Apathy Apathy is characterized by severe depression, self-doubt, an unreasonable feeling of anxiety, and depersonalization is also often observed.

31.01.2018

Pozharisky I.

Many people today suffer from apathy. Some do not even realize how much they were captured by this disease, which caused a constant […]

Many people today suffer from apathy. Some do not even realize how much they were captured by this disease, which caused a constant bad mood. Apathy is a state in which a person ceases to control his own emotions. It begins to seem as if there are only negative moments in life, you do not want to make efforts even for the necessary actions. Apathy is characterized by severe depression, self-doubt, an unreasonable feeling of anxiety, and derealization and depersonalization are also often observed. Apathy makes you feel like a worthless loser who no one needs.

Reasons for apathy

It takes time and good reason for apathy to develop. From the outside it seems that everything happens by itself, for no reason. It should be noted that there are reasons, and they are quite understandable. Let's consider them in more detail.

Emotional turmoil

Some life events turn out to be so unthinkable and unpredictable that they plunge into shock. Faced with the loss of a loved one or betrayal of a partner, a person can become indifferent, indifferent to everything around. It just takes time to restore peace of mind, to develop new positive programs. Such a process cannot happen quickly. The work of grief requires great inner concentration, affects the resources of the individual. It is emotional upheavals that so deprive a person of the inner core that he loses the ability to think clearly. It is impossible to make decisions in this state. Apathy becomes a defensive reaction of the psyche, which does not allow destructive information to penetrate even more into consciousness. With the help of apathy, the individual gets the opportunity to isolate himself from ongoing events that do not suit him.

perfectionism

In some cases, the cause of apathy is the habit of always doing everything perfectly. This is actually extremely unhelpful for further development. A person gets used to constantly working at a high level and demands the maximum result from himself even when it is absolutely not necessary. Perfectionism, if it is manifested too sharply, harms the personality, makes it work to the limit of its capabilities. Apathy comes as a result of wasting one's internal resources. The person becomes lethargic, lacking initiative, unable to take responsibility.

Addictive behavior

Another reason for the development of apathy. Any addiction destroys the personality, promotes addiction. The fact is that a person loses a colossal part of his personality, loses his individuality, addicted, for example, to alcohol or drugs. He is no longer able to answer for himself. Addiction often causes uncontrolled aggression and the onset of complete apathy. Addictive behavior devastates from the inside, contributes to loneliness, the formation of a sense of isolation from the world. Apathy appears as a consequence, as a result of a wrong attitude to the world.

physical ailments

Diseases, especially chronic ones, often contribute to the onset of apathy, becoming the cause of immersion in one's own experiences. Any prolonged illness deprives a person of moral strength. At some point, it begins to seem to him that joy does not exist, since there is no reason to smile. Long-term treatment, the need to visit the hospital and stay in it largely depersonalizes, makes you wary of yourself. People whose health becomes a cause for pronounced concern do not believe in a happy future, do not make plans for self-realization, and do not want to move in the direction of the desired goal.

bad relationship

Unsatisfactory relationships with people also often cause apathy. When there is no proper understanding among relatives, a feeling of uselessness, even rejection, is formed. A person often cannot understand what is happening to him until it turns out that there is no one to help him. Negative feelings become constant companions of those who are faced with such as unrequited love . Bad relationships with others often contribute to the fact that the individual becomes even more withdrawn into himself. Apathy in him becomes the cause of the development of distrust of the world. Still, everyone needs to feel needed and in demand.

Symptoms of apathy

Apathy manifests itself in a person in a certain way. It cannot be confused with any other condition. That measure of depression, which is present with apathy, can cause significant damage to mental health. What are the symptoms of apathy? Let's try to figure it out.

indifference to everything

Feeling overwhelmed is a clear symptom of apathy. Indifference to everything appears due to deep immersion in the problem. The fact is that a person can be truly happy only when he sees the meaning in life, and it consists of many components: personal happiness, success at work, self-realization. Apathy destroys all this, leaving only emptiness and despair in the soul. Such a state incredibly depersonalizes the individual, makes him look like other people who find themselves in a similar position. Personal boundaries are erased, fear and anxiety for their future settle in the soul.

slovenliness

A person immersed in apathy often ceases to follow how he looks. Many people stop looking in the mirror, it becomes unpleasant for them to watch their own reflection. Sloppiness is a characteristic symptom of apathy. It appears because the individual is too much focused on their own experiences. At a certain point, he may be faced with the fact that one of his relatives will turn away from him with disgust precisely because of progressive slovenliness. The habit of wearing old dirty clothes, not washing for a long time further fences off from people. A person runs the risk of dissolving in his apathy, becoming completely alone.

Decreased appetite

Apathy makes you forget about the need to eat on time. An individual can sit in one place for hours, staring at one point, or sleep for days, escaping from deep feelings. Decreased appetite is dictated by the fact that anxious thoughts interfere with feeling hunger as a physiological reaction. Everything is obscured by an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety, which sometimes seems impossible to overcome. Loss of appetite is a symptom of apathy and depression.

Lack of initiative

Apathy makes a person consider himself worthless, ruthlessly wastes his internal resources. The individual becomes weak and weak-willed, he has no desire to work on himself, to do something. Even if there is an understanding within oneself that it is necessary to make attempts at self-improvement, on the external plane there is not enough strength to bring the desired to life. All because apathy does not allow you to believe in yourself, to be convinced of your own viability.

Speech disorder

Apathy harms the personality, almost completely destroys it. Being in this state, the individual often cannot understand what is happening to him. It becomes difficult to answer everyday questions, to participate in a conversation. His speech slows down, there is no reaction to some stimuli. With impaired speech, memory impairment is also noted: forgetfulness, absent-mindedness appear. A slow reaction can lead to uncontrollable consequences. There are cases when people, being in apathy, became victims of accidents: attacks, traffic accidents, etc.

