MD or..

[Zoe]

Its been a while since I've been on here, so hello again!

Things have gone way downhill for me, my life is a mess. I am behind on everything and worst thing is I'm not panicked when I should be. I can't bring myself to do school work or attend to any of my obligations (even the ones I love). For the past two months I've literally been wasting away -  and just getting by. I'm really struggling, MD anxiety everything, I barely got my college applications in on time, I couldn't bring myself to focus or to work - it's a struggle. And I'm tiered, I want to do stuff but I can't focus!!!!

If I start working, I do two minutes and then I'm distracted - either by my daydreams or something else. Then I get mad at myself and try to refocus but nothing. I've been indulging in absent minded tasks like watching T.V or daydreaming, I can't  bring myself to sit down and work, its getting worse as now I have more to do than I've ever had.

 I just wanted to know how hard is it for everyone else to stop procrastinating?  Because I feel like my lack of motivation is abnormal. I even started thinking I may have ADD.. I know its an extreme conclusion but I've had difficulty with this all my life (working instead of daydreaming), I feel like its just 10 times worse now that  I have so much to deal with. I just don't know where to go on from here or how to reorganize my life. 

[Zoe]

Hey everyone, thanks for the amazing feedback, it's really reassuring to know that I'm not alone. I think it's a lot worse because I am currently really overwhelmed with school, activities and unstable life at home. 

I will take a crack at all of the suggestions put forth below. Tomorrow I'm also going to talk to a psychologist to see about ADD testing, which I think will also be reassuring. 

[JenBren]

I also struggle with this and I find that the winter months are always more difficult for some reason, and I've found that staying home makes it worse for me. In fact, I'm at a coffee shop as I type this.

Getting out and into a different environment helps me - coffee shop, the library, bookstore, whatever. Another thing that helps me is to set aside time to daydream (or whatever). I tend to stay awake at night after everyone else has gone to bed (I have 2 children) and do my thing then. Most mornings I also wake up early and disappear into daydreams again before I get up...but it works. For some reason, I then feel less stressed during the daytime hours and I am able to focus on the things I have to get done. Sure, some days are better than others, but generally speaking, it works for me. I have 2 kids and a home business and I struggled for a long time. I wouldn't want to get up, barely interacted with my family, didn't do my paperwork, etc. It took a while, but eventually this system of setting time aside for myself worked and took a great deal of the anxiety away which helped with the feelings of depression.

It starts with small steps and you have to find what works for you.  I recently went to counseling, and the therapist suggested keeping a list of small goals each day. When you accomplish one, you then stroke it off your list and have the satisfaction of seeing that you have in fact accomplished something that day (even if you don't get it all crossed off). The idea is that you would be able to look back at the lists and see that you are functioning and getting things done. I found it easier for me to write down the time I took for myself or the things I did that helped with the anxiety...one hour daydreaming, getting out for coffee, thirty minutes of paperwork done.. She was all for whatever worked. 

I know it doesn't help much, but you are not alone. One thing at a time...one step at a time. Start small, focus on what you are able to get done, and don't overwhelm yourself with the rest. Start with 2 minutes of work and then do 15 minutes of something else if that's what it takes. 

Hope things let up and get a little easier for you. 

[Amanda Lewone]

I struggle with the same thing. I have also had this all my life, but it's gotten progressively worse. In the past I would procrastinate but the the day before I could stay up all night study/work on whatever project and do really well. But lately even deadlines aren't motivating. 

If you can get yourself to focus for just 2 minutes start with that. Set time intervals for concentration. Say 2, then 4, 8, 16 with equal length breaks. Have a specific preferably easy task to start with.   

Or go to a coffee shop or any kind of change in environment. 

These tricks sometimes work for me. Other times not. This is such a weird thing to live with, I can't even bring myself to tell anyone about it. 

[F J]

Hi, I feel the exact same as you are feeling honestly! I try to reduce the TV I watch and also try and do a little something each day. Just one small important thing at least, to keep me going.

Sometimes because of my anxiety and depression it feels too much and I struggle to even get out of bed but I try to keep going and motivate myself as much as possible....

Hope it gets better for you xxx

[Luis S]

I do the same thing i spend too much time sitting thinking or watching tv instead of doing some work. If something get in the way of me doing those things i start to think that life is too difficult and get angry because i think i have too much stuff to do and no time to do it. I been trying to be more productive do things that i need to do first. I also been trying to reduce my tv time but it is difficult. I started to read more and it helps because it makes me feel like iam learning something from the books and not just wasting my time.