Personal mental crisis and low motivation

When a relative is ill and lacks motivation, they may believe they have no energy to do the things they used to do. This is common in people suffering from depression or schizophrenia. You may be frustrated because your relative refuses to take action to improve their situation.

First, you should determine whether your relative is tired. This is a common medication side effect. A doctor may recommend some options to help with tiredness.

Your relative´s lack of motivation can sometimes influence your motivation. Make time to engage in activities that you enjoy.

Acceptance

Accept that this may be a part of your relative´s illness for the time being, and avoid putting too much pressure on them.

Involve your relative in daily activities like shopping or housework. Take care not to put them under too much pressure to complete these tasks. You might find it useful to ask them if they want to help.

If they say no, try:

• not to get upset,
• not to accuse them of being lazy, or
• to ask them at different times on the same day.

When you ask them next time, they may say ‘yes.’

Organize regular activities

If your relative makes a habit of participating in a particular activity on a regular basis, they may begin to enjoy it. You could recommend activities that your relative used to enjoy. You could also try out new activities. This could include taking a walk, joining a group or club, or participating in hobbies.

Focus on the future and not the past

Because things have changed, your relative may have lost interest in life. Reminding your relative of how they used to be may aggravate the situation. Instead, focus on what they can do right now. Try to distract them from their lack of motivation by talking about something that will happen soon.

Take small steps and build motivation

Because things have changed, your relative may have lost interest in life. Reminding your relative of how they used to be may aggravate the situation. Instead, focus on what they can do right now. Try to distract them from their lack of motivation by talking about something that will happen soon.