Discussion Taking care of pets while depressed and dealing with suicidal ideation

[Hecubaa]

I have two wonderful pets, a cat and a dog, and I'm also in charge of a turtle, and they are the main reason I keep on pushing and staying afloat, but I've been a terrible care-giver to them. It pains me when I realize that my dog hasn't had a proper walk in days or when I realize my cat's litter box is full of poop(I'm thinking of getting one of those self-cleaning litter boxes but they are so expensive and I already have tons of debt). They still give me so much love although I am barely meeting their needs. To those of you who also have pets yet deal with consistent suicidal ideation, ADHD, depression, and BPD -- how do you manage to take care of your pets?

 

[Life_and_Death]

i wish i had an answer but i live with someone that picks up where i fall down for me.

maybe there are some ways you can sort of compromise?
idk the price difference between an auto feeder and self cleaning litter box, but i personally like my feeder (although it was originally purchased because i was out of the house)
and maybe instead of litter you can use another product. i know you can use wood pellets (which i think is typically also cheaper and im probably going to switch back to). but personally what ive been finding best is shredded (news)paper. its not the best for her but its a compromise. its light so not much work. i just throw it out, give it a quick scrub with dish soap and refill it. it seems like more work, but it works while im working on getting better to go back to more proper care, but at least she is getting care.
would disposable ones be cheaper? or would the price add up?

i dont know what kind of place you live in or if you have a veichle or anything, (maybe youll come up with another idea) but what about a long leash and sitting at the door with them? its not a walk, but its some outside time (maybe you already do this considering you said "proper walk")
or maybe theres a park/dog park you can bring them to (maybe at a time theres not many other people)

idk if its much help, but some care is better than no care. and even though externally you dont feel like youre holding up, internally you seem to care about them very much

 

[Chaosire]

I have the cutest little floofball of a golden retriever.
She obviously loves me, and she seems to be doing well. But I often feel so much guilt towards her and feel like she'd be better off in a shelter. When my suicidal ideation peaks, I really need to suppress the urge of delivering her to a shelter. I know it'd be hell for her, but I'm also confident she'll get adopted in no time. Hopefully by a family of functional people.

I force myself to walk her at least twice a day, as I have no garden, not doing that will give me so much guilt and potentially a mess I'll need to live with until I have the energy/motivation to clean it up. But if things get really bad, I ask friends to walk her for me, or to come play with her if I'm unable.
I often think I should drop her off at my parents, where she lived for 3 years while I was in the psychiatric system. But I'll do some horrible things to myself in her absence. She's not trained as a buddy dog, but she's so quick to help stabilise me in a crisis or prevent me from hurting myself/thrashing my place. I've got both BPD and autism.. so she has to deal with my shit like that on a near-daily basis..
Poor little thing..

 

[sancta-simplicitas]

Setting alarms on my phone has helped me, three times per day for feeding, every other day for litterbox. Making a routine is the hard part, once you have that down it just goes automatically. Like I had a phase where I was so hypoactivated that I had bradychardia and so low bp that I had issue standing and I still managed to feed him thrice per day.

 

[Praying 4 a Miracle]

Pets are amazing, and can be so helpful, especially when we are suffering. What's frustrating though, is that societies give pets far more end-of-life rights than humans get. We never force our pets to suffer needlessly, but with humans we are forced to suffer 'till the bitter end.