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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find my very comfortable life completely overwhelming?

300 replies

Kingcatnight · 12/01/2023 19:16

For some reason over the past couple of years I seem to be finding my perfectly normal, "nice", not-remotely-difficult life to be completely and utterly overwhelming.

I have zero motivation and appetite for anything that doesn't provide instant gratification and fun when I wake up in the morning and I'm really struggling to tick anything off my list or fully apply myself to my job. There just always seems to be something else that gets in way that makes day-to-day-living feel like an endless slog of chores and misery.

Shopping needs doing
Things need throwing out of fridge
Garden needs weeding
Have to pay window cleaner
Got a parking ticket that I need to appeal
Forgot to buy salt for water softener
Or have plenty of salt for water softener but can't seem to find motivation to top it up...
Car needs servicing
Need to order new bank card
Garage needs clearing out
Must remember to book plumber to fix outside tap
Need to buy paint so we can repaint spare room (and then bloody paint it too)
XYZ form needs filling in but the printer's out of ink so need to sort that first
Dogs need walking/taking to vet
Forget dad's birthday

etc etc

The list is endless and new things seem to get added to it every day. It's just incessant.

In amongst all of this I am supposedly meant to find time to perform the job I'm actually paid to do to a high standard, pay my bills and feed myself. Basic functions performed, I then need to find time to exercise, respond to texts from friends/family and try to be a half-decent daughter/sister/niece etc.

I won't even start on the vague dreams I have about one day perhaps having the emotional capacity and headspace to learn french or play the violin.

I literally feel like just living and ticking off these tedious day-to-day tasks is a full-time job in itself. I don't understand how I'm supposed to fit anything else in around it. I really struggle to carry on with the rest of life while my to-do list grows increasingly longer and so my work suffers, because I have the luxury of WFH and I can't seem to motivate myself to focus on work when so many other things need doing. At the end of each day I go to bed feeling as though I've barely achieved anything and have underperformed in every area of my life.

On the rare evenings where I do find myself sitting down I'm so drained and low about it all that I end up mindlessly watching trash TV or youtube and then go to bed even more annoyed at myself for having achieved nothing of value.

I don't understand why I find this all so hard? Other people don't make it look this hard...am I just too sensitive and an incompetent under-achiever? Am I depressed? Surely there's more to life than this?

OP posts:
Takethatandparty30 · 13/01/2023 11:18

I feel like I could have written your post. For me, I think it is complete and utter boredom.

glowingstars · 13/01/2023 11:28

I think you just sound bored.

I’ve felt like this recently and I think it’s a combination of WFH (I know some love it but I find it makes me unmotivated and lethargic) and not really enjoying my job.

I’m shortly moving to a new role which also requires more office attendance so I guess I’ll be testing out this theory…

NeuroWasabi · 13/01/2023 11:41

@yellowcourgette It's just a screening test. A convenient first step if you're wondering 'could I have ADHD?'. Definitely not self diagnosis.

I agree, though, that ADHD type symptoms can be other things such as depression. However depression usually doesn't appear from childhood and persist throughout a person's life.

walnutmarzipan · 13/01/2023 11:53

I've just bought Stolen Focus by Johann Hari to see if it gives me any insight....

Highdaysandholidays1 · 13/01/2023 12:32

One thing I do which really helps is instead of watching youtube or scrolling crap or even mumsnetting, I watch TV comedies, like Benidorm, Father Ted, The Office, anything, I've seen them lots of times but they make me laugh and I go to bed feeling a lot better than when I watched some 'gritty' but quite rubbish TV show. I do watch the gritty ones like Line of Duty but more as a one off rather than night after night of dismalness. Just an idea. One or two laughs an evening sets you up for the next day.

wibblewobbleball · 13/01/2023 12:38

I often feel like this, and I'm also seeking an adhd diagnosis so I'm not surprised to see a few people mention it. I feel I have a high "perfectionist" drive that means I feel I can only do the joyful stuff when the List of Things is done. I am slowly (age 36!!) realising it's never done, so you can have get out and do the joyful stuff anyway.

dolorsit · 13/01/2023 12:40

Talk to your doctor about blood tests. You sound like me when I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid and again 15 years later with a b12 deficiency.

TerraNostra · 13/01/2023 17:08

Not too much to add really OP, other than to say I often feel quite burdened by my water softener salt duties too! Am always kicking myself for letting the salt run out and letting the dreaded limescale start developing again before I notice!

AlmostThereMaybe · 13/01/2023 17:35

i totally feel the same. Hope you find a solution.

SouthernComforter · 13/01/2023 17:42

I hear you - and feel like you a lot of the time. Have wondered if I have slight depression or ADHD which makes keeping on top of everything hard - or if life just IS hard. Working, running a home, keeping children/pets alive and managing never-ending admin IS a juggle.

I've started taking collagen and vitamin D and I'm trying to get to bed a bit earlier. And get out for a walk in the daylight. Also, split your 'to dos' into daily lists and then just tick off two or three things a day - you are getting through a lot, even if you don't always feel like it. Other things to consider, depending on your age, are hypothyroidism, vitamin D, HRT (I'm 43 and haven't gone there yet, but then am still having regular periods), sleep!

