Things You Hate to Do During Depression

Things You Hate to Do During Depression Depression Symptoms Print Things You Hate to Do During Depression Depression can make simple tasks seem like impossible feats By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Reviewed by Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW on July 01, 2019 facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, author of the bestselling book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Dont Do, and a highly sought-after speaker. Learn about our Wellness Board Amy Morin, LCSW Updated on January 03, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids Hirurg / Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Personal Hygiene   Getting Out of Bed   Household Chores Going to Work Self-Care View All If you have depression, live with bipolar disorder, or have a mental illness that makes depression more likely, self-care and household tasks can easily pile up and become difficult.  Below are some common tasks that you may find difficult if you experience periods of depression.   Personal Hygiene   Personal hygiene is undoubtedly important, but when you are feeling down, you may not be able to muster up the energy you need to get yourself in the shower or tub. Other tasks that can be challenging include: Brushing your teeth??Getting dressed/changing out of your pajamasDoing your hairShavingWashing clothes   Getting Out of Bed   Depression and feeling fatigue often go hand in hand, making moving or getting out of bed incredibly difficult. This is often because people with depression have problems with sleepâ€"trouble falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night.?? These poor sleep patterns can make it that much harder to get out of bed in the morning, making you feel sluggish and unmotivated to move. Household Chores and Management   Taking care of yourself while depressed is difficult enough. Taking care of others or your household might just feel impossible. This can include the following: Caring for your kids, pets, or partnerManaging household choresCooking dinnerDoing dishes or laundry Many people with depression report that household messes and unattended chores like a pile of dirty laundry or ?stack of dirty dishes only magnify feelings of worthlessness. To combat this, do your best to start small and tackle one responsibility at a time. Going to Work Keeping a job can be difficult if you live with depression or bipolar disorder with its periods of debilitating depression.  Not only is it hard to get out of bed and dressed for work, but once you get to the office you may have difficulty concentrating, which can lead to procrastination.?? Self-Care If depression is causing you to neglect self-care, create a plan for change. This can include: Start slowly. Identify one small, easy step you can take to begin caring for yourself better and build from there.Break up daunting tasks into smaller activities.?? For example, instead of cleaning the entire kitchen, just tackle the dishes.Avoid putting pressure on yourself or putting a time limit on how long it should take to get your act together or get motivated.Practice self-compassion and acceptance. This will help build a healthier inner dialogue, which can help motivate you to move past feelings of depression. A Word From Verywell If your family and friends are having a hard time understanding depression, show them this list. People who live with depression have many problem behaviors in common. While that doesnt mean you cant try to overcome them, its important for your support network to understand the challenges you face. Explaining your difficulties and asking for  help and support  may make a positive difference in your relationship.   Keep an Exercise Routine for Your Mental Health