Procrastination As A Symptom Of Ptsd

[EveHarrington]

Very much dislike the term "procrastination" because I feel a very negative connotation with this word as if all I need to do is just stop procrastinating. But I have a feeling this is just me.

I very much agree that I have major avoidance issues. Really struggling with avoidance right now.

 

[Changing4Best]

If you are a person who prays, pray for the desire to do that thing or things which is/ are difficult, pray that you will start doing it at a specific time and then try to do it then. Adding this to all the above advices could help.

 

[Ronin]

If you are a person who prays

Eventually, pray so that even the minimal effort brings rewards, and inspires your spirit to further efforts.

 

[cat-lady]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I have gotten more done since my post thanks in part to all the good advice. I struggle a lot with avoidance. My old therapist said that I specifically had a form of ptsd characterized by avoidance. Trying to work on it in general including with school. I think I will have to keep coming back to this conversation to remind myself of these techniques. Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I have to be very flexible on this procrastination. I used to be the worlds worst procrastinator. i am not that way anymore. But I also am accomplishing a task I set for myself baby steps.

Lists are good and I love the bonus after getting the task done. I have learned so much reading everone.

I get ideas in my head and they begin to eat at me and that is when I accomplish the tasks so I set small ones and if I see that something has to be done I will get to it as soon as possible and feel a sense of accomplishment and actually feel better. Bigger tasks take more time. But some days I have no motivation at all and then I give myself some slack and shoot for the smaller goals.

great thread thank you so much.

 

[ladee]

Procrastination as self harm. :wideeyed:. Never thought about it that way. Thanks @Anarchy. Will be looking at this in a different light.

 

[Anarchy]

Procrastination as self harm. :wideeyed:. Never thought about it that way.

It's in that strange area along with being passive aggressive and allowing things to mount up in order to cause a crisis. It's stuff that I know I do, but I don't really understand.

 

[ladee]

I love it when someone has shared something and it takes my mind on another whole adventure in looking at my life...This absolutely makes sense to me now. Thanks again @Anarchy :hug:

 

[barefoot]

Ugh, I'm big on procrastinating...I get on my own nerves so much about it!

Have only quickly scanned other replies but I agree with others - break things down into smaller, more manageable chunks and carrot, carrot, carrot!

Only thing I thought I'd add - have you thought about how you're working with (or maybe against!) your natural energy rhythms? I say this because I went through a stage a few months back of being so sick of my avoidant ways and so stressed about all that I needed to do but wasn't doing, that I got really furious with myself (forgot all about carrot and just remembered stick!) So, I kept trying to frogmarch myself (!) to my desk to work all day and get everything done. And, funnily enough, it didn't work...it just meant more frustration, more stress and lots more stick!

Then, I realised what I was doing. My energy levels in terms of focusing, thinking, concentrating, getting things done etc are higher in the afternoon. I kind of get into my stride around 4pm and then I'm on a roll and can work through the evening. By trying to get myself to my desk and stuck into work first thing in the morning, I ended up trying to fight avoidance/procrastination AND I was trying to do it at the worst possible time of day for me.

So, if you haven't considered this before, maybe experiment with trying to do things at different times of the day/evening and see when it feels easier/harder. If you can identify your natural energy rhythms, you can harness that energy at the right times and get more done, more easily. It won't beat your tendency to procrastinate, but it might help you to work WITH yourself as opposed to against yourself. Just a thought. It was a useful learning experience for me and now I generally don't even bother trying to do things first thing...and because I give myself that permission, I don't then beat myself with the stick for "failing" to do the work I wanted to do in the morning. And taking away the failure to get going in the morning...it does make it a bit easier to then get started after lunch.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I have been thinking about this subject and maybe the procrastination is more of a side effect of PtSD in that because of the amount of symptoms going up on the scale, there just is not the energy to move forward.

I used to be really bad at procrastination when my symptoms were really bad.

 

[void]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I have gotten more done since my post thanks in part to all the goo...

Me too @cat-lady !!

Take the sub-conscious and make it conscious...........make life clear and deliberate.

"What specifically am I avoid right now?"
"Why am I avoiding this task?"

"I am avoiding this task because I _____*______ ."

*am afraid, tired, filled with self-doubt, fear failure, etc....

Name it.
Face it.
Move forward.


You will improve on this issue.:tup:
I believe in you.:hug::happy::hug:

 

[anthony]

I would actually lump procrastination as part of E5 - difficulty concentrating. Concentration is directly linked with procrastination, which can then flow outwards into various areas of your life, being criterion F. You can toss rumination into the equation also, because if you ruminate upon traumatic aspects, that has a consequence for you to ruminate in other areas, again, criterion F. Your symptoms have flowed outwards to cause significant distress in other areas of your life.

:D:inlove::coffee: