Does your depression feel like a heavy weight draining your energy?

I have definitely felt that way for years and I still do today. The only thing I have found that helps some is exercise. It is tough to get motivated to do it, but it works better than any of my meds.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

I've written elsewhere that one technique I use is to set myself tiny goals for the hour/morning/day. Something like "Brush my teeth", even.

As for finding joy, performing a gratitude assessment can help me a lot. Even in my worst moments, when pain, isolation, loneliness, and inertia overwhelm me, I think of what I'm grateful for. It doesn't always seem like it, but there's joy in some very simple things.

Plus, I try to create some joy for someone else. A kind word or an encouraging email to someone can lift them a little, and that can cause a ripple effect.

It's hard, I know. Since having a stroke, I have been in constant pain. It wears me out. I don't get out much, but I would love to have someplace to go. When I do get out, people look at me like I have three heads or something. That gets old.

I take it a day, an hour, at a time. It's been five years, nine months, and eight days since I had a stroke. I'm hanging in there.

I hope you will, too.

One more thing...

Spoil yourself just a little. Give yourself a little treat. You're worth it.

I can’t really help you but I can say you’re not alone and I am so sorry for this. It is a miserable existence. Over the last six months, I’ve now lost over 25 pounds because I have no appetite. I find no joy in the things I used to. I have no desire to read when I used to knock out 2 books a week. I leave the house only for groceries and those are usually very short trips. (I have been sick for months with some type of stomach problem and my doctor really had no interest in helping. I have found a new doctor and see him in a few weeks…fingers crossed). Anyway, our problem in common is depression (also anxiety for me). May I ask if you take medication of any type or do you have any health issues? If I know those things, I might be able to share what I have learned from MANY hours of research. I really hope we can find help for you, and maybe for myself.

What wonderful words of encouragement, Scott!! I love what you’re doing and I’m definitely going to follow your lead!❤️❤️

Thank you! You may like my YouTube channel, "From Recovery to Discovery", about my life since having a stroke on Christmas Eve, 2018.
Take a look:
https://www.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos

I’m very interested in your help. I have taken clozapine for years and have been tapering off. It has been very successful so far.

Yes, experiencing it now. I’m going to my second appt with a counselor. I’m hoping to find out how to dig myself out of this hole. I’ve always had a pretty hard shell and could bounce back. Now I’m just gone.

I don’t really feel comfortable giving advice regarding clozapine. All my research was done around benzodiazepines as well as the relationship gastrointestinal issues can have with depression and anxiety. I had hoped the original poster would share her medication, but she has not. I wasn’t able to really come up with any help for our problems, just offer reasons why it might be happening depending upon what meds she’s taking. For instance, I stopped taking a beta blocker at the end of June and I am now reading articles, indicating the depression and anxiety from stopping this drug can go on for months or longer. I’m in month five. It’s miserable! Good luck and I wish you success! I wish I could help!

Scott R L,
I🩵🩵🩵your attitude and proactive approach towards depression. I used to have a better attitude, but now I'm just too, too nothing.