can't motivate myself to do anything - please give me a nudge

[monkeyonthetable]

I wake up every morning and have zero motivation for anything. There are loads of things I'd like to do or could do but I seem to have an invisible block stopping me from actually doing any of them. I found it hard enough this morning to just have a bath and get dressed. Weirdly, the stuff I most want to do is even harder to get motivated about.

I am managing a walk most days, a bit of cooking, shared with DH and the bare minimum housework. But even the house seems so perpetually grubby from having everyone home all the time, and I don't have energy to clean, only to see it undone within 24 hours.

I feel like I need someone to tell me: do this now. I just can't find the ignition myself.

Anyone feel the same? Or have advice? or fancying telling me what to get started on? I know it seems silly but it is really dragging me down and making me feel deeply self-critical. Slippery slope.

Happy Birthday @NotanotherboxofFrogs

Thank you all. I had a lovely day on Monday. I'm getting myself back on track.

My plan for today - sort out boxes and bags of clothes, put stuff aside for the charity shop
Do grilled salmon for lunch, not sure what to go with it yet
Paint my toes - I've already had a shower 🚿 and trimmed my hair

Busy week ahead,
Support worker is coming on Monday
I have a driving assessment on Wednesday as part of renewal of medical licence.
Handyman is here all day on Friday.

What I actually achieved is zilch. Salmon will wait until tomorrow, so will toes. No boxes sorted either.

Have I killed the thread?

Just a wave to you all. I'm glad your birthday went well, Frogs. You haven't killed the thread! I've been too distracted with my own shit to post! I've mostly been slogging through the day-to-day, but none of that's been the stuff I've really struggled with.

Can I post three goals for next week instead of something daily?! They would be:

• Have an honest conversation with my GP, and request a change to my meds, because things are NOT good.
• Open up to my therapist about why things are NOT good.
• Oh dear god, please stop buying more alcohol!!!

I was just about to start an almost identical thread, saw this and so pleased it’s still going!

Please help if anyone is making progress here and can give me a kicking :( I feel like my life is unraveling. I have stopped my ADs because I am pregnant, was already struggling before with a flat battery for various reasons including loneliness with the current crap situation. I’m starting to come unstuck at work just as my busiest and most important time of 2020 arrives. I’m like an empty shell, even really important things don’t seem to be motivating me or making. a dent. It’s like I’m dead inside. Nausea not helping either...I need to do something and fast. I love exercise and used to do loads but just can’t bring myself :( I know that’s not helping. I haven’t even dog walked today and asked someone else to do it, I have just sat all day feeling rubbish

@monkeyonthetable have you made any headway? Fingers crossed

Nudges to anyone who needs them.

I've had to cancel the whole weeks plans, I aspirated vomit into my lungs again on Sunday and was struggling to get my breath and coughing loads so no support worker this, I had to cancel the driving assessment as coughing in the test car is a no no. Handyman isn't coming on Friday now as the sons surprised him with a long weekend away, going this evening.

Police liaison officer plans to get all the details as after my freak out last week, various things have moved on a lot. I don't want to say much as very outing if someone knows me IRL but justice has been served. 🙏

I have a random mosh mash of things to do today

Frogs you poor thing thst sounds awful. Hope you're able to be kind to yousekf today.

Major drama here at weekend/beginning of week with it looking like ex was heading for Bipolar crisis. Provably isnt. V intense. But did ok with great support from friends. Seem to have crashed today though. Mood through the floor. Saw private psych Wed who recommends me switching from Fluoxetine to Sertraline so will be doing that vv soon so its settled before nights drew jn. Said i was clearly neglecting myself dnd my levels of anxiety were thtough the roof Patterns thst formed in childhood growing up with v depressed mum, have got more entrenched in adulthood tiptoeing round unstable husband and prioritising everyone over myself.... Fortunatrly am going round to friend's this pm so dont have to be a parent.

Best wishes to all

apol to typos, painbad today

@colouringindoors how are you feeling 're changing to Sertaline. I didn't like it at all. Currently on cymbalta and mirtizapine, carbmazapine, serequel combo which is maintaining me mostly. Hope you got some respite at your friends. Life can be so hard at times.

Sending waves of encouragement to every one who might need them

Sending waves to you all, along with nudges, if you have the energy to deal with any nudging.

We're self-isolating, waiting to receive covid hometests at some point, because I've picked some bug - probably just a cold, I guess - and have an asthma cough, a temperature that's going up and down a lot, and feel generally quite shit.

