Posted by Adam on January 5, 2001, at 1:33:16
In reply to anergia, posted by Elizabeth on January 3, 2001, at 23:32:41
I know your're no fan of CBT, but I will offer this fwiw. I have also experienced, despite a robust response to selegiline, a reduction, if anything, in my levels of motivation. I am in the process of addressing this, via therapy as opposed to drugs. The reason I am doing so is, quite simply, I'm not satisfied. I don't feel I'm living to my potential. I'm the happiest I've ever been, but I really don't feel like doing much but hanging out with friends, reading books on quantum mechanics, listening to NPR, and surfing the net (worst of all). I really don't feel like doing much of the day-to-day maintainance stuff, and if it weren't for the company I keep, my living space would be a hovel. And I'd be fine with it. This isn't really like me, or the old me, miserable, but often getting a remarkable amount of stuff done, all things considered.
Sound familiar? I'm wondering if this is a common personality shift in MAOI responders.
Anyway, here's the basic gist of the therapy: Motivation is a chicken-and-egg thing. You (the non-specific "you") say to yourself "I'm not motivated, I'm not doing anything," and, sure enough, it's true. This continues so long as you're waiting to be motivated to get anything done. The remedy: Don't wait. Do whatever it is you need to do anyway, even if it feels like a Sisyfusian ordeal. Start the day with a "stuff I need to do" list. Make it realistic. Do what's on the list. Even if you'd rather be dragged naked across carpet tacks and dipped in isopropanol, do it. Even if you feel like you're doing a crappy job, finish the task as best you can. At the end of the day, go over the list, the things you've checked off, and write down how you feel about it.
My experience: I feel better about myself. I worry I'm dependant on a therapist's approval rather than some internal impetus, but I can't deny I'm encouraged by what I feel, and hope this can become habitual. I know, it's painfully obvious where I'm going with this, but the reward of seeing my list completed and getting some positive feedback does seem to be motivating me to stick with it, and that's a good thing.
It looks dippy, I know. It can sound like the cheapest form of platitudinous self-help baloney, etc., etc., and does little for the existentialist to feed their intellect, but I'm rather convinced, mu-receptors or no, that this approach has its merits.
Best of luck, whatever you do.
> Anybody have any success treating anergia? Even when my mood is fine, I have little motivation or drive. The only successful treatment I've found is mu opioid agonists. Has anybody else used opioids for this, and if so, were you able to maintain a constant dose?
poster:Adam
thread:50862
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/50931.html