One of the most discouraging parts of mental illness is when your thought processes don’t even make sense to you, but that doesn’t bring you any closer to overcoming them. That’s what writer M. Molly Backes describes in this Twitter thread about a symptom of depression that not everyone knows about, but many can relate to.
The writer describes encountering an “impossible” task, actually a minor task like a chore or an errand, that seems to overwhelming to deal with. The longer the task is put off, the more insurmountable it becomes, and when you have a whole house full of “impossible tasks”, you no longer know where to start.
Image credits: mollybackes
This Twitter thread talks about an insidious symptom of depression
Image credits: mollybackes
Image credits: mollybackes
Image credits: mollybackes
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Image credits: mollybackes
Image credits: mollybackes
Image credits: mollybackes
Image credits: mollybackes
Backes points out that the phenomenon actually has a proper name: executive dysfunction. It’s one of the main hallmarks of developmental disorders like ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, but even if you don’t have any of those conditions, it can be brought on by mental illness, stress and trauma. Executive function is the collection of skills that allows you to prioritize tasks, make a plan and figure out where to start. When it doesn’t work well, doing simple tasks feels confusing and takes disproportionate effort.
The writer was flattered that so many could relate to the thread
Image credits: mollybackes
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Every time mental health comes up in the news and becomes a hot topic, we always announce that we’re there if our friends need to open up to us and ask us for help. It’s a well-intentioned offer, but even if we mean it, that platitude overlooks one important detail. If your friend is ashamed to ask you for help because they believe that their problem isn’t significant enough, or if they feel like they can’t write a message to you because they’ve been putting off responding to so many messages that they don’t know where to start, they won’t.
If you know that a friend is struggling with their mental health, you can start by reaching out to them first. You could try offering to cook dinner together and seeing if anything else that you can help with comes up while you’re with them, or inviting them to run errands with you and get them anything they need while you’re out.
Commenters identified with Backes’ words, added their experiences to the thread, and gave examples of ways people have helped them.
A lot of people could relate to the experience
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I'm 13, and have been struggling with depression for most of my life. One thing I find insanely hard to answer is when my parents or friends ask me what makes me happy. Depression has made me so out of touch with my emotions that I don't even remember what it feels like to be happy. To make the situation even worse, my whole life, I have been able to feel others emotions as strongly as if not more expressively than them, so there are so many instances where I don't know if the emotions i'm feeling are mine or someone else's. It often feels like i'm strapped to a chair in a tiny glass room. The world is moving by so fast, right outside the walls, but I can't join in. And then peoples expectations of me block the air supply, and if I try to scream for help, no one hears. And I'm left trapped in a little glass room, slowly suffocating.
Oh, sweetheart, please take your post to your parents, a teacher or an adult you trust and ask for some help. Your description of your symptoms sounds like disassociation and that is a very significant indication of major depression. I know from experience as both of my daughters suffered from this during their adolescence, as did I. Treatment works, it takes time but it does work and you will come out on the other side one day. You are not alone <3
Load More Replies...The person pointing out that sadness is a feeling and depression often completely strips away feelings leaving you numb? That's me.
is your username from the land of stories series? Just wondering
Load More Replies...This is totally me. I often don't feel depressed, but I can't bring myself to do the things I need to do. The situation is compounded by PTSD. Some days I just sit inside and can't move. I get overwhelmed by the number of things I "need" to do in a day (they often don't actually need to be done on a particular day). My brother suggested that I choose only one thing to do in a day and this has helped. If I can do one thing, then I can often do another thing as well. Or my son comes over to help (I often don't need help, just some moral support). It's hard to live this way.
I'm sure that just his being there make you feel supported.
Load More Replies...This is so true, depression has an ebb and flow for me and when its flowing the little things just become impossible. If my desk becomes a garbage heap and I havent done the dishes in a week or managed to shower recently, it wont matter how many times Im told by my doctor or anyone else to "change my behavior and make healthier decisions" Impossible is simply impossible, and I dont even know why myself.