Chronic fatigue

Chronic fatigue is a symptom of apathy. In apathy, a person experiences an incredible decline in strength. He has absolutely no vital energy left in order to start acting. Realization of existing desires is constantly postponed for an indefinite period. At the same time, fatigue is often observed so strong that you have to overcome yourself even in order to perform elementary actions: move around the apartment, go shopping.

How to deal with apathy?

Apathy as a condition necessarily needs to be corrected. You can not stay in it for a long time, it is fraught with irreversible consequences. It is best to start treating apathy as soon as it appears. It is not recommended to delay the actions, because then it will be more difficult to do. However, many people unconsciously delay this moment precisely because they do not know how to deal with overwhelming despair and anxiety.

Physical activity

This is the first thing to start with the treatment of apathy. The fact is that physical activity cannot be replaced by anything. If you stop moving, then the problem will only get worse over time. A person is so arranged that even small exercises can help to cope with obsessive states. That's why it's worth signing up for dances, more walking down the street. Taking daily walks, you will free yourself from additional mental anguish. Do not neglect the morning exercises. If you have the strength for systematic gymnastics, you can include it in your daily routine.

Daily regime

Thinking about how to deal with apathy, you should take into account such a thing as the correct daily routine. This important component will save you from significant mistakes that can lead to even greater losses and defeats. Apathy as such tends to accumulate if no effort is made to eliminate it. Proper treatment of apathy is never complete without building an effective routine. Your body must get used to going to bed at certain hours, eating at a time when you are hungry. Gradually, you will learn to feel your needs and desires.

Travels

How to deal with the feeling of isolation from the world? When treating apathy, it is advisable to travel. It is advisable to do this as much as possible to get the necessary impressions. Of course, everyone has different financial opportunities, but it is recommended not to spare money for spiritual recovery.

Communication

Interaction with close people in many ways helps to overcome the subjective feeling of uselessness. Treatment of apathy is impossible if there is no opportunity to express your love and affection. Communication is an indispensable tool in the fight against emotional disorders and depression. You just need to be able to find people who will be able to listen, understand, and be able to advise something. Unfortunately, not everyone has such a warm relationship with loved ones that there is a desire to share all their thoughts and feelings. You cannot limit yourself in interacting with other people. The more communication, the better, the sooner you will be able to recover, restore lost spiritual strength.

Medications

They are not always recommended, only in the most difficult situations, when the usual positive actions and the support of loved ones are not enough. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you really need it. What drugs are usually prescribed? It is recommended to take "Novopassit", "Persen" or "Glycine". In more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe strong tranquilizers to help you get rid of disturbing thoughts.

Thus, a pronounced state of apathy is a serious reason to think about your life. Apathy as a psychological disorder necessarily needs treatment. The right approach to treatment is needed, which will help overcome the feeling of inner hopelessness. Can ask for help at the center of psychology of Irakli Pozharisky. Working with a specialist will be helpful. You will be able to understand the disturbing situation, outline the path of inner liberation.

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A crisis

Positive emotions, as well as negative ones, should be present in the life of every person. Apathy is a mental disorder of the emotional background, associated with a complete lack of emotions and indifference to the whole world around. This term came to us from philosophy, where it means detachment and stoic calm. In modern psychology and psychiatry, such a condition is considered as a pathology that must be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

People of completely different ages and social status can suffer from apathy. Conditionally, the disease can be divided into several main forms. With passive apathy, a sick person has no interest in all or most areas of life, which is very noticeable to others. Any adverse event can provoke an illness.

Passive apathy is considered a rare type of disease, the origins of which should be sought in hormonal disorders and innate characteristics of a particular individual. With this disease, a person does not show external signs of the disease, but gradually destroys his own body, which can even end in suicide. Traumatic apathy occurs after traumatic injuries to the body.

Getting rid of apathy and its manifestations may not be so easy. As a rule, a sick person is not able to recognize the causes of the disease himself, and over time they completely cease to excite him. To overcome the disease and its symptoms, complex treatment and the help of specialists are required.

Possible reasons

The causes of apathy can lie in both external and internal factors. Even insignificant events can have an extremely negative impact on the human psyche. Under certain circumstances, the following reasons can cause apathy:

Pathology can occur in adolescents and the elderly, for example, after retirement, and quite successful people also suffer from it due to emotional burnout at work. Normally, short-term apathy can occur in each person at a certain time of the year. It can be provoked by the so-called autumn blues or spring beriberi. Past illnesses and life crises can also often lead to a state of complete indifference, which eventually disappears. An urgent appeal to a specialist requires constant apathy, accompanied by a violation of memory, intelligence and other mental functions.

Symptoms and signs

The symptoms of apathy can be quite varied in their manifestations, but they all come down to indifference to life or some certain areas of it. This condition is often referred to as emotional paralysis. Common symptoms that characterize apathy can be as follows:

• slow reaction;
• depressed mood;
• general weakness of the body and dizziness;
• drowsiness;
• nausea;
• fast fatiguability;
• impaired concentration;
• memory and intellect disorders;
• unreasonable fears;
• laziness;
• lack of appetite;
• desire to be alone all the time.

Laziness and apathy are considered a real disease of modern man. Defeating such symptoms may not be so easy, because they occur most often as a result of the daily performance of routine, monotonous duties. Not everyone, even a very ambitious and purposeful person, can overcome laziness on their own. Laziness appears when the business that you have to do constantly does not bring any joy. You can cope with apathy and laziness on your own only by adhering to a well-defined strategy. In more complex cases, only special treatment by a psychologist will help get out of this state.

Another concept that accompanies apathy is depression. Its symptoms are expressed in an extremely depressed mood, decreased efficiency and activity. A person suffering from depression still has the same laziness and unwillingness to change at least something. Often, seasonal (autumn) apathy leads to depression. At the same time, the person does not experience any serious mental or physical injuries, but there are symptoms such as pathologically frequent mood swings, unreasonable longing, etc. In this case, competent treatment is also required, so in the absence of this, the symptoms will only worsen, which will lead to chronic apathetic depression.

