Bipolar Depression: Too Tired by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT
In my previous blog post “Ways to Keep it Moving,” I addressed how to do basic, everyday tasks during a depressive episode. What if you’re getting the basics done, and that’s it? Your level of productivity and motivation stops after you’ve brushed your teeth, showered, and eaten.
How does it feel?
You feel very groggy; it’s as if you’re stuck in a fog.
You feel like you’re moving around very slowly; at a snail’s pace. Or, it’s difficult to get up and move.
You feel the pull to just lay down.
You feel like you can fall back asleep during the daytime.
Your natural reaction and pull will be to go with the feeling of tiredness and lack of energy by laying down, taking a nap, or watching Netflix. By doing so, your depression symptoms can increase, or alternatively, it will be very difficult to come out of the episode.
Things to consider
Get some light, such as going outside and get natural sunlight.
Adhere to a sleep schedule. This means falling asleep and waking up at a designated time each day.
Consider the possibility of medication or notify your psychiatrist if your current medication has not helped your depression. This is especially important if you’ve noticed a pattern of depressive episodes that are making it extremely difficult to get things done.
Notify your therapist about your symptoms or reach out to a therapist who specializes in bipolar disorder. As therapists, we can work with you to create a customized treatment plan to increasing your overall functioning and management of your symptoms.
The gold standard in mental health care is psychiatry and therapy at the same time. Oftentimes, individuals find that medication from a psychiatrist has helped to manage the symptoms enough to where strategies discussed in therapy can be put into action.
You don’t have to do this alone. I specialize in bipolar disorder. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consult.
My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I work with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.
**IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. **