It seems to be the one thing I still struggle with despite my medication and being perfectly stable otherwise. I still have trouble with things like brushing my teeth and showering. Today I’m having trouble feeding myself. It’s frustrating because I don’t feel depressed at all or anything it’s like I just think about doing those things and feel overwhelmed like I don’t have the capacity for it. I don’t know what to do about this but it’s very frustrating because I have been destroying my teeth by not brushing them.
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Have you studied executive function in school yet? It’s the brain process that allows you to break big tasks into smaller, more achievable tasks. So instead of looking at “must cook meal” a typical brain would say “must get ingredients out of fridge, measure them, turn on stove, etc.”. When someone has executive function disorder, their brain doesn’t do that automatically. Instead, it gets stuck on the end result (food must be eaten) with no clear idea of how to get to that point. So you sit there paralyzed with confusion and anxiety, and maybe try to distract yourself from those bad feelings by surfing the web or other, easier tasks.
I suffer from this big time, as a result of my brain damage. It helps me to have someone walk me through the exact steps of a process a few times, until my brain memorizes the steps. So I had Mr. Star teach me how to load the dishwasher correctly, or I watched YouTube to learn how to cook certain specific meals, etc, and I can now usually do those tasks automatically.
When there is a minor bump in the road (we are out of ingredient x, there’s a new weirdly shaped dish and I don’t know where it goes, etc) I sometimes need help figuring out how to compensate. On my better days, I can figure out a creative solution on my own.
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This might seem like an attempt at self-diagnosing but that sounds like what hindered me so much at my last job tbh. It frustrated people but I couldn’t help it. 
I hope you can get your energy/motivation back, @Anna!!
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Some basic info
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I don’t quite think that’s it. I have times where I am doing great and am not struggling with mundane things at all. Then I think life just gets really hectic and it’s like I have to spend all my mental energy on school and I just can’t do anything else even basic self-care. I think it’s some kind of brain strain. Shut off energy to everything else and just shunt it to the important things. Then eventually it gets to be so much that I can’t keep up with school either and when I try to study my brain just shuts down and I get nothing accomplished. I almost failed one of my classes this semester because it got to that point. I literally have to have time to myself to do absolutely nothing or my brain starts to shut down and my functioning gets worse and worse. It’s just so weird that it is independent from mood. Because my mood has really been totally fine this semester I’ve been stressed yeah but nowhere near how my anxiety is off meds and not depressed at all.
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I’m not an expert whatsoever but do you think it could accurately be described as a fluctuating stress threshold, possibly?
Then again, I guess it doesn’t matter what it’s called. Sorry you’re dealing with this. I wish I could help more. I’m happy to listen though.
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I’m not too sure what that is I’ve never heard of it!
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I used to have the same issues – I have found that one good habit follows another, for example pick out clothes to where the night before you wear them - this leads you to shower - in the shower floss, brush your teeth and use mouthwash - use a bar soap and scrubby dubb with body wash also - you’ll feel so good being clean that in a week or two it becomes a permanent habit …
Another thing, cologne or perfume is great😁
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That’s a good idea, I have found that “clustering” my actions helps too. So like if I am already up I will try to do everything before I sit back down. Or if I am already out of the house I will try to run all my errands.
Also I find that once I make things routine I have an easier time doing them. However when I get thrown off my routine it can take me ages to reestablish it like how I am with teeth brushing right now. I asked my boyfriend if when he brushes his teeth he could get me to come do it with him. Sometimes I get energy to do things when he is with me like leave the house when I wouldn’t have the energy to do it on my own.
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I kinda just made it up. 
It explains my somewhat scattered approach to life. I can be doing well and then all of a sudden things that weren’t an issue for me become problematic and I kinda just implode, no explanation as to why, that I can usually tell anyway. 
I also feel like sz messed with my brain’s reward system so it’s very hard for me to feel a sense of accomplishment hence low motivation.
Sorry to keep droning on about my issues. D: But I do relate. I admire you for doing all you do in the face of these problems.
Are you sure this isn’t actually harming you in the long term? Like, your body has an idea that if it starts one thing, it must do ten more things, so it chooses to do zero things instead? I used to do this and it went badly for me for years before I learned to take a break between activities.
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Hmm I didn’t think about it like that. Thank you for bringing it up maybe that does have something to do with it.
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@Rhubot uses the five minute rule when forcing herself to do activities she has zero motivation for. She commits to doing five minutes worth of activity. After five minutes, she takes a break. You would be surprised how many chores can be done in less than five minutes.
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i do the five minute rule, too. Sometimes you find you can do five more and then more until the tasks are finished.
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Counting down from ten or fifteen then forcing myself to start my day usually works for me.
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Yea I need to kick myself a lot too if I wanna get things done. And have a plan, to do list.
I’m gonna start trying the five minute rule, that sounds good.
I use a 15 second rule with my cravings to use, it was a similar concept, just abstaining for 15 seconds at a time when I have the urge. Helps to do positive thinking while doing this.
For My luck in my drinking problem I found it’s best to just put it off over and over until eventually you never get around to doing it.
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