Pathological nervous disorder is the so-called complete apathy. Its symptoms lie in the detachment of a sick person from the outside world, laziness, lethargy, lethargy also appear. The main danger of this condition is that over time it can develop into severe depression, schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses.

There is also such a thing as social apathy, which is characterized by the loss of complete interest in social reality. This form of apathy can affect both one person and a whole group of people. A passive reaction and loss of interest in any events taking place around most often arises from the disappointment of a person or society in the existing socio-political foundations. In turn, political apathy is the loss of interest in any political activity and all its aspects.

As you can see, there are a lot of clinical manifestations and types of apathetic state. Indifference to sexual relations, work, study - all this characterizes apathy, which is very difficult to cope with without the help of a specialist. The question of what to do with such an emotional disorder is always very acute for loved ones of a person who is faced with such a serious problem.

Methods of diagnosis and treatment

Only a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose apathy. The doctor will conduct a conversation with the patient and the necessary psychological tests, based on the results of which a diagnosis will be made. Treatment will be effective only if the specialist manages to establish the exact causes that led to the emotional disorder.

If we talk about how to deal with an apathetic state, then the treatment can be quite diverse. First, it is imperative to eliminate any provoking factors that cause apathy. Second, the doctor may prescribe medication. As a rule, apathy caused by physiological problems is amenable to drug correction with the help of tranquilizers, neuroleptic and stimulant drugs, and vitamin therapy can also be indicated.

Thirdly, regular exercise and a healthy diet will help overcome apathy and laziness. Severe and lingering apathy can disappear when a major change in life occurs: a change in job or place of residence. The treatment of apathetic patients also necessarily includes a session with a psychotherapist, during which, together with a specialist, a strategy is developed on how to deal with the problem, overcome laziness and indifference, give up bad habits and learn how to transform negative emotions into positive ones in order to start living a full life again .

Most people know firsthand what apathy is. Frustration and fatigue are part of life, and the occurrence of apathy is one of the reactions to stress. Traditionally, this concept is considered as a state that is manifested by the loss of interests, vitality and emotional responses. Each of us has periods of moral fatigue, depression and indifference to what is happening. All this negatively affects work, prevents maintaining personal relationships and enjoying life.

Apathy is a painful state of lethargy, indifference, lack of strength and motivation. There may be a loss of interest in hobbies and in things that previously seemed exciting and important.

Such signs are, of course, not uncommon. However, do not underestimate them. You cannot be sure if you have apathy that this is a trifle that you should not pay attention to. In some situations, this condition not only reduces the quality of life, but can also be dangerous. For example, if a person is sick with a somatic disease, apathy will prevent him from gaining motivation for treatment. Also, apathy can be a symptom of a number of mental and neurological disorders.

Therefore, if you notice warning signs in yourself or a loved one, it is better not to ignore the problem, but to try to figure it out.

Reasons for apathy

All the reasons why apathy appears can be divided into two large groups: external and internal.

External causes are factors that act on the brain from the external environment or from other areas of the body. What causes apathy in such people:

1. Severe stress - loss of a loved one, dismissal from work, man-made or natural disaster; may lead to the development post-traumatic stress disorder .
2. Emotional burnout- chronic stress, work with high responsibility, stressful lifestyle; high probability of developing neurasthenia, maybe reactive depression .
3. Somatic diseases- diseases of organs that indirectly affect the brain; for example, atherosclerosis of blood vessels, due to which a stroke occurs
4. Endocrine disorders.
5. Side effects of medicines: drugs that reduce blood pressure, sleeping pills, contraceptives.

Apathy can be a symptom of a number of mental and neurological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease.

All of the above is not uncommon for a person who lives in a modern city. The emotional reaction in the form of situational apathy in these cases is a variant of the norm and goes along with the elimination of the stress factor.

Why does apathy come to everything that happens when there are no external causes and reasons? Here come to the fore internal causes. Apathy can be a symptom of a number of mental and neurological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease.

Apathy in depression. Apathy can occur both in major depressive disorder and in dysthymia and masked depression. The latter is a type of depression, in which somatic complaints (pain in the spine, itching, respiratory failure) come to the fore in the absence of objective signs of the corresponding diseases. These are the so-called "masks" of depression, such conditions often cause difficulties in making a diagnosis.

Apathy at simple schizophrenia . This form of schizophrenia is characterized by slow progressive development and loss of natural mental functions. Emotional coldness, pathological indifference, thought disorders come to the fore. Delusions and hallucinations are not observed at all or almost, because of which the disease can go unnoticed for a long time. Without the intervention of a specialist, it leads to complete social isolation and disintegration of the personality.

Apathy at Alzheimer's disease . Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the frontal lobes. The occurrence of apathy is associated with the defeat of these particular parts of the brain, as well as with the development of dementia. Apathy develops in most patients with this disease.

What does apathy look like: symptoms and signs

Apathy deprives a person of interest in life, desires and motivation. The absence of these important stimuli adversely affects behavior and performance. A low level of energy will interfere with both daily routine activities and taking on new challenges.

Over time, despite the actual deterioration of the condition, patients talk less and less about their problem, but go deeper into it.

Emotions are blunted, which is why everything that used to arouse interest now does not give an emotional response. Bouts of apathy take away interest in almost all aspects of life. A person may be indifferent when long-awaited events occur, or when meeting new people. It is difficult to make an effort even to solve personal problems. The accumulated problems at work and in personal life only exacerbate the situation, because apathy is one of the ways the psyche isolates itself from a difficult situation and overstrain.

