Hang in there.
N
If motivation didn't exist then we'd just get on with it (whatever it is).
I'm trying to forget about motivation and it is making me so much more productive. If I need to do something (like a task I don't like doing at work, for example) I've been able to stop putting it off just my telling myself that I don't believe in motivation anymore, so there is nothing stopping me for just getting on with it.
Since then my job has dropped from being stressfully busy to being comfortably busy and all because I forgot about motivation!
This is so amazing, and one thing I discovered too when trying to do videos every day.
Motivation is a bit of a myth really, and probably doesn't actually exist...
I think motivation has just become a buzzword-one of many, these days.
I hope you feel better soon, Debs. Take things slowly and steadily and you'll get your strength back xx
Hope you're feeling better Debs. 4 days without a shower won't kill you, especially in the Winter. Take each day at a time, a virus can set anybody back. Even 'that time of the month' knocks me back as I feel really sick for the first day. You'll pick back up again I bet.
GlassPinata
27-01-17, 22:22
Hi,
I am struggling at the moment with a severe lack of motivation and zero energy. I find this time of year hard as my depression returns during the winter months and dark days. My GP writes it off as SAD, has zero interest and just says 'well, the days are starting getting longer now'.
I have been ill for the past few days with a sore throat and ear pain, so I put it down to a virus tiring me out, but now I feel a little better I feel so low and have no motivation to do anything. All I want to do is sleep or pay card games on my laptop.
I have not had a shower or washed my hair since Saturday and feel pretty disgusted with myself. It just feels like such a marathon to get up and do anything right now. When I am well mentally I have no issues with this, but when my mood dives, everything goes to hell.
I don't really know why I am posting. I guess I am just seeking some shared experiences of this maybe or thoughts. xx:shrug:
I get this way when I have severe depression. Sometimes the best I can manage is to brush my teeth. At least do that, for the sake of your dental health.
Other than that, going without bathing for several days or even a week is unlikely to do you lasting harm.
But if this lack of motivation persists, you should discuss antidepressants with your doctor.
Best wishes!
Thank you SO MUCH EVERYONE for your very kind and supportive and helpful replies.
I am so sorry I have not answered before now. I have been on a real low lately and am still trying to tackle this fatigue and low motivation. My mind isn't too sharp and I literally forgot to come back to NMP after posting.
So, so sorry.
All your replies have helped greatly... it just helps to know I am not alone with this. I think this is depression, to be honest. I'm always the same when it creeps back again. I have been trying to get busy but find it so hard most days.
I am on meds, and have been for a long time now. Most of the time I am pretty ok and manage, but the winter months I struggle with the depression. I am trying to see it as a glitch that will work itself out.
Thank you so much again. xxx:hugs:
Hi Debs :) ,
Try not to think of it as a permanent state of mind.
It's been a gloomy winter and I've got to say that it has affected me too.
Make use of the depression by using as relaxation.
Put a CD on, read a book, do some yoga or meditation.
Look through old photos. Give yourself a foot massage.
Basically do what you feel like.
If you want to lay on the bed, then lay on the bed.
If feel like doing nothing, then it is ok.
It will pass in time and maybe your body needs you to do this.
Don't put a time on it.
The strange thing is that you will wake up one morning and feel different.
I've been there so many times myself. x
Everyone's replies have already been so great, loved reading this thread. Just wanted to say I totally relate to not even being 'motivated' ( I like the idea of not believing motivation exists anymore either!) to shower. When I'm depressed I can't even change clothes.
But it's absolutely true that doing the smallest thing helps. I will spend all day looking at screens but my mood stays low. If I do even the smallest thing like clean something, or a short trip or play with my dog outside, I come back inside feeling refreshed and the screen time is a way to relax and reward myself, not a depressing reminder of doing nothing.
But it's fine to have a day to yourself watching movies and playing games, too. I reject this idea that we should feel lazy for that.
And carnation is absolutely right: you can wake up and feel different. That helped my depression a lot. It's easy to fall into complete despair that nothing will ever change but it can and will. What feels like a huge problem today can seem less so tomorrow. I've experienced this so often. I think the state of depression itself just causes negative thinking and depletion.
You're definitely not alone with this :)
Just seen this thread can totally relate to this, it's even got to the point re my teeth so need to change that :) I think depression does play a big part in it, also it's not just the winter periods either I can feel like this wether there is 6' of snow or its a lovely sunny warm day so to me it's not a SAD thing. Debs take one day at a time, and do what feels right for you :) XX |Cheers
Debs... just want to say I've been there. After my 1st heart attack I pretty much holed up in my place and didn't do much of anything. I did go to the doctor, get meds and started therapy.
What really saved me was a friend of mine Patrick. Patrick saw where I was at mentally and having overcome similar issues in his life, he pretty much forced me to get going. He called me one day to talk and before we hung up, he said "Ok... I'll be there tomorrow morning at 7am. Be ready!" Of course I protested but sure enough, 7am he was there. We went for a power walk (me begrudgingly). He did this with me 5 days a week, M-F for a couple of months rain or shine. All the while I was taking my meds and going to therapy. Those things in combination help life the fog off of me.
Perhaps you have a "Patrick" in your life that could help?
Positive thoughts
Thank you Fishmanpa.
You are always a voice of reason and support.
Unfortunately, I dont have any friends local to me. It is kind of up to me to get myself moving. Some days I manage it and some days I just mentally and physically crawl into a shell. It is so dumb, as I know that the best way to tackle depression is to make yourself do stuff, but it feels so hard lately.
Thanks again Sir....your advice is much appreciated, as is everyone elses who replied. xxx
Thank you Fishmanpa.
You are always a voice of reason and support.
Unfortunately, I dont have any friends local to me. It is kind of up to me to get myself moving. Some days I manage it and some days I just mentally and physically crawl into a shell. It is so dumb, as I know that the best way to tackle depression is to make yourself do stuff, but it feels so hard lately.
Thanks again Sir....your advice is much appreciated, as is everyone elses who replied. xxxdebs been there many times my self oh if only there was some one close by who could help me etc but it's not there and that's the sad part. And even the smallest of tasks can be come a nightmare so do feel for you. Do you have a relatives or family nearby who could help in any way? Cheers
debs been there many times my self oh if only there was some one close by who could help me etc but it's not there and that's the sad part. And even the smallest of tasks can be come a nightmare so do feel for you. Do you have a relatives or family nearby who could help in any way? Cheers
Or even a community bulletin board where you can post things. Something like"Looking for a morning walking buddy. Let's get out and get some exercise together!" You might even make a new friend or fellow sufferer and help each other :)
Positive thoughts
Or even a community bulletin board where you can post things. Something like"Looking for a morning walking buddy. Let's get out and get some exercise together!" You might even make a new friend or fellow sufferer and help each other :)
Positive thoughts Yes that's a great idea, good thinking there!! Cheers
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