lack of motivation, lack of life energy

Hi @neil welcome to the Forums!! you have found a great supportive place to share your experiences. Thankyou for sharing your story. The fact that you have reached out on the Forums suggests that you want to make positive change and you have taken a great first step. Have you ever tried mindfulness techniques? I'm not sure if it's something you would be interested in but I enjoy colouring in. I find it takes your mind away from your thoughts as you put focus into something else and it's also a small project you can accomplish and be proud of. Do you have a psychologist or mental health professional you can speak to? it is wonderful that you create weekly and monthly plans for yourself but they also need to be realistic otherwise we can inadvertently set ourself up for failure and may fall into a cycle of being negative or hard on ourselves. Once again welcome to the Forums I look forward to seeing you around the place.

Hi, I also have schizophrenia but I have different experiences to you. To get things done, I have that switching off my voices works for me or interrupting them. I prioritise my life now, when something interesting is happening in my thoughts, I quieten down and listen but when I have something to do I set a time frame I.e. In 5 minutes I'm going to do laundry. Also, now that my motivation has waned, I think back to a time when I was motivated, like, I enjoy going for a walk along the beach each day. Some days, I don't feel like getting out of the car but then I remember how much I love the beach, so I do, it's a it like brainwashing myself. Routine also helps and accomplishing tasks for another person, my family. Optimism is also useful, I can do anything I want and I'm in charge - self empowering! I hope this helps, cheers, Kimq

Thanks for replying inspire and Special k. Special k I do yoga and meditation, as mindfulness technique. I only start 5 month ago, I really enjoy it. When I am doing yoga or meditation there is no voice, it is really nice. However when I go the car after yoga, the voice come back. Voice is not in my head, it is me saying random word out of my mouth. Good thing is I do not do it while other are close by, I only do it when I am alone and no one is around. If I am doing something like watching tv, or movie the voice is not there, not immediately come after it. If my mind is not doing anything, the voice likely come, I need concentrate on task consistently or voice come, even when concentrate the voice come. The intensely of the voice fluctuate weekly and daily. My mood change as well, today I have motivation and can to some stuff, yesterday I do not anything. I have to create a routine and do stuff like daily plan.

Neil, Have you tried different types of meditation? There is a type of meditation called Vipassana where you meditate all the time. Meditation becomes your life, not just meditating when you have time. I have been doing a lot of this with my son recently. I thought this may help as you said the voices stop when you are meditating. I personally do moving meditation which is similar to this and the Buddha used this to become enlightened. Thought it was worth a go. Best of luck.

@neil

I think you made perfect sense when you talk about seeking meaning before doing things or planning.

Glad that you have a few good days where you do enjoy yoga and stuff.

I too have found yoga, buddhism helpful, like @DadofSonWithPsy

Sometimes I need to work out why my energy is all dissipated and rest and store it up again.

regards

I hope the forum helps in the search ...

i had look at Vipassana, it has long wait. in vic.

I am not linked to any service. i have psychiatrist. how do you link with services?

Hey Neil,

Look at this website https://www.dss.gov.au/mental-health/programmes-services/personal-helpers-and-mentors/locating-a-personal-helpers-and-mentors-service#vic

It is a list of all the services in Australia that deliver the PHaMs program - Personal Helpers and Mentors service. Look for one near your area and give them a phone call. Hopefully one is near you! If not, ring the closest one to you, and they should be able to link you with another service close to wherever you are.

There is lots of support out there, you just have to find it. Let me know how you go. Good luck.

Sarah x

Hello @neil

There are a couple of different buddhist organisations that run Vipassana .. maybe put your name on a few lists of things that appeal to you .. and just keep looking and applying .. and something will come back to you.

I find it quite difficult to get services.

Eventually i got through to Carers Vic .. a year ago .. in my role as carer

but still trying to get my needs met .. endless runarounds

I am very PATIENT .. but

referrals and triages that dont happen

Have put my name down for NEAMI

maybe I will call them again

One has to be determined I guess

Take care Apple