At first, when the manifestations have not reached their maximum, people can express similar complaints: “I have some kind of apathy, I don’t want anything”, “I’m tired of everything, I can’t concentrate, I have no desire.” Over time, despite the actual deterioration of the condition, patients talk less and less about their problem, but go deeper into it. If your loved one complains to you about painful feelings, do not ignore these words - the person may need help.

The main signs of apathy:

• decrease or lack of aspirations and motivation;
• changes in emotions and behavior: decreased interest in life, communication, old hobbies and new events, difficulties in performing current tasks, lethargy, lethargy, poor concentration, decreased mental functions, and more;
• impact on quality of life: changes in behavior negatively affect professional success and personal life;
• behavioral changes are not associated with drug and alcohol use.

Clinically significant is the presence of these signs in humans for four weeks. However, if you notice apathy in yourself or in your loved one, which lasts less, but causes significant discomfort and interferes with life, you should not delay contacting a specialist. A professional will quickly help you understand the situation and understand whether it is just a bad mood, fatigue, or a condition that, in order to prevent complications, requires correction.

Diagnostic measures that can be carried out in a person complaining of a feeling of apathy:

1. Consultation of a psychiatrist-psychotherapist
2. Pathopsychological research: helps in more depth
3. explore such mental functions as thinking, attention and memory. The method helps to detect disorders in the early stages and prevent the occurrence of severe manifestations.
4. Laboratory and instrumental techniques to confirm
5. diagnosis: Neurotest, Neurophysiological test system, EEG, CT, MRI of the brain (if organic pathology is suspected)
6. Consultation of related specialists (neurologist)

How to cure apathy

Eliminating any mental health problem takes time. If you or your loved one has signs of apathy, an experienced specialist will tell you how to help in this situation most quickly and effectively. It is necessary to establish and analyze the cause of this condition. It is on her that the choice of the right combination of the following therapeutic approaches depends.

First of all, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy will help.

Individual psychotherapy- one of the most effective methods. If the stressor cannot be eliminated, the doctor will help find a way to deal with it in a different way. During the sessions, patients learn to better understand the problem, deal with fears and think positively. During the conversation, you will understand how to survive apathy and other painful feelings.

Pharmacotherapy. If the cause is a mental disorder or anxiety, then, depending on the problem, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate modern drugs. For example, mild tranquilizers are used that effectively relieve anxiety, or antidepressants that normalize mood have a positive effect on mental activity. Antipsychotics may be used.

Additional help:

• support of family and friends: if you want to know more exactly how to help a person with apathy, then a specialist will tell you how best to do this in your case
• normalization of lifestyle, sufficient sleep, elimination of the stress factor: this item is important for apathy of any etiology
• physiotherapy, massage, vitamin therapy, adaptogens: recovery of the body after difficult, debilitating periods (processing, past illnesses)

Remember that health is not limited to physical parameters. The World Health Organization defines it as an optimal state of not only physical, but mental and social well-being. Only with such a combination is it possible to fully realize one's potential and enjoy life. Emotions, interest and desires are essential for an optimal mental state. As we can see, a person who suffers from apathy does not quite meet the definition of health.

All people can experience apathy, which makes them painfully passive and lethargic. Of course, this threatens with missed opportunities and wasted time. But such periods can be seen as a temporary phase through which almost everyone passes. It must be remembered that a long stay in a state of apathy reduces the quality of life, and the lack of help in this situation can serve as an impetus for the onset and progression of severe mental illness (depression, anxiety disorders, and others).

Many mental deviations are the results of conclusions and actions that a person has committed in the course of his life. You can remain mentally healthy, but in the process of life you get sick due to the fact that wrong things were done or a negative worldview was formed. These prerequisites lead to apathy, the signs, symptoms, causes and treatment of which will be discussed in the article.

Apathy can overtake at any moment of life. Especially dangerous are stressful periods, for example, apathy during pregnancy. Often it is confused with other phenomena, such as laziness, depression, fatigue, drowsiness, etc. How to deal with apathy? Everything you need to know about this condition will be discussed below.

What is apathy?

What is apathy? Psychologists consider apathy to be a serious mental condition that needs to be addressed. Apathy is a mental state in which a person is absolutely indifferent to everything that surrounds him. It is in this state that there is no energy even to get out of bed or clean up. A person “doesn’t care”, nothing pleases him or encourages him to act. In some religions, this state is perceived as dying.

An apathetic person is very easy to recognize. He does not want anything, does not show emotions, often takes a fixed position. Most often he stays at home, because he has neither the desire nor the energy to move. All interests and aspirations are absent, even if they were before.

Apathy is often compared to the loss of the meaning of life. Only a healthy person feels lost in the world when he does not know where to go and what to do. The apathetic individual no longer worries about having nothing to strive for. He doesn't care, which is often expressed by the words "I'm depressed." However, these states are different.

Apathy manifests itself in two ways:

• Lack of energy to do anything - abulia.
• The absence of any desire.

These signs are interconnected. Lack of desire leads to lack of energy, and when a person does not achieve anything, then he cannot have desires. This is a vicious circle that the person himself must break by any means.

Emotions that are generators of energy and desires become significant. They can be positive and negative. Another thing is important - the experience of emotions causes some desires in a person, and they, in turn, provoke the production of energy that is needed to perform actions. Thus, apathy can be called an unemotional state, indifference and indifference.

depression and apathy

Depression and apathy are different conditions. However, apathy can develop into depression, just as depression can be one of the signs of apathy. These conditions should not be confused with chronic fatigue, which is associated with the physical fatigue of the body. The person will rest and will act again. The apathetic variant of depression is manifested in a decrease in activity, a slowdown in thinking, an emotional disorder, and a low mood. Somatic disorders may be observed, for example, intestinal disorders, headache.

What differences can be seen in these two states?