Enterthedragons · 13/01/2023 17:43

I totally feel you OP!

waddlemyway · 13/01/2023 18:07

I’m going to sing in chorus with all the others suggesting AD(H)D.

Not addressing it can also lead to burnout/boreout/depression.

Please read up on how it manifests in middle-aged women (or around about that age - what I mean as opposed to children or young women, or males, for which there is a wealth of information). You have to dig around a bit to find the relevant stuff. Especially for ADD without the H. Nowadays it’s all diagnosed as ADHD but there is a difference in presentation.

What are you’re eating habits like? What is your sex life, or sex drive like? Google it all in relation to AD(H)D. Even on mumsnet there is a wealth of information about this subject and diagnosis.

In the meantime… make sure you’re taking a quality multivitamin, including iron and all the B vitamins, because they’re likely low as a busy female at this time of year and if they are then you won’t be able to make yourself do anything!!

OMG12 · 13/01/2023 18:09

This is defo me, I have ADHD. Can’t focus on things that don’t interest me (hyper focus on stuff I like though). As I’ve hit peri menopause things have got a lot worse WFH is hard because of potential distractions- working in office is terrible without headphones and music to shut out noise. Made worse with hyper vigilance from ptsd.

Have a look at that.

menopause/peri menopause can heavily mimic adhd symptoms

Lozois99 · 13/01/2023 18:09

You sound like me and I have just been diagnosed with adhd…

Frankie2018 · 13/01/2023 18:13

I feel exactly the same. Speak to your GP about how you feel. I also have 2 hours one day a week where I "have" to deal with things I dont want to do. I dread it but I feel good when ive ticked a few things off the list xx

Babysitter12 · 13/01/2023 18:16

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Moira1951 · 13/01/2023 18:23

I was that child! But as an adult I’ve never even thought of ADHD. I am very overwhelmed with stuff I should be doing and I’m aware I changed since my husband died twelve years ago, and even more since retiring at 71, eight months ago. I seem to happiest at home, but especially when no demands are made of me. It’s a slow insidious process so I haven’t really analysed myself, maybe I should!

Newbie20 · 13/01/2023 18:34

Life admin always gets me feeling the way you've described too. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2013 because of how I was struggling with life tasks. It also sounds a little ND. The feeling of overwhelming or like your life is chaotic is a symptom of ADHD.

Hbee88 · 13/01/2023 18:36

I can relate to this 100%. It’s also a tick list of anxiety. Speak to your GP. I hope you’re ok xx

April506 · 13/01/2023 18:41

You sound lonely … my daughter loved wfh till her and her partner split up .. she has now found a job where she can go into the office and is much happier seeing people and popping out to lunch and evening dos.
you need to maybe get out more really . Sod the chores

Mumofterriers · 13/01/2023 18:48

I feel like this a lot. My doctor diagnosed anhedonia, literally a lack of joy. Waiting for blood test results and an appointment for talking therapy. Hope you find something that helps x

iwishiwasonacruise · 13/01/2023 18:48

I also could have written your post. Most days I feel the same as you. I never really think that covid had too much of an effect on me but now I do wonder... I also have a good and comfortable life, husband, 2 good teen kids, 2 completely manageable jobs (one is wfh), money is fine, but just lately I find all the other stuff so overwhelming.

I have the added problem that my mum is awaiting diagnosis for some kind of cognitive impairment, and is struggling to do anything much for herself, so now her stuff has become my stuff, on top of everything else...

I feel like I find myself with 45 min slots, ie before the kids go to school, before I go to work, before the dinner needs cooking, and I look down the endless list to see what I can accomplish in those slots, and it's going to make such a tiny dent, that I think I just can't be arsed...

I am also good socially, love a night out, party, family get together etc, so don't necessarily feel like I'm depressed or withdrawing, but the never ending hamster wheel just feels relentless ...

I also sometimes feel like I'm self sabotaging my time too. I'll set myself a task that's doable in an hour, and then I'll watch crap on my phone for half the time, and then be annoyed that I have to rush to complete the task! Weird!

I found it really hard to get excited about Xmas this year, but I think that's more to do with my mum issues, because she occupied so much of my time (she had a fall as well) that it didn't leave me much time to do nice stuff with the kids. I just felt the whole period was so stressful, and I obvs wanted the kids to have a lovely festive period, but I was pleased to get back to normal routine.

I'm early 40's so possibly its a hormonal thing too... I really am surprised that many of us feel this way. I thought I was going mad!

graysquirrel · 13/01/2023 18:48

This is 100% my life but throw in children too.
All got a bit too much before Christmas and I've just been diagnosed with depression.

Have you thought of talking this through with someone, GP sounds obvious place to start?

FedUpWithEverything123 · 13/01/2023 18:50

Wow I could have written your post OP, that's my life to a tee. With an unending, unrelenting, ever-growing to-do list.........

Pixieb34 · 13/01/2023 18:51

I’m with you totally!
I’m not depressed, I don’t have ADHD, I’m not bored, or lonely.
I genuinely think modern life is mostly shit.