Lack motivation to do anything with my life

[Mustkeyknow]

I just feel like a lazy bum. When I was young I wanted to become a graphic designer but school was too expensive so I had to drop out. I'm in finance now but didn't really achieved anything. I want to become an actor but like, who the fuck am I joking?

I'm starting web development courses and attending college next fall. I'm giving life another try. I need goals otherwise I'm going to be depressed forever.

 

[Squiddy]

I know how you feel. I really want to be either a video game designer or something in computer science and I have no motivation to pursue it. I also want to lose weight too, but have been so lazy and unmotivated.

 

[giacomo]

I know how you feel. I really want to be either a video game designer or something in computer science and I have no motivation to pursue it. I also want to lose weight too, but have been so lazy and unmotivated.

What medications have you tried so far?

 

[Squiddy]

What medications have you tried so far?

I'm on:

Risperdal, Trileptal, Prozac, Lithium, ReVia, Protonix, Vistaril, Trazodone, Prazosin, Ativan, Zofran, Melatonin

 

[Deleted member 17949]

I am trying my best to get through college and into university but man it is hard. I don't blame you for lacking motivation; motivation is really tied to happiness and if you are struggling with being happy your motivation is likely to suffer as a result.

 

[so tired or manic]

motivation is fleeting, doesn't take any effort, and is unreliable. especially with depression involved, pushing through to get things done is the only option.

I hope college goes well, I'm proud of you for making those steps.

 

[giacomo]

I'm on:

Risperdal, Trileptal, Prozac, Lithium, ReVia, Protonix, Vistaril, Trazodone, Prazosin, Ativan, Zofran, Melatonin

None of the medication you mentioned has any actual effect on motivation (some may even have the opposite effect like Risperdal). I don't know what issues you are precisely dealing with and what is your current diagnosis but you should probably rethink your strategy and try different medications which may be more effective and more appropriate to your condition(s).

I won't give you any advice right now as I don't precisely know what you are struggling with but from the list of medications you have tried until now, I don't think it is unreasonable to say that you are quite far from having exhausted all the possibilities and treatments available.

 

[stillweary]

For me, lack of motivation is based on my lived experience of the imbalance between effort and payout. Lived experience becomes future expectation, and it's simply illogical to put any time or effort into endeavors that won't go anywhere. I used to spend hours writing, only to have maybe one or two people ever bother to read anything I wrote. I spent years working my tail off in school, only to have the economy cripple and end up in the same type of job I would have had, had I never tried in the first place. I tried starting my own website, only to have the host company take it down for reasons beyond my control. I tried to plan a rational career path, only to have three companies in a row go bankrupt. I tried moving to another city in search of a better life, only to have a freak storm hit that city and tear my roof off, sending me right back to where I came from.

Until my life is no longer cursed and I can somehow reap a reward for my efforts, there is no incentive to try.

 

[Squiddy]

None of the medication you mentioned has any actual effect on motivation (some may even have the opposite effect like Risperdal). I don't know what issues you are precisely dealing with and what is your current diagnosis but you should probably rethink your strategy and try different medications which may be more effective and more appropriate to your condition(s).

I won't give you any advice right now as I don't precisely know what you are struggling with but from the list of medications you have tried until now, I don't think it is unreasonable to say that you are quite far from having exhausted all the possibilities and treatments available.

Issues that make me want to ctb are my processing issues (not always being able to understand what people are saying), my bad short term memory, my inability to articulate myself verbally sometimes. My diagnoses are Bipolar 1, BPD, PTSD and anxiety. I think it might just be my depression causing my motivation issues

 

[giacomo]

Issues that make me want to ctb are my processing issues (not always being able to understand what people are saying), my bad short term memory, my inability to articulate myself verbally sometimes. My diagnoses are Bipolar 1, BPD, PTSD and anxiety. I think it might just be my depression causing my motivation issues

If by "BPD" you mean "Borderline personality disorder" (I'm asking because it can also refer to "Bipolar disorder"), then there is an issue with your current diagnosis as it doesn't really make any sense to diagnose someone with both Bipolar disorder (either I or II) + Borderline personality disorder. Bipolar disorder shares some similar symptoms with BPD (for instance, emotional dysregulation). Also note that PTSD and BPD are related in some ways (traumatic events during childhood can potentially lead to both).

Now, depression is symptomatic of both conditions (Bipolar I and BPD) and as you said, lack of motivation can be a symptom caused by depression (among many other things). But either way, symptoms of depression and lack of motivation can be treated or drastically improved with more appropriate medications than the ones you have tried so far.

As I said in my previous post, none of them actually improves motivational issues and you should probably ask your current psychiatrist or find a new one that will take the time to understand your issues and find a treatment that works for your depression (and thus, increase your motivation).

Another thing: your "processing issues" (not always being able to understand what people are saying, bad short term memory and inability to articulate yourself verbally) may be caused by your current medication (which could be inappropriate or not properly suited).

 

[Squiddy]

If by "BPD" you mean "Borderline personality disorder" (I'm asking because it can also refer to "Bipolar disorder"), then there is an issue with your current diagnosis as it doesn't really make any sense to diagnose someone with both Bipolar disorder (either I or II) + Borderline personality disorder. Bipolar disorder shares some similar symptoms with BPD (for instance, emotional dysregulation). Also note that PTSD and BPD are related in some ways (traumatic events during childhood can potentially lead to both).

Now, depression is symptomatic of both conditions (Bipolar I and BPD) and as you said, lack of motivation can be a symptom caused by depression (among many other things). But either way, symptoms of depression and lack of motivation can be treated or drastically improved with more appropriate medications than the ones you have tried so far.

As I said in my previous post, none of them actually improves motivational issues and you should probably ask your current psychiatrist or find a new one that will take the time to understand your issues and find a treatment that works for your depression (and thus, increase your motivation).

Another thing: your "processing issues" (not always being able to understand what people are saying, bad short term memory and inability to articulate yourself verbally) may be caused by your current medication (which could be inappropriate or not properly suited).

I've read that you can have both bipolar and BPD. Even before my meds, I was having issues with articulating myself and bad short term memory and processing issues.

 

[BPD Barbie]

If by "BPD" you mean "Borderline personality disorder" (I'm asking because it can also refer to "Bipolar disorder"), then there is an issue with your current diagnosis as it doesn't really make any sense to diagnose someone with both Bipolar disorder (either I or II) + Borderline personality disorder.

I have both. It's a real thing to have both regardless if it makes sense or not.

 

[Nymph]

I'm going to school to become a graphic designer too actually. But it's hard to go on because imagining my future where I won't even get a real break from school/work because I have to do it nonstop to be able to live terrifies me.

 

[Jumper Geo]

I was on 2ng of Risperidone for just over one year and for over one year I haven't taken any meds and the side effects was still with me, very tired I mean I didn't want to wash I got out of bed and walked to the living room and laid down and watched TV for 12 hours plus I couldn't think straight had a foggy brain, zero motivation, I didn't want to talk to anyone just wanted to be left a lone.

Two weeks ago I found some expensive Vitamin D and Turmeric pills I bought my mum and the next day I notice a change I was starting to think clearly I got up had a shave, run a bath usually there would be arguments trying to get me to wash, I bought other things to help me but I am starting to feel more positive as I can do more things.

Not saying it's going to be a miracle cure for everyone but it's working for me I have just bought a new bike so I can get out and get my fitness and stamina levels back to normal, I am getting better as the days roll on.

Good luck, I hope you can find a miracle pill to solve your problems.

Cheers

Geo

 

[giacomo]

I have both. It's a real thing to have both regardless if it makes sense or not.

