Where to start after depressive episode?

[MessyNDepressy]

I’m slowly trying to force myself out of a really bad bout of depression/anxiety. I was diagnosed about a year ago and am receiving therapy and taking medication. Overall, I’m doing much better but sometimes I still trip up and the past few weeks have been awful. I’ve only left the house if I’ve had no other choice and spent most of my time in bed. The house is a mess, I’m a mess, I don’t know when I last showered or brushed my teeth, I’m so behind on laundry, the car is filthy, the communal stairs are filthy, the washing machine is dirty inside the drawer and seal. I just don’t know where to start so I just freeze and do nothing. Do I wash myself first, do I clean the house first, do I do laundry first. It’s like my brain has forgotten how to function. Can anyone just tell me where the hell I start?

Hi, I'm so sorry that sounds rough.

Do you have clean sheets somewhere? I think a clean body in a clean bed is relatively low effort for high impact (hopefully you'll feel lovely when you get back in bed!)

And then re: the rest of it just do it a small bit at a time. Clearing a table can feel transformative. Cleaning teeth would make you feel good.

IMO stairs, washing machine and car can wait!

Personally I’d start with small things that will make the biggest immediate impact to how you feel. So for me that would be putting fresh bedsheets on my bed, pop a load of washing in and then jump in the shower, wash my hair/body, clean my teeth, put fresh clean clothes on.

Feeling clean and having fresh bedding makes a big difference!

The car can be taken to a car wash, when you are up to it. The stairs could be cleaned by someone else, as they are communal. You should use your energy to get well first, so don't worry about things, that can wait.

I would…

Get up
Open the curtains and windows
Take a shower and brush your teeth

Strip the bed and put it in the wash

Get a bin liner and go around picking up any rubbish that’s been left around
Take any dishes into the kitchen and stack them up

Sort washing in piles by colours, darks, whites

Yourself first - you always start with yourself.