1. Depression can be accompanied by the experience of negative emotions. With apathy, a person does not feel any emotions at all - neither positive nor negative.
2. Depression can become a temporary phenomenon from which a person is able to get out on his own. Apathy is often a neglected form of depression, which is eliminated only with the help of a psychotherapist.
3. Depression does not deprive a person of desires. It is possible to temporarily feel a breakdown, but a person suffers not because of the loss of desires, but because of their unattainability. With apathy, a person has neither desires nor strength, they do not appear.

The most interesting difference between depression and apathy is the state of happiness. A depressed person is inherently unhappy. He understands what he wants, realizes the unattainability of his goals, experiences negative emotions - a state of unhappiness. A person in a state of apathy can be happy. He is indifferent, nothing disturbs him. He can be happy only because he lies on the bed and does nothing.

Both states can pass one into another, and also complement each other. If depression also speaks of the presence of a meaning in life, then in apathy a person no longer sees any meaning of his existence.

Laziness and apathy

It is very easy to confuse apathy with laziness. In both states, a person is in a passive position. He doesn't want to act. However, if laziness can be a symptom of apathy, then apathy is not part of laziness.

Often people lead the wrong way of life. Constantly getting tired at unloved jobs, doing uninteresting things, solving issues that do not fascinate them, they lose their vitality and motivation. Physical fatigue is as natural as laziness. If a person has worked hard, he is tired. If a person does not see the point in his actions or solving any problem, then he has laziness.

Apathy and laziness are similar in that a person does not want to move. The difference is that with laziness, a person has desires. He simply does not have the motivation to act and achieve his desires. With apathy, a person does not move due to a lack of desire and due to a lack of motivation, and you can no longer remember about energy.

Psychologists say that it is quite normal to get tired and be lazy for a while. The current negative attitude towards laziness is unfounded. People tend to get tired and lose motivation to act. Laziness and apathy speak of the need to relax, think about the appropriateness of your daily routine and the need to change it. Often, laziness disappears if a person gives himself a rest and is a little distracted by other things that motivate him to act (this is the second difference from apathy - a person loses motivation for one type of activity, but is interested in another; with apathy, motivation and desires are lost in all areas life). With apathy, no matter how much you rest, energy will not appear, because the most important factor is missing - desires and goals, which give a person energy.

Apathy during pregnancy

Apathy becomes negative if it manifests itself in a woman during pregnancy. Its causes can be hormonal disruptions, the manifestation of chronic diseases, as well as the fear of motherhood or the inability to provide for a child in the future. Often this condition occurs during pregnancy, if a woman is left alone, the man leaves her.

Apathy will not cause harm if a woman takes all measures to eliminate it. It is quite normal to fall into a depressed state for a while. If there are any life problems, then they naturally cause negative emotions. Apathy is the suppression of emotions so that they do not cause unpleasant thoughts and experiences.

Apathy will become a dangerous condition if a woman aggravates it with her inner mood. The lack of external support in the form of a loving man (father of the unborn child) or relatives, girlfriends will also provoke a long apathetic mood. In this case, it is better to seek help from psychologists, since the factors can be much stronger than the will of a pregnant woman.

Here, such methods of eliminating apathy are actively used, such as doing what you love, walking in the fresh air, visiting interesting and beautiful places that will cause positive emotions, light gymnastics, communicating with nice people, meeting new friends. A woman during pregnancy should not give up delicious dishes, aromatherapy (inhalation of calm and pleasant smells), embroidery. Healthy eating and travel are becoming important, which will inspire, give new impressions, and be remembered for a long time.

Apathy during pregnancy is dangerous because a woman ceases to monitor her own health. But her physical condition completely affects how the baby develops inside her. It’s good if a woman remembers at least the baby she wants to be healthy, if she doesn’t think anything positive about herself.

state of apathy

Psychologists calm many people who periodically fall into a state of apathy. They say that for a living being who experiences emotions, it is quite normal sometimes not to experience them at all. This is the result of both intensely violent emotions and constant failure.

• A person emotionally burns out when he experiences some outbursts of feelings. Here we can talk about both negative and positive emotions. A person cannot be emotional all the time. There comes a limit when "silence" comes - a person does not feel either positive or negative emotions.
• A person is emotionally tired of the failures that overtake him. Constant stress, dissatisfaction with oneself, irritability lead to apathy. The loss of the meaning of life is fatigue from the constant struggle that ends in failure.

Here we are talking about apathy as a period that sometimes comes to everyone. Whether a person is successful or the poorest and most unhappy, he is sometimes inclined to fall into a state of apathy. This is a kind of respite to reflect, relax and calm down, which is a useful mental property when a person is forced to move away from everything that aroused emotions in him.

The aggravation of the situation occurs when a person reinforces his negative attitude towards apathy with dissatisfaction with his personality. He begins to criticize himself, which delays the day of exit from apathy for a long time. The longer a person is in a state of apathy, the deeper it is fixed, which leads to the need to seek help from psychotherapists in order to get out of it.

If there was a "temporary respite", you should not criticize yourself. This is a rest to reconsider one's own actions that led to "emotional fatigue". At the same time, we do not forget about the meaning of our life and consider plans to achieve our goals.

Signs of apathy

What are the signs of apathy? The most important of them are:

1. "Paralysis of emotions" - indifference, indifference, lack of emotional manifestations.
2. Abulia is a decrease in activity with a lack of mental motivation.
3. Inactivity.
4. Lack of initiative.
5. Taciturnity - speech is slow, indifferent, inhibited.
6. Memory losses.
7. Inhibited thinking.

Among people, an apathetic person can be recognized by two signs:

1. Indifference to everything that happens around.
2. Self-destruction by harming oneself or attempting to commit suicide.

Depressed and gloomy mood is normal if it lasts for several days. However, if this condition lasts for weeks, accompanied by hopelessness, depression, hopelessness, deep sadness, loss of interest in active life, then the alarm should be sounded.

An apathetic person is distinguished by his untidy appearance. Often such a person's apartment is dirty. He himself is not washed, not made up, not combed, etc. There are frequent cases of the desire of an apathetic person to completely isolate himself from the surrounding society. He is good in solitude, where he can not force himself to act when he is in apathy.

