No motivation

[toothfairie]

Just wanted to ask if other people had/having this problem...i am about 5 n half months clean...i feel sooo much better physically and mentally is better too....no cravings to speak of, sure i still think about pills but no cravings per se....but, i am having problems getting motivated to do anything except work....i get home and i don't really look forward to doing anything outside the house...i'll have lunch with co-workers or friends occasionally but as far as hobbies, i could care less. I have to sometimes force myself to a meeting.  Is this somewhat normal for this amount of clean time??  I was never really a social butterfly on or off pills.  I know it takes a long time to fully heal but was just curious. Just hoping it gets better with time.  I'm turning into a slug on the couch (when i'm not working)...and yes i do work alot but hoping the motivation comes back to something besides work.

[Gasten]

Sounds like a bout of minor depression setting in to me.  Probably not uncommon around this time of being clean.  

CONGRATULATIONS on the 5 1/2 month mark!!!!  To me, that is something to be very proud of.  You may be at the point of time where the celebration and thrill of accomplishment is anti-climactic.  This may be the cause of your slump.

Try doing short brisk walks, as cardio exercise can pull a person up.  Watch yourself, and if this continues, you may need to consult a doctor regarding depression.  Have you had a tendency for depression before?  If not, I wouldn't give it too much worry, as it will probably pass.

Just know this--you are a tremendous  inspiration to the rest of us here for achieving your goal!!

Gasten

[OpenMind24hours]

Hi Lisa, I'm experiencing the exact same thing pretty much. I'm at 6 1/2 months clean and 66 years old. This last 23 month binge really kicked my butt good. I drag my sorry butt to my meetings also. I did notice yesterday, when we had some FREEKING SUNSHINE around here, my spirits were up, and in turn, i seemed to have much more energy and especially some motivation to do things around the house. Today it has rained all day. I went to my class reunion planning committee and I was just a big DUH. Couldn't even think straight. I don't sleep very well, but that just might be age. I guess U and I just need to keep on keeping on and give it some more time. We WILL get back to complete normal in God's time, we really will.

[toothfairie]

thank you Gasten!  I have never had problems with depression before, so i'm hoping it's not that...i don't "feel" depressed. My counselor said she would eval me at 6 months clean and see if i am where i should be mentally, if not she might suggest some type of AD...i do NOT want to go on anything else. I've never taken ADs so i hope i don't have to start now.  So i will fight hard to get out of this slump.  thanks again for the congrats!  

[10356]

Hi Toothfairie.. I think all of us can identify with lack of motivation. besides being tired from working all day !! I do not work but I still struggle with this. I picked up a hobby that I sometimes have to force myself to do but once I do it I loose track of time.. forcing myself :) Thank Goodness I do not have to do this all the time now but in the Beginning I sure did !! I was very aggressive with my recovery especially in the beginning I found solace in the outdoors.. Once I get outside it seems to help a lot.. I have dogs that I have to walk also Once they got into the habit of walking everyday They do not let me forget !! This also helps to motivate me.. I guess what I'm say is force yourself to work it Whatever it is that works for you.. I hope this makes sense to you as I wanted to add my support.. lesa

[toothfairie]

thanks OpenMind!  yes I think of all this stuff i would like to be doing,  plant some flowers outside, walk more, etc...get to the beach again...but since i work alot, i just veg out when i get home...lol  i just came off a 3 week stretch last week with no days off really so i'm still tired..but i'm hoping it gets better with time....can't even think about taking a pill right now, even if it is for depression...lol  I don't think i'm depressed...just need some motivation...lol

[10356]

and Congrats on 51/2 months clean that is Wonderful !!!

[toothfairie]

thanks Lesa!  yep, i have to force myself to do social stuff....housework i can do no problem,  work i can do no problem, but being social or picking up a hobby is what i have problems with.  I will just have to get in the habit and maybe it will learn to love something again.  

[10356]

I'm not a social butterfly either as I'm very awkward socially.. I did not know what I loved for myself personally, I have been so consumed with drugs for so long.. so I went back and thought of the things I loved as a child before trauma before drugs and incorporated it into my hobby.. this is how I found something I love. warm hugs

[toothfairie]

thanks again Lesa...maybe i will try that approach....i love pets, and i want a dog but i work so much and am gone so much, it wouldn't be fair to the poor pup....now that summer is here, maybe i will get out and work around the front of my condo....flowers etc.  Before it gets h*ll degrees outside here...haha  

[Gasten]

Here's another thought--have your had your thyroid levels evaluated?  Low (Hypo) thyroid can cause the exact symptoms that mimic depression.

Fatigue and low motivation are symptoms.  Further symptoms (but not necissarily) are weight gain and dry brittle hair or hair loss.

Might be worth having labwork done if you have not done so recently, and have no history of depression!

Best of luck,
Gasten

[innocencelost]

Hi, I am feeling exactly as you are, though I am only at 3 months. I believe professionals are all too quick to jump to AD's as a solution; my understanding is that it takes the brain a good year to return to normal functioning so why would one want to muck around with this process by inundating the brain with synthetic chemicals it may not even need? Just my two cents. That said, it is frustrating to feel this way, are you exercising at all and if so, does it help?

