How Mental Health Problems Can Effect Motivation

Motivation: It is the gap between the thought and the results.

It is the desire to take an action toward a goal.

There are two main components of motivation: Desire and action.

Often times we may have a strong desire that is derived from our dreams and expectations. However, this desire is not always coupled with action. As a result, we may not be able to reach what is imagined.

There may be a hundred different reasons why you may experience difficulty finding inner motivation. Things like incorrect goal setting, fear of success, lack of self-esteem, or procrastination can affect motivation significantly.

However, if you struggle with a chronic lack of motivation, there may be a more significant underlying cause. If you experience difficulty taking action towards your goals or find it difficult to cultivate inner motivation on a regular basis; and if you also struggle with other mental health issues, they actually may be related.

Motivation and depression

Depression is the expression of the flight response of the sympathetic nervous system (fight-flight-freeze response). When depressed, it’s common to feel a lack of energy and little to no motivation to do anything let alone work towards goals. Most often there is a tendency to lay, rest or stay under the sheets all day.  

In a state like that it’s hard to even wake up in the morning, so how can we expect to have the motivation to achieve a goal? The body focuses all energy on accomplishing simpler and more urgent tasks such as working, driving, walking, or eating. At the end of the day, the only possible option can seem like watching TV.

When going through depression, as well as right after depressive states, it’s normal not to have the inner motivation that will push you forward.

Mental health problems can affect inner motivation.

Motivation and anxiety

Nowadays anxiety became a common word that is used anytime when someone feels stressed or nervous. However, living with generalized anxiety disorder on a daily basis can be really debilitating.

When dealing with anxiety, one may experience unexpected physical changes such as increased heartbeat, sweating, or shaking as well as irrational thought patterns. These irrational thought patterns are negative and toxic, mostly focusing on anticipation, doubts, and fears.

When dealing with anxiety, toxic thought patterns can prevent one from finding inner motivation. Doubt and fear can become so crippling that even the possibility of accomplishing the goal may feel scary.

Someone who is dealing with anxiety may be focused on “what if” scenarios, self-doubting thoughts, and a strong need for control. As a result, it will be difficult to self-motivate to continue moving forward.

Motivation and ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder that is associated with hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and difficulty in attention. There is more and more research showing that motivation deficit can also be a part of ADHD.

People with ADHD tend to show decreased function in the brain’s dopamine reward pathway, according to a research study published in Molecular Psychiatry. Results of the study showed that participants who had ADHD showed lower scores on achievement scales.

In sum, self motivation or keeping motivation for a long time to achieve the desired goal can be very difficult for someone who is dealing with ADHD.

Motivation and lack of self-esteem

Self esteem and motivation go hand in hand because if we don’t believe in the fact that we have what it takes to accomplish a specific goal, we also won’t be able to see the value in putting an effort into the action.

If you lack self esteem, often doubt your skills, or believe that you are not good enough, you may be struggling with a lack of motivation as well. These doubts lead to focusing on how things could go wrong and how our inner resources may not be enough to deal with difficult circumstances.

In other words, in general, if you are someone who finds it hard to say “I got this” to yourself, finding motivation may also be difficult for you because you won’t be able to see worth in your actions.

Wrapping Up

These are just a few examples of mental health issues that can contribute to a lack of motivation. Although it can be difficult to deal with the symptoms of a mental health issue on a regular basis, this should definitely not stop you from achieving the life you desire and deserve!

Remember, finding inner motivation is possible for any of us, even though the process of cultivating it can vary. Understanding yourself, your triggers, mood, and inspirations can be the first step toward finding more motivation!