The life of an apathetic individual develops exactly as he thinks about it. He does not act not because of laziness, but because life, in his view, is boring, uninteresting, tedious, gray. It is not surprising that a person in apathy begins to live such a life.

Symptoms of apathy

Apathy is characterized by its distinctive symptoms that are visible to people around. It manifests itself:

• In the absence of initiative.
• In indifference to the world around and what is happening.
• Lonely.
• In laziness.
• In isolation.
• In sadness.
• In a bad mood.
• In drowsiness.
• In stagnation.
• In the absence of emotions and appetite.
• In the restriction of communication.
• In passivity.
• Unwillingness to love and be loved.
• In the absence of joy from trifles.
• In attracting suffering.
• In the devaluation of everything in the world. A person knows neither suffering nor happiness, therefore he is completely devoid of feelings and attachments.
• In the elimination of the will.
• In the absence of plans for the future, daydreaming.
• In the absence of empathy, sympathy.

The most notable symptom is a loss of interest in what used to be fascinated. Try to invite a person to do what used to be his hobby. Refusal with a bright expression of sadness on the face speaks of apathy.

Outwardly, a person looks like a lifeless, emotionless, insensitive and indifferent to everything (there are no desires). His actions are static and emotionless. On the face there are no manifestations of feelings and emotions. If you ask him questions, then he can ignore them or answer them in monosyllables. An apathetic person rejects any manifestation of interest in him in the form of attention and desire to see him.

In activity, a person does not show initiative. He can work and do something, but everything happens at the level of inertia. He just does some work with the usual actions, without caring about anything.

In addition to the lack of hygiene and slovenliness, obsessive movements can be noted: tapping, fixing eyes on something, etc. A person loses his appetite and can sleep for a long time, which is provoked by both physical and emotional fatigue.

Reasons for apathy

What reasons lead to such a gray existence as apathy? Knowing about the factors that lead to it, you can carry out prevention in advance to eliminate them:

1. Depression.
2. Severe stress due to being fired from work, the death of a loved one, war, breakup, etc.
3. Disruption of the brain.
4. Heredity.
5. Influence of drugs: sleeping pills, birth control pills, antibiotics, heart drugs, steroids.
6. endocrine dysfunction.
7. Chronic diseases that are physically and emotionally exhausting with their treatment.
8. PMS (premenstrual syndrome) in the beautiful half.
9. Alcoholism and drug addiction.
10. Failure, failure.
11. Lack of self-expression, moral suppression.
12. Elderly age.
13. Emotional burnout as a result of the fast pace of professional activity.
14. Avitaminosis, lack of sunlight.
15. Energy decline.
16. Physical and emotional stress.
17. Serious illness.
18. Mental illnesses: depressive disorder, schizophrenia, etc.

Apathy is considered a psychological defensive reaction of the body to external stimuli that cause negative experiences of great intensity. Problems affect a person because he attaches great importance to specific things. If a person is not able to quickly eliminate the problem and satisfy his desires and needs, then the psyche is protected through apathy - complete indifference to the problem. This is a kind of way to reconsider your worldview and attitudes that used to cause strong emotions.

Sometimes apathy becomes a means of inducing rest. A person in a short time experienced strong emotions that exhausted the body. To turn them off, you need to create a state of apathy.

Any life crisis can cause apathy - when you need to reconsider your life and find a purpose, or leave your old goals, but achieve them in other ways. In any case, apathy is a form of reset if a person helps himself in getting out of it.

How to deal with apathy?

It's pretty easy to fall into apathy. Your rejection of the world, the situation, constant dissatisfaction with yourself and other negative manifestations - all this perfectly allows you to stop living in the literal sense of the word, but only exist, performing basic physiological functions. Apathy is not far from depression and is characterized by the same lack of desire to do anything, imagine yourself happy and not see the joy in life. How to deal with apathy?

First, stop comparing yourself to anyone else. You are a unique person who does not have to be like the people around you. Each has its own characteristics and characteristics that significantly distinguish it from the rest. And this is good, despite the fact that it may seem different. What matters is not what qualities you have, but how you use them. After all, even the negative aspects of your personality can be controlled so that they will bring good. This should be learned and not eradicated just because other people think so.

Don't compare yourself to anyone. You are unique and that's wonderful. It is better to find a new use for your abilities than to be discouraged about the fact that you cannot eradicate something in yourself.

Compare yourself only to yourself in the past, what you were and what you have achieved. You must grow not in comparison with other people, but above yourself. If you understand that something is not working for you, have you been able to correct the situation? If you want to change something in yourself, have you been able to achieve this through willpower? Compare yourself only to yourself: have you become better than you were before, or have you gone down a level?

To get out of apathy, you must begin to desire. It doesn’t matter what exactly you want, the main thing is that it be your sincere desire. You don't have to want what other people want. However, it is useful for you to have those desires that you have not yet realized in your life and that can really please you. Start wishing for what you really want, and then you will begin to have the energy to move towards your goal. And this will make you forget about apathy.

In the fight against apathy, ambition will help - the desire to live better than it is now. You must sincerely want to get rid of apathy, because you do not want to lie like a vegetable on the bed. Set new goals and take action. Get rid of the idea that nothing in this life can change. As long as you don't do anything, there won't be any changes.

Your assistant should be the idea that you have the right to make mistakes and be imperfect. Failure befalls all who act. Only those who do nothing do not experience defeat. Your apathy has become a defense mechanism against your feelings of being defeated. Stop suffering and it's time to go on the road again, fearing nothing.

Apathy treatment

As a treatment for apathy, psychostimulants are taken, which affect the functioning of the nervous system. However, non-traditional ways to improve mood still remain the main ones here: drinking herbal teas, goodies, relaxing, walking, communicating with interesting people, visiting fascinating places. Hobbies that a person was previously engaged in or that will become new, as well as the rejection of drugs and alcohol, become very important here.

