Depression fatigue

[Overcoming]

No amount of sleep is enough. I'm falling behind on school work. How do you deal?

 

[Deadman]

Assuming you are already getting therapy and following your treatment plan I suggest you start working on 'rituals'. I found developing a morning ritual really helped with the depressive sides of PTSD. The idea is to set a very small minimum start to the day. If you complete that minimum you are free to give up and go back to bed.

I started with "I will get up brush my teeth and walk the dog". I slowly added more. Now it looks more like "brush teeth, meditate while coffee is brewing, walk the dog, do a workout, shower". Once I do that I usually have the energy to keep going.

The key is to make it a simple step by step ritual that you can almost do without thinking.

 

[amosmorris]

I set my running shoes and clothes out the night before and this begins what has been a lifesaving ritual for me of "running through it"...somehow putting the shoes and clothes out sets the rest of the routine in motion. And like @Deadman I do the morning in a predictable, ordered way...coffee, same breakfast almost every day, getting into running clothes, run, shower...and then into the day. This helps very much. Yes, there are days when it has been impossible or nearly so--where I am really swimming against the stream, but the more I have stuck with this routine the more I am able to do it without thinking and the more stability/comfort it seems to bring me. As soon as I put my running shoes on I am already a little better. I hope that helps. It doesn't need to be running for you, but I trust you can find something to build into your routine.

 

[Deadman]

I set my running shoes and clothes out the night before

I do that too :)

 

[amosmorris]

@Deadman: Must...trick...this....brain.....;)

 

[Overcoming]

It's been several years ago, but I had a similar routine. It was prior to marriage, which has it's own challenges. I'm making it through work and completing assignments for school. I do both full-time, so I can't afford to take breaks. But, when I have severe depression episodes, like this past week, I struggle to function, look for ways to numb, and can't stay awake. I fell behind on completing my assignments and have had to cram them in. I'm on meds, Sertraline 50mg, and I'm doing EMDR and Somatic Experiencing in therapy. Exercise is something I'm going to have to prioritize. I don't feel like I even have time to be depressed. If that makes sense.

 

[amosmorris]

It's been several years ago, but I had a similar routine. It was prior to marriage, which has it's own c...

Completely makes sense, @I'smom . I also have the hard-to-stay-awake challenge. I have tried with some success to structure this too, believe it or not: I set my cell phone timer and let myself go unconscious for a set period of time...15 mins, 20...whatever I can spare...but when the timer goes off, I must pull myself up. This helps because I know I can check out...but that it has a limit...hope that might be helpful.

 

[Overcoming]

How do you reorient yourself once you wake? That can be hard and I find myself feeling anxious when it happens TBH. It's like, what did I miss? Or I feel like a zombie.
It might be important to mention that I'm a social worker and have to put my own thoughts aside when I return to work. That gets complicated. Especially if a case is triggering.

 

[Deleted member 42783]

Hi l'mom,
I'm a mom, who works and goes to school full time. I think the advice above is good but you should also be willing to cut yourself some slack. I am always driven to be a high achiever and this week for the first time, I had to ask for assistance and more time at school because I cant concentrate. I've has several med changes too that are knocking me out. Like i can't get out of bed if I'm not working.
It was very hard to let my school know that I needed help but they were very gracious about it. I'm so glad I swallowed my pride.

 

[Deleted member 42783]

I'm wondering if you should maybe cut back on the sertraline?

 

[Overcoming]

I was on 100mg and completely lost myself. Panic attacks. Felt like a foreigner in my own body. I started cutting them in half a couple of months ago and have seen a considerable difference. While the depression seems worse, I'm afraid decreasing the dose will make anxiety spike

 

[Deleted member 42783]

I was on 100mg and completely lost myself. Panic attacks. Felt like a foreigner in my own body. I started cutting them in half a couple of months ago and have seen a considerable difference. While the depression seems worse, I'm afraid decreasing the dose will make anxiety spike

:( Yeah, it was just a suggestion.
Have you tried other meds?
I'm a nurse and my job can be triggering too. I'm also about to enter a forensic nursing Masters program which will absolutely be triggering. These programs are very stringent and so I was surprised at how accommodating the school was. Then again, they are required to accommodate us. If you have a PTSD diagnosis, or any mental health diagnosis actually, you can be accommodated.