Depression with motivation?

[saflyfish]

Hi
I have suffered from anxiety & depression for over 25yrs.My condition started out as anxiety which led to severe depression.
I take 50Mg zoloft 1x day,and clonazepam 2x day for anxiety.
What myself and doctor are confused about is that although im depressed,im highly motivated and goal driven.
Can anyone shed some light on this?Surely if youre depressed youre unmotivated??

[Anne1221]

No, not me. I'm very motivated and goal driven but I have a tendency to suffer from depression due to needing medication. As long as I take the medication at the right dosages, I'm very driven. But take the medication away from me, and I don't do very well. You don't have situational depression, like someone going through the recovery of a death of a loved one. Those people feel tired and unmotivated. Yours is a chronic condition that needs to be treated, like if you had diabetes and needed insulin. Recently I tried, once again, and I don't know how many times I've done this, to cut way back on my medication and I am so unmotivated. Go back up and once again, I am a go getter.

[Anne1221]

I don't mean I'm just unmotivated without the medication, but bad depression too. When I get back on it, the depression goes away.

[saflyfish]

What medication are you taking?I have been on so many ive lost count...nothing working at the moment

[MainerMikeBrown]

Saflyfish, you being highly motivated despite feeling depressed could be the result of what's called a mixed bi-polar state. Those in a mixed bi-polar state have symptoms of mania and depression at the same time.

Just a thought.

[Anne1221]

I take Lexapro, 10 mg daily.

[vancedwight]

Instead of taking medications you need to try natural therapy.

[MrsMargo]

Instead of taking medications you need to try natural therapy.

Being depressed can make you feel helpless. You're not. Along with therapy and sometimes medication, there's a lot you can do on your own to fight back. Changing your behavior -- your physical activity, lifestyle, and even your way of thinking -- are all natural depression treatments.

These tips can help you feel better -- starting right now.

1. Get in a routine. Depression can strip away the structure from your life. One day melts into the next. Setting a gentle daily schedule can help you get back on track.

2.Set goals. When you're depressed, you may feel like you can't accomplish anything. That makes you feel worse about yourself. To push back, set daily goals for yourself.

As you start to feel better, you can add more challenging daily goals.

3. Exercise. It temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways.
How much exercise do you need? You don’t need to run marathons to get a benefit. Just walking a few times a week can help.

4. Eat healthy. There is no magic diet that fixes depression. It's a good idea to watch what you eat, though. If depression tends to make you overeat, getting in control of your eating will help you feel better.

5. Get enough sleep. Depression can make it hard to get enough shut-eye, and too little sleep can make depression worse.

What can you do? Start by making some changes to your lifestyle. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Try not to nap. Take all the distractions out of your bedroom -- no computer and no TV. In time, you may find your sleep improves.

6. Take on responsibilities. When you’re depressed, you may want to pull back from life and give up your responsibilities at home and at work. Don't. Staying involved and having daily responsibilities can help you maintain a lifestyle that can help counter depression. They ground you and give you a sense of accomplishment.

If you're not up to full-time school or work, that’s fine. Think about part-time. If that seems like too much, consider volunteer work.

7. Challenge negative thoughts. In your fight against depression, a lot of the work is mental -- changing how you think. When you're depressed, you leap to the worst possible conclusions.

The next time you're feeling terrible about yourself, use logic as a natural depression treatment. You might feel like no one likes you, but is there real evidence for that? You might feel like the most worthless person on the planet, but is that really likely? It takes practice, but in time you can beat back those negative thoughts before they get out of control.

8. Check with your doctor before using supplements. Always check with your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you’re already taking medications.

9. Do something new. When you’re depressed, you’re in a rut. Push yourself to do something different. Go to a museum. Pick up a used book and read it on a park bench. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Take a language class.

10. Try to have fun. If you’re depressed, make time for things you enjoy. What if nothing seems fun anymore? "That's just a symptom of depression," Cook says. You have to keep trying anyway.

As strange as it might sound, you have to work at having fun. Plan things you used to enjoy, even if they feel like a chore. Keep going to the movies. Keep going out with friends for dinner.

[Abel101]

Will cognitive behavior therapy work for depression?

[AngelaEvers]

Yes! It should work.