Looking for tips to help with depression related fatigue

Hi @Former-Member
Fatigue to me is feeling really tired but through sheer grim determination (helps being such a stubborn creature ) I can keep pushing myself to continue functioning. Pure exhaustion is all encompassing and thete comes a point where I have no other choice. My body and my brain will sleep regardless of any attempt I make to stop it. At this point I will go to sleep wherever I happen to be.
Once you can work out the difference between them it's easy knowing when you must sleep.
For me:
Fatigue = a feeling
Exhaustion = body and mind shutdown
💕🎶💕

Hi @Former-Member

Before I went to hospital I was utterly exhausted and I cannot remember much of the first week. I think pushing myself so hard to keep a smiling face and function eventually resulted in my break down.

I do look after myself better now, but I still get exhausted and fatigued (to continue above description). When I'm mentally fatigued switching tasks often works, or going in the sun, or eating a lolly... When I'm exhausted I try the lowest level of activity, but try my best to stay awake so I don't mess up my sleeping habits again.

My meds have an impact on my energy levels and we are still trying to fine tune both dosage and timing.

Another thing I have noticed is that I have to make sure to hydrate and eat sufficiently otherwise I leave the door open for both fatigue and exhaustion.

As soon as either of these buggers is in my life, the daily battle just gets so much harder.

I hope you find a way soon that will help you. And try different things, I have friends who swear by their nana nap, whereas I try to circumnavigate it as often as possible. Offices in this country are not really equipped for power naps 😉

Oh and probably the biggest impact is that I just do less. A lot less. A hell of a lot less. And that was and still is very difficult to accept. Recovery is not measured in weeks or months but years, so I better adapt.

Big hugs x

@Former-Member. If I'm angry and can't settle - I take a nap - sleep it off. I'm learning to set my alarm so that I have a nap (no more than 40 mins) & not a sleep.
A nap sometimes gives me the energy to keep going. I'm better doing physical things in the mornings and mental tasks after lunch. Knowing how your body works best - then you can help to get the most out of your day.
I hope this is helpful

I'm heading off to bed. My aging body doesn't appear to cope with long hours at the wheel as it used to do when I was a wee bit younger. Add to that a lot of quite intese driving I did today and my body is screaming at me. Wouldn't trade today for anything but now I need to lie flat and give my brain time to wind down and relax.
Have a fabulous day tomorrow Peeps.
Hugzzz 💕 💜 💕 💃💃💃 😪😪😪

Hi @Appleblossom @Kurra @Former-Member @utopia. Sorry it's taken a while to respond. After I received some responses I guess it opened a whole can of worms 🐛 for me. I have been waiting until my therapist appointment today because I really didn't know how to respond. I have taken all your responses on board because they all have much merit. I think I had my head in the sand a bit too. Today I worked through some really important stuff in my session which is partly at the core of my being so very stuck. It was a really honest and open one and it's helped me heaps towards being able to implement some of the tips. I have a much better understanding of determination and motivation now. Thinking of making a mobile to hang above my bed to remind me and help motivate me more with different ideas on. Thanks so much for your responses, they triggered a whole heap of problem solving for me 💜😊💐🤗

@Former-Member. So glad the appointment went well and you worked through some issues.
A mobile with reminders and motivational quotes would be lovely to see every morning

@Former-Member

So glad you've had some new ideas and a good talk. I am sure you will find your own way soon.

I love the idea of a mobile, I'll have to think about that, would be so nice to wake up and look at a colourful mobile 🙂