Psychotherapy remains the most important mechanism for getting rid of apathy, where a person works out his own problems, because of which he entered this state. It will take a lot of willpower here, because living without action and outside public criticism and evaluation is much easier than constantly facing some kind of conflict situations.

It is important for a person to realize his own value, as well as the importance of his life. Problems are nothing compared to living and sometimes achieving success. It is important to realize that life does not always have to go on without stopping. It's normal to fall into a lethargic mood from time to time. If you fell into apathy for a few days, then allow yourself this - perhaps your psyche is thus calmed down and protected from stress, or makes you relax.

The main medicines that are prescribed by doctors to apathetic people:

1. B group vitamins.
2. Nootropics.
3. Psychostimulants.
4. Drugs to improve tissue metabolism.
5. natural adaptogens.
6. Antipsychotics for severe apathy.

Physical activity, massage, contrast showers can also be ways to get out of apathy, or at least awaken from "emotional paralysis."

Sometimes in the treatment of apathy it helps to change your life. If you “burned out” at work, you should change it. If friends betray, you should make new ones. If the relationship collapsed, you need to find a new love. The absence of what is important provokes an aggravation of the situation. It's time to find at least some replacement for what you've lost.

Outcome

Apathy is not considered a dangerous condition if a person does not stay in it for a long time. In some cases, it protects the psyche and allows you to take a break from failures and frustrations. However, a long stay in apathy suggests that a person is not able to get out of it on his own. The result can be boring and gloomy, as an apathetic person is deprived of the joys of life, meaning and contact with others.

Many associate apathy with the loss of meaning in life. However, if you pay attention, this only happens when a person is faced with failure. Searching for the meaning of life is like feeling the desire to acquire something, but not understanding what it is. Searching for what you don't understand what exactly you want to find leads to the fact that you do not find anything. There are two ways out of this situation:

1. First, understand what question you want to get the answer to, then look for it.
2. Stop looking for something and just follow the path of life; when something catches your attention, you will look for answers to your questions in it.

The meaning of life is not to find it, but to set goals and then achieve them. Life itself is pointless. And only the person himself fills it with meaning with the goals that he wants to achieve. The meaning of life lies in how you live, what you strive for and what methods you achieve something. Therefore, each individual has his own meaning of life, which consists in what kind of life he lives.

You don’t need to look for the meaning of life, you need to create it, create it yourself, invent it. Either your meaning in life lies in the constant search for it, or in determining what you live for, thanks to the fact that you set specific goals for yourself and then look for, try how to achieve what you want to have as efficiently as possible.

Looking for something without knowing what leads to the fact that you just mark time. You need not to seek, but to create the meaning of your life yourself (it lies in what you will have). Do not ask what life can give you, but determine for yourself what you want from it, and take the appropriate steps to get it. This will save you not only from apathy, but also from depression and other forms of oppression.

Article author: Maria Barnikova (psychiatrist)

Apathy: what to do with lingering indifference?

17.06.2016

Maria Barnikova

Apathy is a state of indifference, indifference, passivity. Detailed information about the causes, symptoms and methods of treating apathy is in the article.

Initially, the meaning of the word "apathy" implied an extremely useful and positive state of the individual. A term borrowed from the ancient Greeks - followers of Stoicism ( apatheia - dispassionateness), was used to denote the ability of wise persons to lead a life in which there are no antimoral passions and negative affects. This is a state of a stoic way of thinking and acting, when a person does not experience joy and suffering from phenomena that cause such feelings in an ordinary mortal.

Today, the term "apathy" is synonymous with athymia and anormia, denoting the presence of dominant properties: emotional passivity, deep detachment from what is happening, a hopeless lack of liveliness. Apathy is a state of a person that can be described in words: “ I don’t want anything, not because I’m lazy, but because the whole life is uninteresting, unexciting, insipid, boring».

At the same time, the reluctance to do anything and somehow act is not at all the momentary whims of an eccentric and spoiled personality. Constant apathy is a specific status of the inner world of the individual, a special structure of the psyche. Lethargy of thinking, coldness of feelings, detachment of experiences can occur gradually or abruptly. A person does not understand the nature of such sensations, is not able to control them, that is, by conscious efforts she cannot change her perception of the world.

What is apathy? Description

In fact, the apathy to life that has arisen is a kind of lever of the nervous system used to protect and save the psyche from accumulated stress, warning about the depletion of the body's resources. The state of indifference and indifference arises at a time when, under the influence of psycho-traumatic factors, the reserves of mental energy have been exhausted. Detachment from the events of reality is a consequence of prolonged excitation of the central nervous system: in order to stabilize the work of the body, the brain initiates the processes of inhibition of functions. Such a natural mechanism is designed to prevent the irreversible depletion of mental resources. This is a specific reliable "fuse" of the body from excessive nervous tension.

However, for many people, apathy is not a single and short-term phenomenon, but takes possession of a person for a long time, makes changes in character, becoming a kind of personal property. Social apathy in the form of passivity and lack of initiative can be a character trait of individuals at certain stages of development, manifesting itself in low professional activity and social inertia.

As such, the diagnosis of "apathy" in psychiatry is absent. In the understanding of clinicians, this is a symptom of the existence of a certain problem in the human psyche, which can be described as "total indifference." It is this sign that most accurately reflects the position of a person at the moment. It is worth noting that indifference does not apply to any specific area of ​​life: a person is indifferent to all manifestations of life.

Apathy is well conveyed by the speech construction " I do not care". That is, it is the same for a person: the sun is shining or it is raining, he received an award or lost his wallet, he will go to a friendly party or stay at home alone, he will eat a delicious steak or get soy sausages for dinner. For a person with apathy, there is no fundamental difference between joyful and sad events, achievements and failures, gains and losses. Any phenomenon, regardless of its sign: "plus" or "minus" will not cause an emotional reaction.

