Does anyone find that motivation levels can be really low or zero sometimes? No matter how hard I try I just can't find the motivation to do even a simple task sometimes. I would be happy just sitting by myself either listening to an audiobook or playing a game on my phone.
Yes - I do too This_is_me1 Interest in this for myself led to my making a small study of this which I will share if I may?
The words motivation and emotion both come from the same Latin root "motivare" meaning to move.
Personally this led me to the conclusion that to no small measure it is one's emotions that provide the "fuel" for the motivation to do or not do something.
It is recognised that autistic people often struggle with emotional regulation and in identifying what emotions they are experiencing. I personal recognise this about myself. Therefore it may be that there is a correlate to lack of motivation because of these difficulties.
The enthusiasm of the chase, resting in the joy of achievement, moving towards ones goal are therefore all a little trickier maybe. The correlates with stress and anxiety are interesting to explore in this as one may become triggered in fight or flight with relatively speaking very little stimulus.
Being passionate about something can be extinguished by burnout, or similar, when one can can embody a sense of emotional pain or numbness. Sometimes all one can do is listen to stories and play light-hearted games.
In the absence of "normal" emotional drivers for activity we may find ourselves employing routines to create the patterns of life which we follow. Perhaps why one becomes so upset when routines are changed.
Maybe one chases intellectual pursuits because the drive for understanding becomes a substitute for emotional context.
Others have suggested also that behaviour such as this might not be a symptom of autism but a product of living with autism in our current society. We seek withdrawal because of negative experiences in going out to interact with neurotypical society. Becoming unable to act because of fear (e.g. off failure by the reckoning of internalised neurotypical standards and expectations) becoming habitual. I think this is at least partly linked with reduced motivation
"External" resources that satisfy one's sense of reward can make one happy. Playing a game or having someone read to one both are rewarding. Albeit they require little pursuit to achieve. One is satisfied. However the "mental and emotional muscles" one has to employ to actively gain the reward can effectively become atrophied. Small goals are the equivalent of small weights for these "muscles" to lift to get stronger again.
In responding to your post perhaps I am "exercising my mental and emotional muscles" - hehe or sidetracking myself from doing something that I know I should be doing instead...
Anyway you're not alone in this
Best Wishes.
Yes - I do too This_is_me1 Interest in this for myself led to my making a small study of this which I will share if I may?
The words motivation and emotion both come from the same Latin root "motivare" meaning to move.
Personally this led me to the conclusion that to no small measure it is one's emotions that provide the "fuel" for the motivation to do or not do something.
It is recognised that autistic people often struggle with emotional regulation and in identifying what emotions they are experiencing. I personal recognise this about myself. Therefore it may be that there is a correlate to lack of motivation because of these difficulties.
The enthusiasm of the chase, resting in the joy of achievement, moving towards ones goal are therefore all a little trickier maybe. The correlates with stress and anxiety are interesting to explore in this as one may become triggered in fight or flight with relatively speaking very little stimulus.
Being passionate about something can be extinguished by burnout, or similar, when one can can embody a sense of emotional pain or numbness. Sometimes all one can do is listen to stories and play light-hearted games.
In the absence of "normal" emotional drivers for activity we may find ourselves employing routines to create the patterns of life which we follow. Perhaps why one becomes so upset when routines are changed.
Maybe one chases intellectual pursuits because the drive for understanding becomes a substitute for emotional context.
Others have suggested also that behaviour such as this might not be a symptom of autism but a product of living with autism in our current society. We seek withdrawal because of negative experiences in going out to interact with neurotypical society. Becoming unable to act because of fear (e.g. off failure by the reckoning of internalised neurotypical standards and expectations) becoming habitual. I think this is at least partly linked with reduced motivation
"External" resources that satisfy one's sense of reward can make one happy. Playing a game or having someone read to one both are rewarding. Albeit they require little pursuit to achieve. One is satisfied. However the "mental and emotional muscles" one has to employ to actively gain the reward can effectively become atrophied. Small goals are the equivalent of small weights for these "muscles" to lift to get stronger again.
In responding to your post perhaps I am "exercising my mental and emotional muscles" - hehe or sidetracking myself from doing something that I know I should be doing instead...
Anyway you're not alone in this
Best Wishes.
