Motivation and Mental Health

Motivation is a force within us that affects our choices, our behavior, and can inspire us. From a psychological perspective, motivation explains the urge in a person to act in a certain way that is aimed at satisfying certain goals, desires, and wishes. It can also be an unreachable feeling that deflates us. When we’re handling a mental illness, be it anxiety, depression, or any other condition, we can find it hard to be enthusiastic about doing anything.

For people living with mental health problems, the pressures of life can be even more difficult to deal with. We may feel guilty because we think we “should” be motivated to excel or even get out of bed, even if we want to. As if the loss of motivation weren’t hard enough, others who don’t understand mental health challenges sometimes assume we are “unwilling to try,” which can make us feel even worse about ourselves.

Overall, therefore, a cause-effect relationship exists between motivation and general mental health. As you recover, you’ll find that your motivation begins to return.

Some tips on overcoming a lack of motivation include:

• Breaking tasks into smaller goals leading up to a goal can help manage thoughts about the process. Focusing on the individual tasks needed to complete a project can help you stay present.
• Write down each positive thing you experience throughout the day, which will serve as a reminder of special moments.
•  Give yourself credit for the small things you do and acknowledge each task completed.
•  Take time out to do more of what you love and enjoy.
•  Accept the current state of how you feel and look for ways to reach out for support if needed.
•  Remaining present and in the moment can help to focus on the now.
• Unprocessed grief can greatly affect motivation. Check out this page to learn more about individual therapy for grief
•  Ask for help. Talking about your feelings can be good for your mental health. It is often the first step to overcoming mental health problems.

At The Arise Society, we know that improving the mental health of our students is critical to maximizing motivation and personal development. We are a transitional living, supportive college environment for students who have not been motivated to achieve academic success or have been overwhelmed with everyday college life.

Source

Mental Illness Can Zap Motivation, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2019, August 27 from https://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/mental-health-newsletter/mental-illness-can-zap-motivation