However, it is worth distinguishing apathy from a related anomaly - abulia, which often go hand in hand. Apathy is insensitivity, and abulia is inactivity. If, with apathy, a person continues to exist, as if by inertia, without feeling any emotions, then with abulia, his urges to do something simply disappear.

The state of contemplative inactivity is a sign. Indifference to the outside world is a negative manifestation of various somatic, neurological, mental pathologies, such as: dementia in Pick's disease, senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, tick-borne borreliosis, HIV infection. Apathy can develop when taking certain pharmacological agents, for example: antipsychotics.

Apathy may be a specific clinical symptom within depressive disorders. Apathy and depression are kindred spirits. But if during “pure” depression a person is exhausted by negative feelings, then with apathy, contrasting concepts disappear. A person does not feel the difference between "sad - fun", "sad - joyful". In a word, everything is “no way” for him.

However, the absence of external manifestations of experiences in a subject with apathy does not always mean that the person has completely lost the ability to feel something. It's just that true sensations are often hidden in the deep sections of the subconscious and are not demonstrated on a conscious level. In addition, apathy deprives the saturation and brightness of experiences, so it seems that a person has no emotions at all.

Symptoms of apathy

A person in a state of apathy is easy to distinguish from those around him, since the symptoms of this anomaly are clearly visible externally. The main essence of apathy is complete indifference to what is happening, which is manifested in a noticeable decrease in vitality. A person loses interest in hobbies, does not perform previously favorite activities, reduces the number of contacts with friends. A person loses interest not only in joyful events, but he does not show any reactions to phenomena that in a normal state cause hostility, disgust, anger.

Surrounded by people, he is distinguished by absolutely impassive speeches and indifferent behavior. Complete alienation of the individual from society is established. He tends to ignore questions addressed to him, or answers them in monosyllables. A noticeable sign of apathy: lack of sympathy for the problems of loved ones, the disappearance of empathy for the difficulties of relatives, the inability to rejoice at their successes. Often, through his fault, family relationships become hostile. At the same time, the more attention a relative pays to him, the further the person with apathy seeks to move away from him.

The person prefers to be inactive, to spend time aimlessly. A person continues to go to work or attend classes, but he does it out of inertia. He does not show any initiative and fulfills his duties, not striving to get some kind of worthy result, but performing them, if only to somehow do the job.

The posture of a person with apathy is static, as if inanimate, the head is lowered, the look is extinct. The visual symptoms of apathy are the complete disappearance of facial reactions to some phenomena. Neither sympathy, nor antipathy, nor sadness, nor joy are reflected on a person’s face. The subject's speech is devoid of any emotional modulations. In the narration, indifferent notes can be traced in relation to all objects of reality.

A sign of apathy, noticeable to the naked eye, is the disappearance of any vegetative reactions to an event, that is, a person’s face does not blush or turn pale if the individual becomes a witness to an objectively disturbing situation. There is also a significant paucity of gestures, the complete absence of any spontaneous movements.

There may be signs of slovenliness and uncleanliness, up to a complete disregard for personal hygiene measures. Many people with apathy are observed to perform meaningless obsessive actions, for example: tapping their fingers on the table, rhythmically shaking their legs, rubbing their hands, fixing their eyes on their hands for a long time.

Reasons for apathy

Apathy- a symptom that may indicate diseases of the somatic, neurological, mental level. Before proceeding with the treatment of an abnormal condition, the following causes should be excluded:

• schizophrenia;
• depressive disorders;
• diseases of the central nervous system of organic etiology;
• dementia of various origins;
• AIDS;
• oncological lesions of the brain;
• alcoholism and drug addiction;
• endocrine dysfunctions.

Quite often, the causes of apathy are the intake of certain medications, including: benzodiazepine tranquilizers, hypnotics, tricyclic antidepressants, antibiotics, oral contraceptives. Therefore, if fatigue, drowsiness, weakness and indifference occur while taking some medications, it is necessary to consult a doctor to replace the medications.

Among the psychological causes of apathy, the palm is held by the psychoanalytic concept, according to which apathy is a protective mechanism of the psyche, designed to neutralize the intense experiences of the individual. According to the adherents of this doctrine, apathy helps to temporarily reduce the importance of the desires and needs of the individual, which allows you to change the worldview, thereby eliminating the internal conflict.

Another group of psychologists believes that the cause of apathy is a consequence of excessive experiences of the individual, and its task is to reduce the intensity of manifestations of the emotional sphere. Since the process of experiencing emotions is associated with a significant expenditure of mental energy, any person has a moment when the resources of the body are simply not enough for emotional reactions. Apathy is a kind of “switch” of the sphere of feelings to work in an energy-saving mode.

A different opinion, apathy is a way to prevent a nervous breakdown, restraining responsible and purposeful people from excessive labor exploits. Often, sudden insensitivity occurs in enterprising and enterprising subjects who dare in the professional field 24 hours a day. Due to the development of indifference to what is happening, the body of a workaholic receives the necessary rest.

In some cases, it is rather difficult to establish the causes of apathy, since the culprits of a person’s vital lethargy are hidden in the deep sections of the psyche - in the subconscious. Thanks to the immersion of a person in a hypnotic trance, it is possible to establish that the causes of the current cooling to life are mental traumas of the past. That is, in the personal history there was some kind of psycho-traumatic situation that caused severe suffering to the individual. Through the emergence of apathy, the subconscious mind tries to protect the individual from new mental anguish.

Anastasia

03/06/2019 at 16:35 More people should read this article. It's hard to write in places, but it's worth it. This one, and here https://testometrika.com/blog/why-i-don-t-want-anything/ this one also does not hurt. And then those who only think that they have apathy, and then it magically disappears, then they take out the brains of those who really suffer from it ...