Oh, honey! Please don't feel worse! There are many things I don't do because I just can't! Everyone's unique in their depression. Just because so-n-so is forcing themselves to do something doesn't make them any better than you! Their situation may be totally different than yours. Do what you can do and don't worry about what anybody else says!

i agree isis,sometimes its hard just getting out of bed.

When you hear that line, "Just force yourself", change the words to "Put one foot in front of the other". That's an acceptable request and usually within our reach.

All I have wanted to do for several days is just lie down and shut my eyes and ears to the world. Even at this point, I'm having trouble putting one foot in front of the other long enough to go to the bathroom.

I remeber posting something in a discussion a few days ago saying i force myself to do things. If it upset you, i am really sorry. I never meant that anyone else should do what i do. And there are only certain things i can do that with. Other things i can't even begin to figure out how to do. i think we all have our own ways of dealing with different things and no one's way is better than anyone else's. We just have to do with works for us. If you can tell me how to get my lazy butt off the computer and clean the way i get myself to work, please do. If there is something you can't do, then you just can't do it. Again, i am sorry if i ever made you feel worse. I have been having issues with choosing my words lately.

The word "just" ought to be thrown out of the English language. When people use the word Just, it makes it sound as if an action is simple and I'm stupid and worthless because I can't do it. The other one that I hate is "Just pull up your boot straps". What in the world does that mean? And really, what are boot straps? I understand the conotation, it's the same as "just force yourself". It's only another way to make me feel less than worthy.

My family are always saying pull yourself together, force yourself. As it is I can hardly function and just stay safe inside my house, berating myself for not hoovering or cooking for the kids. Everything makes me feel a failure as a mother and a person.

I said in a post that i force myself and i do. no one else is here to help me get things done except my daughter but even then she doesn't really help me.
I didn't mean to make you feel bad. sorry
everyone is differant

It's not when people say that they force themselves to do things. It's when they tell others to do it.

I agree sometimes we just have to say F em to everyone who says we need to force ourselves. Bite me also works.

I am a "just force yourself" person. The reason being is because a friend of mine mentioned that in some of my posts, my attitude towards depression made her "ascertain that we each must bear just a modicum of responsibility for our circumstances."

Yes, we all are different and handle our depression differently. Still, at the root you have the ability in you to find something from within to fight it. Even if it's the smallest amount of effort, it's still an effort.

Jana's "put one foot in front of the other" line is perfect. You might trip, you might have a cramp, you might be walking on a foot that fell asleep, you might have something in your path, etc., but it's still the effort you can put forth.

All in all, YOU are responsible for YOU.

This isn't to make you feel worse, it's to let you understand that there is strength in you even when you doubt it.

Think of you being on this site as one step forward. You talking about yourself is another step forward.

Just keep making steps.

Thank you caine that was very well put and you are right.