Is anyone else not doing what they should to get better?

[WastingMyYoungYears]

I should improve my eating, exercising, and sleeping habits.

I should try meditating again.

I should try to find my CBT paperwork, and look over it again.

I should probably go to the GP again.

But I don't do any of these things.

It's so bloody tiring pretending to be fine all of the time. I've just had a (wholly expected) knock at work, and I'm finding it so difficult to deal with. Bleh.

taking ad's may help to do those things.

I find the trying all the time exhausting as well. Is there one of the above tat you think you could look into achieving? I've decided to make getting better my project for the summer and be happy that I am in a good place for today ... what do you imagine will happen if you stop pretending?

Try doing one of those things every day for a week. Forget the list, it's overwhelming.

I agree. People with mental health issues are not likely to be self starters, because they can't cope and all seems too much.

I think if they want to get better they should discuss medication with their doctor.

Are you taking ADs?

I don't agree that meds are always the best answer.If working and living ok there are better ways of changing life than being drugged all the time.

I know this feeling very well

My landlord has arranged for my boiler to be checked next week. My flat is disgusting, the rancid smell hits me when I open the front door but I just don't feel motivated to anything about it

Yes but the "should"s don't help - spiral of guilt. If I were you I'd start with GP - some of the other things can come later

I'd try one thing a week. Drop the "should". Be kind to yourself.
If none if that helps, then visit a GP.
Meds have a place but they can come with their own problems too.

Thank you everyone .

I'm generally not very keen on taking antidepressants (I suffer from depression and anxiety). I might consider it in the future, but I'd like to try all of the other things that I listed first.

I've joined a gym, so that's one thing. I should focus on only one or two things though, that's a good idea.

If I stopped pretending, I...wouldn't go to work. I'd probably get out of bed, and function at home though.

Could you take a few days off and try to get to the gym on those days? Make that your one and only goal for the day. You don't even have to do much when you're there - just go and do something and then have a long shower.

I'm a bit short of annual leave violator, but I do have some coming up that I'll go away in.

I've been swimming today though .

I often find keeping up with normal life difficult enough, without adding gym / meditation etc into the mix.

I agree that you should work on one thing at a time, that list sounds quite overwhelming.

I spent all day in bed yesterday. I should have got up and done some light exercise, mind mapping (which I've been told to do), reading etc. But I couldn't be bothered, I just wanted to mooch. Be kind to yourself, you're allowed to have off days.

Thank you Pandora - you're right , we're allowed to have off days.

I found that when I started running before, it gave me more energy, and naturally regulated my appetite. I think it would be a good thing to start with, as it would have knock on good effects . /sits on rocking chair .

The hardest part of it is actually getting going with it! Putting on the trainers, filling a bottle of water, putting the earphones in.
It's like climbing a bloody mountain - but the actual running is the easy bit!

I often repeated the Nike slogan to myself over and over until I got out the door. Just Do It violator. Just Do It.

I was fascinated by this topic when I had my first little one.

I found "Three in a bed" by Deborah Jackson absolutely fascinating. Although in theory about co-sleeping it really covers a range of parenting activites and talks about parenting around the world and in the past.

It was a few years ago I read it- I wish my brain could remember exact examples but I'd really recommend it.

I had my first at 30, miles away from home in a "naice" area. I've now moved to a more w/c estate and the differences are amazing. So many people in my new area are living near /same round as family. They've had kids younger and have a lot of hands on support, might see parents daily, parents might take children away for a night a week etc.... As much as I don't "fit in" culturally in some ways I'm jolly envious of this side of things. They find it genuinely weird that I don't have anyone to help. "Why don't you ask your parents?" Is the first (incredulous) reply when I say I can't do something.