Jill, If it helps, I have had no clean dishes since before Thanksgiving. I'm forcing myself to shower each day, even if just to rinse off. I'm doing laundry each week and that's it. My house has never looked this bad. The really weird part is that with this episode, I don't FEEL depressed, just overwhelmed to the point of impossible. Not sad or unhappy
Load More Replies...I struggle with depression and have confronted the impossible task. One thing that sometimes works is to do just a little. Say I need to make a dozen phone calls. If I can't I tell myself to do one call. Sometimes that first call breaks the cycle and then the rest comes. Doesn't work all the time, but it does work sometime.
I'm the same way. I have to force myself to take that first step. If it's the only step I take, that's okay. Or like you said, it could get the ball rolling. It's just so difficult to take that first step.
Load More Replies...I have literally not eaten before simply because getting up to heat some leftovers in the microwave was my impossible task that day.
Yes...sometimes showering or even brushing your teeth is the impossible task.
Load More Replies...OMG this is me, this is definitely something that doesn’t get mentioned much. Thank you.
There are far too many impossible tasks in my daily life
Load More Replies...Oh wow. 'The Impossible Task' and 'I Just Can't' has been me for a lot of my life...I thought I was just lazy and worthless. Huh.
I'm beginning to realize that I have been depressed for a Very Long Time. My impossible task was the kitchen. I'd get it clean and under control, and then it'd just slowly become a swirling vortex of entropy and I'd get overwhelmed and would just be like "I have no kitchen..." But then my husband died, and I moved back into my parents' house and no longer have to worry about the kitchen. I also got on an antidepressant.
I hope the medication is helping. Sometimes you just have to find the right one. I was on one for years that helped, but just wasn't doing it. A new doctor put me on new meds and that made a world of difference. I have been on that one for 21 years.
Load More Replies...I have always felt like I have to get things done, like if I don't do it, no one else will. That causes me to try to take on too much, and not expect or ask for help. I become overwhelmed and end up not getting even the basics done. I feel resentful for not getting help. I feel like I take care of others, but no one takes care of me. I won't even take care of me. I feel guilty for being non-productive (aka: relaxing and having fun). I am retired now and feel guilty for not working (that's a major life shift). In recent years, I have forced myself to take care of myself mentally and physically, and to just "waste" time by doing something enjoyable. Bored Panda has been a godsend. It's a great forum where you can communicate with others around the world, and learn new perspectives. You learn more about the world and the people in it. You can express yourself and read other's opinions and outlook on life. Thank you, fellow Pandas :-)
These are also classic symptoms of burn out, a major contributor to depression. For the "time -waster" of something enjoyable, I found a quiet, productive hobby (embroidery). I now have a tote of hand embroidered, easily personalized gifts for special occasions. It forced me to slow down, sit and relax and meditate, yet I could still feel productive. It really helped me transition to enjoyment for the sake of enjoyment
Load More Replies...I'm 13, and have been struggling with depression for most of my life. One thing I find insanely hard to answer is when my parents or friends ask me what makes me happy. Depression has made me so out of touch with my emotions that I don't even remember what it feels like to be happy. To make the situation even worse, my whole life, I have been able to feel others emotions as strongly as if not more expressively than them, so there are so many instances where I don't know if the emotions i'm feeling are mine or someone else's. It often feels like i'm strapped to a chair in a tiny glass room. The world is moving by so fast, right outside the walls, but I can't join in. And then peoples expectations of me block the air supply, and if I try to scream for help, no one hears. And I'm left trapped in a little glass room, slowly suffocating.
