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Suggest Remedy For Laziness While On Treatment For OCD

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Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015
Question: hi

i am being treated with anxiety disorder(OCD) since last one and half year.

in early days of treatment i used sleep a lot because of medicines.
and now it has become my habits even if i dont take medicine in night.

the problem is i am not able to wake up in morning. even if i wake up i sleep again thinking will get up after some time. i just go on postponing it. and its not just the case with awakening, i also have habit of postponing my tasks.

i have become a bit careless may be because of anti depressents i was taking.

i also used to be lazy.

how i can overcome this habit?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
behavioral activation.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
Dear XXXXXXX
I can understand your concerns.

You have become lazy and keep on postponing your work. You have been treated for OCD in past.

In my opinion, this laziness is more of a behavioral issue and not probably due to antidepressants.

Sometimes, a person taking antidepressant takes the tasks for granted and start believing that when 'I am taking drugs, I do not need to do any efforts. Its the drug which will do everything'. This behavior makes him to become careless and avoid his work.

I think behavioral activation therapy would help you.
This is a joint effort of patient and professional to plan out the daily tasks and work on them accordingly.
The short-term goals are made first and the patient tries to achieve them in fixed time.

Also, It includes time management, daily sleep, meals and exercise timing within strict time-frame.

After few sessions, you can follow this on your own involving your family members.

If the problem still persists, drugs like modafinil can help you to improve your alertness and will keep you stimulated.

Kindly consult your psychiatrist and discuss this.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (34 hours later)
thanks for your reply

you mentioned modafinil to improve my alertness. but will it help me to wake up early?

i think it will be helpful to keep me awake. but what i need more is to wake up at time?

please clear my doubt.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (18 hours later)
Brief Answer:
modafinil will only keep you alert.

Detailed Answer:
Sorry for the late response.

You are most welcome.

Modafinil will keep you alert in the day.
It will not help you to wake up early.

For that, you have to modify your habits.
This is mostly a sort of learned behaviour, to postpone things, to be lazy etc.

You have to work on this yourself.
Fix your time schedule.
Work according to a plan.
Sleep on time.
Exercise daily.

You may find this difficult initially.
But slwoly you will get used to it.

If you find it difficult to manage it on your own, you can take help of a psychologist for behavioral activation therapy.

Hope this helps.
I wish you good health.
Taje care.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2144 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Laziness While On Treatment For OCD

Brief Answer: behavioral activation. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to HCM. Dear XXXXXXX I can understand your concerns. You have become lazy and keep on postponing your work. You have been treated for OCD in past. In my opinion, this laziness is more of a behavioral issue and not probably due to antidepressants. Sometimes, a person taking antidepressant takes the tasks for granted and start believing that when 'I am taking drugs, I do not need to do any efforts. Its the drug which will do everything'. This behavior makes him to become careless and avoid his work. I think behavioral activation therapy would help you. This is a joint effort of patient and professional to plan out the daily tasks and work on them accordingly. The short-term goals are made first and the patient tries to achieve them in fixed time. Also, It includes time management, daily sleep, meals and exercise timing within strict time-frame. After few sessions, you can follow this on your own involving your family members. If the problem still persists, drugs like modafinil can help you to improve your alertness and will keep you stimulated. Kindly consult your psychiatrist and discuss this. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further. Thanks.