Memory and motivation...
 

Ever since my accident, I have a hard time not only remembering what needs to be done, but also finding the gumption to actually DO it. Even when my head isn't too bad, I find that my sense of motivation is SERIOUSLY lacking. I mean, I literally JUST submitted my receipts to insurance for the ENTIRE LAST YEAR. I hadn't sent in a single thing. How freaking horrible is that???

PLEASE tell me I am not the only one suffering from this.

I assure you, camyam, that you are not the only one who suffers from this troublesome aspect.

Last calendar year, it took me nearly 10 mos. to even begin-to-deal-with some insurance billing/issues ... errors.

It's *all* just so brain-energy/capacity consumptive to deal with, I know.

You are definitely not the only one! Most of us here are type A personalities that are normally go go go and I for one am not currently that person anymore. I hate it when someone says... why haven't you done X yet? You're home all day. Most of the time I can't tell them why I haven't done it. I don't know!

One thing that does help is to make a list for the day of things that have to be done and maybe a list of things to do when you're having a good day. I find I have to put EVERYTHING on this list like take a shower, meditate, make supper, phone Dr or I will forget it even if it's part of my routine. Maybe a list will help you with the memory part.

It also kind of helps with the motivation part because you see little things being checked off the list and it makes you feel like you are accomplishing stuff. Doesn't solve all the motivation problems but it helps.

It's not you being horrible it's just part of this terrible recovery process! If you haven't already, try looking at your vitamins/supplements, diet and exercise routine to see if there's any way you can try to get more energy.

Good luck!

CC

In the first months of recovery, I felt so guilty about my fatigue and lack of motivation. I could do so little to help myself let alone my family.

Now I think that being unmotivated/fatigued is my brain's way of communicating to slow down and rest, especially as I have been able to accomplish a bit more each day (ie a shower and a short walk).

I think we should give ourselves permission to heal and not to feel bad about all those "should" to-do lists!

I have to say that I am really noticing this is work, I am operating at a much slower pace, everything is more of an effort.

This is little wonder though as a month ago I fatigued and struggled to listen to two people talking at once, and was fatigued when concentrating when reading.

Whilst two months ago I was in a world of headaches, noise and light sensitivity and constant fatigue.

Now I am trying to do more high level things with actual consequences it is far more mentally taxing and tiring. I have to give myself space.

Whatever stage you are at you must give yourself the time and space to do tasks, and be kind to yourself!

I for one believe this is very real. I often find myself struggling for motivation. It would be all too easy to dismiss this as simple laziness, except that by nature I tend to be a Type A over-achiever (or at least try to). I got excellent grades in school, have a black belt in karate, and started and run my own business.

The accident changed me. I must frequently overcome strong inertia to get anything done. I have a theory that this phenomenon is a basic stage of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The emotions get worked on before the physical body does. CFS is the immune system ordering the body to cease activity. This is a good thing when the body is ill, in that it mandates rest. It is a bad thing when it happens all the time.

If you blow past the emotional signals through discipline, the I.S. responds with more physical signals to slow down, e.g. pain, fatigue, headaches. These are harder to dismiss. But you get the idea. The important thing to realize is that this is not your fault. It's a brain thing.

You're definitely not alone! :hug:

For the remembering part, I rely heavily on my iPhone calendar for reminding me to do things and when. Everything from taking my pills, to feeding the dogs, to appointments, even scheduling my laundry.

I find it also helps with motivation. I'm careful with scheduling to make sure there's not too much to do all at once and not too much in a day, if possible. But if the phone says to do it, I try to go do it, otherwise I know things will pile up and get unmanageable and overwhelming.

If I'm having a really rough day, things are easy to reschedule to the next day or whenever is appropriate.

I also keep all sorts of notes in my phone, people's names, addresses, how much cash I withdrew and where I put it, everything. I'd be lost without my phone.

The other thing that helps me with motivation is right after a nap or when I first wake up in the morning is to do a few things, even just a couple little things... if I know I have a harder (for me) task, that's when I plan to do it... like if I had paperwork to do, that's when I'd schedule it, that's when I'd have the best luck of getting it right the first time. I find by planning to do things like that when I'm at my best, its easier to motivate myself to do them.

Starr

Yes, me too. A very sad and frustrating effect for me. I think it can be related to the problems with dopamine. That is one of the main reasonswhy I tried amantadine....as well as for the fatigue. It apparently helps to keep dopamine going in the brain. Some mds prescribe it to help with motivation. I have tried it for two months and will stop this week to see how things go without it. But I will probably end up on it again....i don't like feeling like I have cement boots and a cement brain!
Thanks for all of the tips! I use my blackberry for appointments, and try to just get up and do one thing....if I can do that, sometimes I get on a roll. But so many things are on hold. Sigh!

Oh, in case you haven't heard? ..... You are not alone...:p :D

I am a Leo; I am proud to be organized; I am a sad Leo - I am no longer organized.

I was a walking Day Planner, Roladex, Calendar, etc.

No More....

I will even now talk to my wife about things, and 5 minutes later ask what we are doing, and get the stare..........."we just talked about that" .....:(

Yep, I do it alot.

:grouphug:

Lesson learned
 

I was definitely a type A Leo, to the extreme. Worked two, sometime three jobs..never stopped...til the fall and pcs.

I consider it a lesson learned. I needed to slow down. This has forced me to slow down. One of my primary jobs now is caring for my aged blind cat.;)

I also believe that one of the reasons why I am recovering so slowly is that I didn't want to rest enough the first few months. So you newbies that are reading this REST!

I agree with one of the posters above. If I am feeling symptoms, I rest. Who cares if things don,t "get done". The healing of my brain is the most important thing that needs to get done! So the floors are not vacuumed. Who cares? It used to drive me crazy. Now I let go.

I did buy a day planner than was easy to look at where I could write large enough so I could read it but the line were light enough not to drive me crazy. I got a headache just picking one out. I write things down that I NEED to do.
Su seb