Oh, sweetheart, please take your post to your parents, a teacher or an adult you trust and ask for some help. Your description of your symptoms sounds like disassociation and that is a very significant indication of major depression. I know from experience as both of my daughters suffered from this during their adolescence, as did I. Treatment works, it takes time but it does work and you will come out on the other side one day. You are not alone <3
Load More Replies...The person pointing out that sadness is a feeling and depression often completely strips away feelings leaving you numb? That's me.
is your username from the land of stories series? Just wondering
Load More Replies...This is totally me. I often don't feel depressed, but I can't bring myself to do the things I need to do. The situation is compounded by PTSD. Some days I just sit inside and can't move. I get overwhelmed by the number of things I "need" to do in a day (they often don't actually need to be done on a particular day). My brother suggested that I choose only one thing to do in a day and this has helped. If I can do one thing, then I can often do another thing as well. Or my son comes over to help (I often don't need help, just some moral support). It's hard to live this way.
I'm sure that just his being there make you feel supported.
Load More Replies...This is so true, depression has an ebb and flow for me and when its flowing the little things just become impossible. If my desk becomes a garbage heap and I havent done the dishes in a week or managed to shower recently, it wont matter how many times Im told by my doctor or anyone else to "change my behavior and make healthier decisions" Impossible is simply impossible, and I dont even know why myself.
Jill, If it helps, I have had no clean dishes since before Thanksgiving. I'm forcing myself to shower each day, even if just to rinse off. I'm doing laundry each week and that's it. My house has never looked this bad. The really weird part is that with this episode, I don't FEEL depressed, just overwhelmed to the point of impossible. Not sad or unhappy
Load More Replies...I struggle with depression and have confronted the impossible task. One thing that sometimes works is to do just a little. Say I need to make a dozen phone calls. If I can't I tell myself to do one call. Sometimes that first call breaks the cycle and then the rest comes. Doesn't work all the time, but it does work sometime.
I'm the same way. I have to force myself to take that first step. If it's the only step I take, that's okay. Or like you said, it could get the ball rolling. It's just so difficult to take that first step.
Load More Replies...I have literally not eaten before simply because getting up to heat some leftovers in the microwave was my impossible task that day.
Yes...sometimes showering or even brushing your teeth is the impossible task.
Load More Replies...OMG this is me, this is definitely something that doesn’t get mentioned much. Thank you.
There are far too many impossible tasks in my daily life
Load More Replies...Oh wow. 'The Impossible Task' and 'I Just Can't' has been me for a lot of my life...I thought I was just lazy and worthless. Huh.
I'm beginning to realize that I have been depressed for a Very Long Time. My impossible task was the kitchen. I'd get it clean and under control, and then it'd just slowly become a swirling vortex of entropy and I'd get overwhelmed and would just be like "I have no kitchen..." But then my husband died, and I moved back into my parents' house and no longer have to worry about the kitchen. I also got on an antidepressant.
I hope the medication is helping. Sometimes you just have to find the right one. I was on one for years that helped, but just wasn't doing it. A new doctor put me on new meds and that made a world of difference. I have been on that one for 21 years.
Load More Replies...I have always felt like I have to get things done, like if I don't do it, no one else will. That causes me to try to take on too much, and not expect or ask for help. I become overwhelmed and end up not getting even the basics done. I feel resentful for not getting help. I feel like I take care of others, but no one takes care of me. I won't even take care of me. I feel guilty for being non-productive (aka: relaxing and having fun). I am retired now and feel guilty for not working (that's a major life shift). In recent years, I have forced myself to take care of myself mentally and physically, and to just "waste" time by doing something enjoyable. Bored Panda has been a godsend. It's a great forum where you can communicate with others around the world, and learn new perspectives. You learn more about the world and the people in it. You can express yourself and read other's opinions and outlook on life. Thank you, fellow Pandas :-)
These are also classic symptoms of burn out, a major contributor to depression. For the "time -waster" of something enjoyable, I found a quiet, productive hobby (embroidery). I now have a tote of hand embroidered, easily personalized gifts for special occasions. It forced me to slow down, sit and relax and meditate, yet I could still feel productive. It really helped me transition to enjoyment for the sake of enjoyment
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