Sorry for mental health kind of question, but I do not know better place to ask about this stuff.

Nowadays, I lie down on a bed and just watch twitch streams all day, with a little bit of browsing lemmy in between. I do not want to do anything, pretty much any activity seems to cause exhaustion. So, I just do bare minimum and return to bed, watching twitch for over 5 hours.

Another is that I feel I cannot do anything good enough. I cannot study effectively, cannot do menial tasks without being stressed. This is especially concerning for me because I am taking a graduate program, but I also doubt I could do any kind of real work. I just don’t think I have capability to read complicated texts and remember it clearly, write a decent piece of literature on some subject, or just about anything at all.

Is this related to addiction - can addiction make me feel exhausted all the time? Also, how can I escape this permanent lethargy? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

  • TechnologyChef@lemmy.world
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    3 hours ago

    I appreciate the consensus about consulting a medical professional. Finding the right psychiatrist or therapist can make a big difference—some professionals are good, and others may be an even better fit. Psychiatry often takes time, but it can bring real improvement once the right medication and dosage are found. Medications in mental health require patience, as they typically take 2-4 weeks to show effects, and tapering off them is a gradual process to ensure safety. So you and just get off of them immediately.

    For instance, a medication like Vraylar has long-lasting metabolites that can remain in the body for 160-180 days after stopping. This extended presence can offer stability for some, though others might find it very concerning. Medication journeys are highly individual—side effects can range from acceptable to troubling, and it’s worth taking the time to find what works best for you. Getting off a medication can be a relief or a burden.

    Therapy complements psychiatry by addressing the emotional and behavioral side of healing. Relying only on medication may seem logical for managing depression or anxiety before you can move forward, but working with both a therapist and psychiatrist often leads to faster, more comprehensive progress. Psychiatrists focus on finding the right medication to help you function, while therapists provide ongoing support, helping you navigate commitments and challenges that might feel overwhelming without guidance. Sometimes the therapist may not see that the right med or does is available for the next step.

    Ultimately, having both as part of a collaborative team can provide the balance and support needed for a successful mental health journey. I am so sorry that this takes money for some countries healthcare system and the cost of meds or visits. It’s worth finding out about mental health and helping yourself and others nonetheless.

    • someacnt_@lemmy.worldOP
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      4 hours ago

      Thanks, I did not realize it was from depression. I regularly visit psychiatrist for depression and anxiety, and I thought my depression was once cured. I guess it did not get better.

      • TheFunkyMonk@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        Keep at it. I had similar symptoms and tried a handful of SSRIs that made no difference for me, and gave up for a while, but my current doctor got me on a SNRI that did the trick.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      probably the best advice anyone here can give.

      At best, we’re just taking guesses here. At worst… well… this is how you end up drinking twenty bottles of tequila a week, seeking the medicinal value of the worm slathered in tabasco sauce

  • Beardsley@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Hey my friend, fellow depressive here. It’s not addiction, it’s a massive struggle. This is a vital time, the only way out is to face your circumstance.

  • lath@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    I’m gonna say something different from the other comments and call it a burnout. You ran out of mojo. Need a refuel. Gotta find meaning again and let it power you up.

    That can happen easy and fast or slow and difficult. It’s up to chance. In general, people pick up a hobby or take up sports and then do everything else in order to support that joy. More rarely, some people choose activism as joining something greater than themselves drives them to push past this state of couch potato ism.

  • KoboldCoterie@pawb.social
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    7 hours ago

    Sounds more like depression than addiction. Hopefully someone with more experience can chime in, but common symptoms of depression include:

    • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy doing
    • Persistent tiredness or lack of energy
    • Difficulty concentrating on things

    which sounds like what you’re describing. It might be worth talking to a professional.

    • Tedesche@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      Therapist here. This is correct. While almost any activity can be addicting, OP isn’t describing an addiction, which would involve distress in the absence of a particular activity, even when other activities were engaged in. What OP is describing is much more like the apathy/lethargy we see in depressed people, which often results in persistent engagement with easy distractions.

  • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 hours ago

    Sounds like me, I was diagnosed with depression.

    You might want to see a doctor. Maybe medication, maybe therapy, maybe other forms of, what I consider to be experimental treatments, like TMS or ECT, do not try the last 2 until you’ve exhaused your options.

    I’m still dealing with depression, medications no longer works, might need to keep trying different medications. Ugh its rough. I feel you.

    (Also, did you ever get infected with Covid? That can also cause cognitive issues. Other health problems can also cause depression and brain fog.)

    • satanmat@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      Good point. During my extensive research of one person, I’ve noticed that this year my SAD seems less crushing since taking 1000 vit D each day.

      So yeah. Good place to start

    • aramis87@fedia.io
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      4 hours ago

      OP, make sure to get your thyroid levels checked, that can also lead to lethargy and depression.

    • Catoblepas
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      6 hours ago

      This is a good avenue to go down, before assuming mental health. I’ve had some vitamin levels through the floor and just felt like shit. It would have been very easy to misdiagnose as solely depression.

  • e0qdk@reddthat.com
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    6 hours ago

    I had similar symptoms and in my case, I had a sleep disorder, an anxiety disorder, depression, vitamin D deficiency, and other problems.

    Go call your doctor and explain your symptoms to them in detail. Your problem is the type that should be medically evaluated by a professional.

  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Well, as you can see, everyone is saying it’s not addiction. It’s depression. So I’ll be the odd one out. I’ll say it’s not depression. I think it’s chainsaw.

    …I’m just making the silliest of jokes to try to cheer you up. But seriously though. You should get some actual professional help. And I don’t mean that insultingly. I mean that as they are the ones who know far more than I would. They can get you on the path to healing!

    Otherwise you end up on the internet, with some random asshole making silly jokes because it’s all he knows how to do when someone is hurting. Remember when I said it was chainsaw?

  • cranakis@reddthat.com
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    7 hours ago

    Nowadays, I lie down on a bed and just watch twitch streams all day, with a little bit of browsing lemmy in between.

    I cannot study effectively, cannot do menial tasks without being stressed.

    When did this start? How long have you felt this way? Was it gradual or sudden, getting here?

  • Bosht@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Could be depression linked to social media addiction. Depends on the amount of screentime, and don’t take what I’m saying as actual advice. But if you want to try something, try cutting down your screentime and see if it alleviates it. Could be burnout from work as well. I’ve had several bouts of light depression to where EVERYTHING seems like a chore to do just because my job is so damn demanding.