[toothfairie]

Gasten, i haven't had thyroid checked that i know of, i do get checkups once a year from MD Anderson but not sure if they check thyroid....come to think of it, i have had more hair loss recently. I need to find a new GP since my old one just handed me pills with little to no exam.  So i will make that my new project to find a new doctor and get my thyroid checked...but i haven't gained or lost any weight, just lost 10 lbs after detox...but gained 5-6 back.  And no, no history of depression.

[toothfairie]

yes innocence, i want to wait at least a year if i can before we evaluate me for ADs...can't stand the thought of taking pills...lol  unfortunately i don't exercise either....and i KNOW it will help my mood and health etc...so i just need to buckle down and do it!!  

[toothfairie]

thanks again!  i will look into that!  i do have a PPO...i'm hoping it's just part of getting clean....and my brain will heal even more so i can look forward to doing things again.  I am relatively happy, just find it hard to get out and socialize or have hobbies.  

[ricart70]

You will continue to heal.I have gotten alot better in the last 4 months.  Youare working too hard toothy!    take a day off and go on a hike.
Great job on your months!!    :)

[toothfairie]

thanks ricart!  yea i've been hitting it pretty hard lately....but i'm taking a week off first of May and going back home...i can't wait!!  :)  

[LeaAnn807]

Have you exercised regularly?  Or tried Super B Complex vitamin?  That really helps me, but I STILL have days or parts of days that I'm unmotivated.  Remember.......when we do pills most of our adult lives, it takes a while to kinda see where we are at in our lives again.  We have to find out who we are as normal, non using people.  I don't think you're depressed, Lisa.  I think you're just fine.  You work very hard.  You go to counseling.  Meetings.  Do things with friends at lunch.  You come on here regularly.  I don't feel depression from you.  I never have.  I just think you're 5 months clean, and it takes longer than that! LOL :)

You'll be fine.  I promise!  I'm so proud of you.  It's like I gave birth to you almost! hahahahaha

[toothfairie]

LOL LeaAnn, this made me laugh out loud!  you were my "mother hen"....i never will forget you went on vaca and came on here to check on me during the holiday!  that meant so much to me!  you have been one of my biggest supporters from day 1!!  and sadly, no i don't exercise regularly...i NEED to so bad!  and i don't really think i'm depressed either...i think i just need some direction in my life....when work slows down, i will get out more and MAYBE pick up a hobby...lol  get to the beach more, etc.  If i can stop pills after 20 years of use...i think i can find another hobby...LOL  thanks girl!!  

[VICourageous]

Hey there Girlfriend..How strange that you bring this up..I have 213 days today and I just got the Motivation back a couple of days ago..The weather had a lot to do with it too..I got in a bad slump myself..Just seems like the Healing goes in Stages..I went from High Anxiety to dropping to the worst Weakness I have ever experienced..Then Just last week I was a bit worried about the no Motivation and Energy..I would try to do this or that with all good intentions but just could not go..I did have blood work done 4 months ago and all was OK..The last few days I just had to push myself harder..Today was the best yet..The sun was out and it is sooo beautiful here in the summer..So off I go to all the Lakes and Rivers and such for the Summer..Can not blink a eye here or you will miss it..Yes and I do think you need that Vacation...Come on up here and we will go camping and rafting..Ha!!  lol
moose-lips..

[toothfairie]

hey girl!  oh i would love to come up there and visit!  lol  i am actually taking a week off and going back home to see family first week in May!  i cannot wait!  

I think seeing my family all together again will pull me out of this slump....i'm actually feeling pretty good, just can't seem to get motivated to do anything but work...lol  but in due time i guess...gotta pay for all those d*mn years on pills!  so small price to pay considering...i am one very lucky woman!  and my "lake"/pond" is all dried up almost...we need some rain bad!  

[dominosarah]

You mentioned loving pets....Why not volunteer an hour or 2 a week for your local humane society.  You would be surprised at how much better you can feel just by being close to animals.  They can talk to us without being able to say a word~

[SmilingBright]

I agree. Lee Ann.  I dont think u are depressed.   U just work work work all the time!!!   U def need a nice little vacay.  

If I worked as much as u do I would come Hm and be a slug too. Lol.

Praying for u my sweet friend.   Maybe one day u can treat yourself to a treadmill and I an cheer u on while u run or walk.  Lol. I'm a good  cheerleader.  

Big big hugs.  Can't wait for u to have a little time off next week!   Well  deserved rest and relaxation for u!!!

Hugs Chris

[LeaAnn807]

Yeah, that was Thanksgiving!!  I remember that.  Yes, I was worried about you then.  I don't now! :)  You're doing fine.  I think that if I COULD sit around and not do anything, at times I still would.  There are definitely times that I still need to sit down in a room with some alone time.  I don't have a lot of patience and tolerance some days. I guess that is my age! LOL Or maybe I'm looking for an excuse! :)  Anyway, you're gonna be ok.  Try to start walking outside a little while a day after work.  I KNOW you don't want to, because you don't have any motivation, but you have to do it for a while to get motivation. The exercise will make endorphins.  It really does make a huge difference!  Super B does too.  It's very subtle, but it's real energy.  Try both!  Like.......tomorrow! hahahaha Mother hen says so!