I can’t be bothered

[Leobynature]

We have had a very hard time recently as a family with bereavement and sickness. I am on sertraline 50mg for depression and to manage high anxiety.

I now can’t be bothered to do anything. I currently spend my working day scrolling through my phone and procrastinating. I work from home in a senior position so can’t really afford to slack off and I don’t want this to become my reputation.

I was previously a go getter and very motivated and wanted to do as much as I could in the day. My ADHD was my superpower. Now it is a curse. I don’t achieve any goals I set out to do, I am very unmotivated and I am drinking too much alcohol. I do the bare minimum for the kids (tablets and easy dinners). At this rate I will get sacked.

I don’t know how to tackle my lack of motivation and I don’t have the energy to.

I eat crap and rarely move too.

any advice or ideas?

I think start slow. Try to eat one healthy meal. Take one gentle 30 minute walk. See how you feel. Maybe you'll feel a bit better. Have a bit less alcohol. Do you feel less groggy when you wake up? If you do - do another little walk. Have something nutritious and tasty when you get back from it. Little by little you might start to feel better and more able to focus on your job and life.

Sorry to hear you're struggling though. Shit isn't it

Baby steps @Leobynature I think most of us have been there
How about a piece of fruit and a 5 minute walk for tomorrow
Build it up slowly, the lighter nights are coming and that always lifts the gloom

Sorry I meant to say I'm sorry for your loss

Would setting timers help? 30 minutes to do some work, 10 minute break, repeat.
As pp said, start small, one nutritious meal a day. Put a big salad together in a Tupperware bowl and have salad with each meal.

Thanks all

I will try to take small steps, break tasks up and utilise time management skills such as alarms for time restriction on with tasks.

On a positive note, I have cut down on my alcohol intake

could you be on too high a dose of your meds? could you try cutting down (with dr's endorsement of course) a bit?

Have a look at the Dr Chatterjee website.

He has podcasts and books which really help you get your life back on track.

Might be worth a chat with your GP to see if the dosage of your medication is working for you? Or if there's a different one you could try?

Sorry op that you are going through this.

How long has this been going on?

Have you had any specific help for your ADHD?

I am no expert but I believe people with ADHD and asd can suffer burnout as a result of trying hard for years to do all the things that most people find easy.

totallyadd.com/adhd-burnout-and-exhaustion/

I think it might help, if it is possible for you, to see a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD.

Good luck

That should have said trying harder not trying hard

How long have you been on your sertraline? I found that 50mg made me feel a bit like a zombie but 100mg made a huge change

I am on 50mg sertraline. The doctor wanted to increase this but I said no as I thought I would feel worse, however it’s interesting what @GoodChat said.

Thanks @TonTonMacoute, I will check out Dr Chatterjee

That research is also interesting @Buenosfairies211, I think I may be experiencing burnout. There was a lot of support when I was younger with my ADHD, but less support for adults. A lot of therapists don’t really understand the condition and there is a 2 year wait under the nhs for support from psychology with ADHD.

Just to echo others - when I was on Sertraline, 50mg was the starter dose, 100mg the therapeutic dose.

And, I absolutely love Dr Chattergee podcast. He is a big fan of making small changes. We don't sustain the big ones.