To Anyone Whose Depression Is Putting A Damper On Your Motivation
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Health and Wellness

To Anyone Whose Depression Is Putting A Damper On Your Motivation

An open letter of encouragement to anyone who struggles with depression and staying motivated

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To Anyone Whose Depression Is Putting A Damper On Your Motivation
TheOdysseyOnline

Have you ever felt an absolute loss of all ambition or motivation to do anything for just a day or even much longer? Do you wrestle with a debilitating depression that you feel is inhibiting your ability to be productive? Do you ever have days where you don't want to do anything except lay in bed because you absolutely cannot find it within yourself to even get out of bed? Struggling with a depression that is hindering your motivation can be one of the most lonely and discouraging forms of the mental illness, but it is important to always know that you are never alone and that you can overcome. This one's for you.

To say that major depression is simply a neurological chemical imbalance that makes us feel sad for prolonged amounts of time would be a terrible understatement. Anyone who has had the misfortune of experiencing depression will understand that it is much more than just a mental illness; it is an ever-present element in our day to day lives that we are forced tirelessly to reckon with just to function like a 'normal' human. Despite the various methods of treatment, many patients still feel the persisting burdens of loneliness, isolation, overwhelming emotions, an underwhelming lack of emotions, and arguably the most damaging symptom of all: a lack of motivation.

We are all only human. This means that we are all subject to the shortcomings, flaws of character, and limitations of humans that innately make us different from one another yet still one in the same. We all experience grief. We all experience pain. We all experience passion. Many of us who struggle with depression still possess a powerful sense of desire to realize our full potential as aspiring individuals. Some of us desire to be brilliant learners. Some of us desire to be fierce athletes.Some of us desire to be breathtaking artists. One common factor that brings us all together is that innate desire or ambition that we recognize as our motivation. The motivation factor that drives us to dream such big accomplishments for ourselves is the same one fueling us to work hard in the classroom, at the gym, and doing whatever it is we love doing.

But not today. Today, the depression has made its ugly presence known and our motivation has all gone right out the window. Today, we're just going to lay in bed, take a nap, watch some Netflix, and do nothing to better ourselves because it is so much easier to lay comfortably beneath the covers and indulge in some form of escape. Today, we've lost the battle; we've lost the romantic vision and succumb to the temporary comfort that is stifling our motivation.

It is far too easy to take comfort in an effortless distraction from our depression than to go put in that extra workout, or to practice that complex composition of music, or to study up for that difficult exam you know is coming. This kind of habit can even be seen to parallel a drug addiction. The drug addict takes temporary comfort by getting their fix and forgetting about whatever it is that troubles them by riding out their high. But, once the drug addict comes down, they will discover that their troubles have not left with their high and that their troubles might be even more pressing than before. What's worse is that their habit was just given a generous dose of chemical reinforcement and that habit will only continue to press stronger now in times of trouble. The same is true for those who find themselves 'stuck' and cannot depart with their temporary comfort; their responsibilities and priorities aren't going away, but for the little while it feels like there's nothing to worry about or to tirelessly exert yourself over.

It's time to make the commitment to bettering yourself. It's time to go above and beyond the comfort of your bed and to make great things happen for yourself. It's going to begin and end with you; you are the only person who can make it happen. Although you alone are the only one capable of instigating changes, you should know that you are never alone in the uphill battle. While you're up against the grain making the gradual improvements to yourself, you should know that there are hundreds of thousands of us out here who want to see you succeed while we ourselves are striving for improvement. You are never alone in the struggle, but you are the only one who can decide how far you go; you are the only one standing in your own way.

Of course it won't happen overnight; it's going to be a deliberate process tailored to your personal needs in order to overcome your absence of motivation. Unfortunately, there is no one single action or change you can make that will entirely solve your motivation problem. The commitment to getting more motivated could potentially mean an entire change in lifestyle.

Perhaps the single largest difference maker is getting enough sleep through the night. Very little is actually known about the connection between depression and sleep, but the trend remains consistent that patients who maintain a fairly regular sleep schedule and get an adequate amount of sleep every night possess an overall increase in mood and ambition. This isn't always the easiest change to make, especially for those of us who are students trying to balance schoolwork, a job, and a handful of other commitments. However, the motivation to manage all these obligations can only improve drastically following a full night's worth of sleep.


Another imperative measure that should be taken to help increase motivation is one we all know she should be doing yet still make excuses for ourselves: exercising. Well, it's time to stop making excuses and involve yourself in some form of physical activity! Doctors recommend getting between a half-hour to an hour of moderate physical activity at least three times a week to combat the effects of depression. It would be most beneficial to establish a routine of sorts for every week to keep yourself consistent in your physical activity. Some of the most effective forms of exercise include running, lifting weights, swimming, dancing, and even just taking regular walks.


One more game-changing aspect of your life that can be changed to help boost motivation is to identify 'brain toxic' lifestyle choices that can be eliminated from your day to day routines. This includes excessive alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco and cannabis, watching pornography, recreational drug use, excessive internet/social media surfing, and any other self-deprecating activity that might leave you feeling like something other than your natural self. Certain lifestyle choices such as these can make you feel like someone other than yourself and can be emotionally exhausting after prolonged habitual use.



It is not enough to get one full night's sleep and to workout once and call it good. The efforts on your behalf must be consistent and provide structure in your life in order for them to be effective. Much like how the drug addict is given chemical reinforcement to keep abusing substance, your brain will start to recognize the new positive changes in your lifestyle and reinforce your momentum as you begin to acclimate to a more disciplined conduct. The consistency in healthy behavior is going to be the biggest game-changer and your best chance at realizing improved more motivation

I cannot reiterate enough that these lifestyle changes won't be easy. Nothing about overcoming the effects of depression has ever been easy, but it'll be one of the most rewarding efforts you have ever made in your life when you finally do. Sometimes it's going to be the most painful struggle to get out of bed and exercise for an hour like you planned for on that day, but you are going to have to force yourself with every ounce of your inner being to get up and just do it for yourself. What it all comes down to is: how bad do you really want to achieve that vision you see fit for yourself? How bad do you want to set that new personal record? How bad do you want to get accepted into that graduate school? How bad do you want your art-piece to be featured? One can dream of everything they desire in life, but without an honest effort to make it happen, that is all it will ever be. Just a dream. Joel Barker said it best when he said,

"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world".

It's going to be hard work. It's going to require a fighting effort. It's not going to be easy, but that's why it's going to feel so good. So get out of your bed, go set yourself some goals, put your game plan into practice, and turn those dreams into a tangible reality!

Sincerely,
A friend

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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