1. < Depression & Anxiety

Extreme Fatigue and Lack of Motivation

Posted by Elizabeth @enska, Sep 17, 2019

Hello, I'm Elizabeth and I've posted a couple times on here. I've had depression for many years (20). I've also had type 2 diabetes for about 9 years. Last year around this time I was let go from my job due to productivity issues. I realized at the time that my issues with work were due to my depression. My depression has gotten worse since then, to the point where I'm in bed most of the day every day. I have very little capability to get anything done, although I immensely enjoy planning to do things, like craft projects.

I am not experiencing low mood at this time. It's just the more physical symptoms of depression. I am really concerned because I truly can barely do anything. It's not laziness (although I'm sure my family thinks that). It's something else.

I take several meds: Celexa, Wellbutrin, Abilify, Metformin, Victoza, and insulin. I've also been taking Vitamin D and iron supplements.

I'm just wondering what avenue I should explore next to try to get myself going. Am I experiencing chronic fatigue? I'm not necessarily tired, although I do sleep for a long time after I have a day with more activity. Is it possibly all mental? I'm going to meet with my psychiatrist soon, within a couple of weeks. Last time he thought that the vitamins and the Wellbutrin would help, but they're not. My regular doctor often thinks that everything is tied to diabetes. Right now my blood sugar is in normal range for me.

I have several things going on. I just wondered if anyone had ideas or has experienced something like this. I've missed out on a lot of life over the past year and I've kind of had enough.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Sep 18, 2019

Good evening @olivia22819 That is in an incredibly long time to be dealing with the depression devil. I didn't even know what the word really meant until I had to fight or cut bait. Your attitude is impressive. Chris

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 18, 2019

@olivia22819 @artscaping @lonelylady @marysunshine When I was working, each morning I got there about pretty early, in order to do a beautiful walk around the complex. It was always quiet in the morning, with birds. Then I would write a haiku, or journal, and start my long workday. I was working for the Court system, so it was pretty stressful. As I gradually got sick, my walks became shorter. The stress mounted not only from doing less exercise, but not starting my day refreshed. The walks stopped altogether when I no longer had the energy to do them. It was proven to me personally that the exercise is a big factor for me feeling better, and I am walking again. It feels good, and now when I have to miss a day [like today, due to early doctor appt], I look forward to tomorrow in order to get back into the swing. I want to work up to walking in to town to the post office, and home again!
Ginger

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1 reply
olivia22819 | @olivia22819 | Sep 18, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@olivia22819 @artscaping @lonelylady @marysunshine When I was working, each morning I got there about pretty early,..." + (show)
@gingerw

@olivia22819 @artscaping @lonelylady @marysunshine When I was working, each morning I got there about pretty early, in order to do a beautiful walk around the complex. It was always quiet in the morning, with birds. Then I would write a haiku, or journal, and start my long workday. I was working for the Court system, so it was pretty stressful. As I gradually got sick, my walks became shorter. The stress mounted not only from doing less exercise, but not starting my day refreshed. The walks stopped altogether when I no longer had the energy to do them. It was proven to me personally that the exercise is a big factor for me feeling better, and I am walking again. It feels good, and now when I have to miss a day [like today, due to early doctor appt], I look forward to tomorrow in order to get back into the swing. I want to work up to walking in to town to the post office, and home again!
Ginger

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Oh wow! Who knew. I’m glad to hear that you are looking forward to it and getting back in the stride of it all. I’m finding it’s very important to have a exercise routine when you have a stressful job 😆

I have a problem though. I work from home and start at 5 in the morning. I would like to do something before work to help my mood but I am unable to get up earlier than I have too. I’m irritable in the mornings.

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 18, 2019
In reply to @olivia22819 "Oh wow! Who knew. I’m glad to hear that you are looking forward to it and..." + (show)
@olivia22819

Oh wow! Who knew. I’m glad to hear that you are looking forward to it and getting back in the stride of it all. I’m finding it’s very important to have a exercise routine when you have a stressful job 😆

I have a problem though. I work from home and start at 5 in the morning. I would like to do something before work to help my mood but I am unable to get up earlier than I have too. I’m irritable in the mornings.

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@olivia22819 I am retired now. Make time each day to get out and do something like a walk. It's an investment in your health and well-being! And, you owe it to yourself. Since I am an early morning person, it's no problem for me.
Ginger

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lioness | @lioness | Sep 18, 2019
In reply to @lonelylady "Thank you for reaching out to me so quickly. I'm not really sure how it works...." + (show)
@lonelylady

Thank you for reaching out to me so quickly. I'm not really sure how it works. The chronic depression is so debilitating and I find impossible to get friends/family to understand. I applaud you for joining a fitness club. I, like you, have been told exercise is key to our mental health issues. I am full of arthritis so I can relate to your chronic pain. My Dr. will not prescribe me narcotics or opioids. Walking is the best overall exercise you can do, so I've been told. So I order running shoes online (I rarely go out) and I believe I have walked 2x in 2 months. It's a start. I would love to walk every day, before the depression and arthritis hit I walked all the time. Baby steps, I would like to set up a walking schedule, but I feel defeated before I even start one. I am on so much depression medication, and at one time or another I have been on all of yours. Start small and gradually increase your exercise. If you are anything like me,(when I ordered the running shoes I was convinced I would walk 30 minutes each and every day!) and try to be proud that you got out of bed and did something. That is one of the toughest to do. Hopefully we can talk again, marysunshine. Do you remember the children's song " Good Morning Merry Sunshine" I going to check it out on YouTube.

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@lonelylady @marysunshine I applaud you both for starting to exercise , yes baby steps but they will increase daily or weekly or monthly slowly I always feel better when I exercise. Maybe there are other things you liked to do in the past you can look at, at sometime. I like just getting into the water and wading around . Keep it up both of you . Good luck

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Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Sep 20, 2019
In reply to @enska "Thanks so much for the reply. I actually have a therapist who I've been seeing for..." + (show)
@enska

Thanks so much for the reply. I actually have a therapist who I've been seeing for almost 12 years. I see her on Saturday and plan to discuss these issues. We've touched on it a bit but it's only really been the top concern for me in the past couple of weeks.

One issue for me is clutter and I need to get that under control before I actually have room to work on something. I do have a couple things I can work on though in the meantime that don't require much room. I will try to do what I can on those projects in the next few days and maybe it will lead to more. They are actually overdue birthday presents so I should get them done! Thanks again!

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How are you doing, @enska? Do you have a friend or family member who could help clear out some clutter with you? I at one time had our upper story of our previous home (it was small - hall, closet, one bedroom) filled with stuff I'd stashed on one side of the hallway (various decorative objects, storage bins, etc.). It got overwhelming to me, and finally my mom offered to help me out. That really helped get it back to not-so-cluttered to have someone's help motivating me and more than just my hands doing the organizing work.

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1 reply
Elizabeth | @enska | Sep 28, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "How are you doing, @enska? Do you have a friend or family member who could help..." + (show)
@lisalucier

How are you doing, @enska? Do you have a friend or family member who could help clear out some clutter with you? I at one time had our upper story of our previous home (it was small - hall, closet, one bedroom) filled with stuff I'd stashed on one side of the hallway (various decorative objects, storage bins, etc.). It got overwhelming to me, and finally my mom offered to help me out. That really helped get it back to not-so-cluttered to have someone's help motivating me and more than just my hands doing the organizing work.

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I forgot to reply back and I don't get emails from Connect. Sorry!

My therapist session went okay but I didn't really come away with much. I'm going to talk to my psychiatrist on Monday. I'm also going to consider applying for disability benefits since I'm not working and I do not feel in any way ready to get a job. I'm going to see what the doctor says on Monday before I plan anything else.

By chance I came upon the term "anhedonia" and read a little about it. I believe that's the symptom I'm experiencing. Unfortunately it's only gotten worse in the past couple weeks. I'm just frustrated because of the amount of meds I take...I wonder, shouldn't at least one of them do something? I guess they do keep my mood fine. Oh well. That's my update.

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1 reply
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Sep 30, 2019
In reply to @enska "I forgot to reply back and I don't get emails from Connect. Sorry! My therapist session..." + (show)
@enska

I forgot to reply back and I don't get emails from Connect. Sorry!

My therapist session went okay but I didn't really come away with much. I'm going to talk to my psychiatrist on Monday. I'm also going to consider applying for disability benefits since I'm not working and I do not feel in any way ready to get a job. I'm going to see what the doctor says on Monday before I plan anything else.

By chance I came upon the term "anhedonia" and read a little about it. I believe that's the symptom I'm experiencing. Unfortunately it's only gotten worse in the past couple weeks. I'm just frustrated because of the amount of meds I take...I wonder, shouldn't at least one of them do something? I guess they do keep my mood fine. Oh well. That's my update.

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Hi, @enska - wondering if you would like to be getting emails notifying you about groups, threads or pages you are following on Connect?

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