I'm honestly not even trying to do anything now, apart from resisting the compulsion to exercise, and trying to stay clear of any of the bad coping mechanisms. The housework can wait - it's not like anyone's going to visit! And who needs to do laundry, when you're just wearing your Dressing Gown Of Doom, anyway?! And Tesco delivery will bring ready-made soups and various snack items, so cooking be damned.

I've changed my meds again, too. Decided to (and GP agreed to) stop fluoxetine, and go back to mirtazapine. I really need the sleep, and I don't feel as strongly obsessed about the appetite/weight aspect right now.

thanks frogs I'm open to trying it. Ive been on fluoxetine gor 7 years and i dont think it's making any difference. It wasn't well prescribed at the time. Saw private psychiatrist last week who observed how severe my anxiety is and believes Sertraline would be better. We'll see...

Glad you have found a combo that helps you. Friend is lovely thanks.

On my own a lot of yesterday and today and its not been great. Lonely and v limited as to what I can do with my back. Pain is better than before, but cant sit for v long, cant walk far, can't drive. Feel s bit like a prisoner.

insane thanks. Good luck with the test. Im glad its not just me who's given up with the list. Ironically i did get a few things done yesterday but today has been a write-off.

Mirtazipine is one of the top 4 anti ds according to my psych so really hope it helps you. Take care

My 3 for today
Go for a walk
Unpack the grocery delivery
Spend 10 minutes decluttering the lounge

I've found my people! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who finds a to do list of 3 items to be a big enough challenge.

I made 2/3 today but I did also make a chicken curry. The tidying is postponed for another day.

Hi all! Haven’t posted in a while, Iv been really struggling and last weeks latest update of the ‘rules’ broke me.
I really need to start listing my three things again.

Tomorrow will be:
Clean my bathroom
Sort the washing
Take bag of stuff to charity shop

Well done snog, hope you managed to get the tidying done

How is everyone else doing?

Thanks runningpink I did get some tidying done today, and another walk (I find it hard to go for walks on my own, but much easier to go with DD or DP)

I hear you about the new restrictions, being able to catch up with my friends really boosts my mental health.

Good luck with your tasks for tomorrow.
I think mine will be
Go for a walk
Query a quote for work on the house
Make a collage

grrr managed not to actually press post on the one i wrote this morning!
shower and washing up was def on it, and I've done those. Can't remember what No. 3 was!

Hurrah colouring indoors, well done!
I managed 2 of my 3 again on Friday and still haven't managed to make my collage. I'm doing well on the walking though, 3 days in a row. As I walk I'm listening to a podcast drama called The Antique Shop, read by a woman with the loveliest Scottish accent. I highly recommend it.

Tomorrow I'm planning on another walk. Maybe try again to do a collage. And 10 minutes of tidying my bedroom which is a tip.

thanks snog!

I love a good Scottish accent!
Well done on the walking - somethimg i need to do more of too. Especially while the sun's out.
Tomorrow - sort washing, walk, hoping to meet a friend for a coffee.
Need to not fall asleep on sofa tonight as it really hasn't helped my mood and energy levels...

How are you doing colouring indoors?
I also find sleep really important to how able I am to function the next day and try to stick to a fixed bedtime which definitely helps me a bit.

Yesterday I scored 1/3, did a walk and also cycled to town to donate a bag of books and clothes to a charity shop - just in case charity shops have to close again soon.

Today I'm aiming for a walk again as it's still fabulous weather. Still want to do my collage and tidy up a bit in my bedroom. Three things daily seems like more than I can achieve right now and it's a push to do two. So for now I'm officially aiming for any 2/3!

I only recently discovered this thread, I'm interested to find out how the original posters are doing now?

Hi snog that sounds like more than 1/3!

I totally agree re beautiful weather, i am currently in the garden enjoying the sun. Sunlight and lifht makes a big difference to my mood - am dreading winter tbh.

Well today I've had shower, had therapy via video and had a convo which my ex which for be a big ordeal.

This thread was busy for a while but has dropped right off. Hope people are ok. I know that the rule of 6 has hit a lot of people hard.

Well coloringindoors you have had an epic day by the sounds of it and time to treat yourself and relax.

I went for my usual 35 minute walk and I swear it felt 5 hours long, it was so weird. Happily my dd is cooking for me tonight because I don't feel like doing much else today! Tomorrow is another day though right?

Thanks. I've crashed now with too much alcohol. Weird evening here too.

Hope u had a nice dinner