Being diagnosed with both is a non-sense (often a result of being diagnosed from different psychiatrists or/and at different periods in your life). You could totally end up being diagnosed with Bipolar disorder + BPD + Cyclothymia + Schizoaffective disorder + many others conditions (basically any mental disorder with periods of mania or hypomania and depression) and with literally every possible mental disorder having mood swing as a symptom.

If you "have both" as you think, since we currently ignore precisely the cause of Bipolar disorder (psychiatrists and other specialists are actually still debating over whether Bipolar disorder should be considered a disease in itself rather than part of spectrum or a symptom), it is likely that your actual diagnosis is BPD (emotional lability being one of the symptoms).

Now, I don't have the time to give you a full explanation about issues of misdiagnosis and over-diagnosis in psychiatry but as a final word, in the world of psychiatry and psychology, what matters isn't the diagnosis itself but to find the appropriate tools (medication, psychotherapy, etc) to fight the issues you are struggling with.

Hope this help and wish you the best.

 

[Squiddy]

Being diagnosed with both is a non-sense (often a result of being diagnosed from different psychiatrists or/and at different periods in your life). You could totally end up being diagnosed with Bipolar disorder + BPD + Cyclothymia + Schizoaffective disorder + many others conditions (basically any mental disorder with periods of mania or hypomania and depression) and with literally every possible mental disorder having mood swing as a symptom.

If you "have both" as you think, since we currently ignore precisely the cause of Bipolar disorder (psychiatrists and other specialists are actually still debating over whether Bipolar disorder should be considered a disease in itself rather than part of spectrum or a symptom), it is likely that your actual diagnosis is BPD (emotional lability being one of the symptoms).

Now, I don't have the time to give you a full explanation about issues of misdiagnosis and over-diagnosis in psychiatry but as a final word, in the world of psychiatry and psychology, what matters isn't the diagnosis itself but to find the appropriate tools (medication, psychotherapy, etc) to fight the issues you are struggling with.

Hope this help and wish you the best.

Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder Dual Diagnosis

Many of the symptoms of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder overlap, particularly with type 1 bipolar disorder.

www.healthline.com

 

[WinterFaust]

Being diagnosed with both is a non-sense (often a result of being diagnosed from different psychiatrists or/and at different periods in your life). You could totally end up being diagnosed with Bipolar disorder + BPD + Cyclothymia + Schizoaffective disorder + many others conditions (basically any mental disorder with periods of mania or hypomania and depression) and with literally every possible mental disorder having mood swing as a symptom.

If you "have both" as you think, since we currently ignore precisely the cause of Bipolar disorder (psychiatrists and other specialists are actually still debating over whether Bipolar disorder should be considered a disease in itself rather than part of spectrum or a symptom), it is likely that your actual diagnosis is BPD (emotional lability being one of the symptoms).

Now, I don't have the time to give you a full explanation about issues of misdiagnosis and over-diagnosis in psychiatry but as a final word, in the world of psychiatry and psychology, what matters isn't the diagnosis itself but to find the appropriate tools (medication, psychotherapy, etc) to fight the issues you are struggling with.

Hope this help and wish you the best.

This is both a dismissive and uninformed stance to take. I'm sure this was all well-intended and while there's much to be said about misdiagnoses and over-diagnosing people, the two can absolutely be comorbid. The other diagnoses you mentioned are under the bipolar umbrella, BPD is not. There are several factors that differentiate the two.

There are two people telling you that they have these diagnoses and it is their actual lived experience. If they feel that they are properly diagnosed and have a better understanding of what issues they face because of it, what is the actual problem? A diagnosis is not everything but an appropriate diagnosis can lead to proper and effective treatment.

Saying "it is likely that your actual diagnosis is BPD" makes it seem as though you're trying to diagnose someone based off a few posts on the internet and your prior research which seems to be limited in some capacity. That's just bad practice.

 

[noaccount]

It breaks my heart constantly and chronically that people get convinced that DSM labels are *internal qualities about themselves* rather than external things that were slapped on by a system for insurance purposes or for any/no reason.