I wake up in the morning and don’t want to get out of bed. I feel sad and anxious. I have no energy to study, work, or eat. My room is always messy and I don’t feel like cleaning up either. I have no motivation for anything. How do I help myself? 

Answered by Rishav Koirala, psychiatrist and researcher 

Lacking motivation to do anything, or even getting out of bed is common among many people. I went through the same thing around two weeks back. Although I was working, a part of me always felt sad and tired. I didn’t feel like doing anything either. Feelings like this are episodic. Sometimes it lasts a short while, sometimes longer. 

Keeping yourself active is important. Although you won’t feel like it, push yourself to get out of bed and indulge yourself in some physical exercise. It helps our body to release dopamine. You might not see the result immediately, but this will help. The worst thing to do at times like these is to stay put.

It’s important to keep yourself busy at times like these. It will be tough. But that’s where you shouldn’t give up. Sometimes, you need to push through this feeling and get the work done. The more you procrastinate, the worse this feeling will get. Also, avoid being on your own all the time. Go out, hang out with friends, and meet people. That will give you some positive reinforcement. And if you are under medication for any mental health issues, do not discontinue.

Don’t shy away from asking for help. This issue might not be severe, but feeling low all the time is something to be concerned about. Although it might not be depression or anxiety, there are a few diagnoses like dysthymia (persistent mild depression) and postpartum blues (low mood and mild depressive symptoms that begins shortly after childbirth) that have symptoms like these. If the feelings don’t go away even after you have made the needed changes in your lifestyle and have done everything I mentioned above, it’s always a good idea to seek help.