What is apathy: 7 main symptoms, ways to get rid of it

Greetings, friends!

Each of us has at least once encountered such a state when we want absolutely nothing. There is no joy or sadness, the mood is simply “nothing”, and any good or bad news causes practically no emotions. This condition is called apathy. Sometimes it goes away without a trace after a good rest, and sometimes it can persist for months, preventing a person from living and working normally. Today we will look in detail at what apathy is, why it occurs, by what symptoms it can be identified and how to get rid of it. Let's begin.

What is apathy?

Apathy is a state manifested in total indifference to everything and a complete lack of motivation. A person immersed in this state loses interest in work, entertainment, relaxation and even communicating with friends. The term “apathy” is derived from the ancient Greek word “apatheia,” which translates as “passionlessness” (more meaningfully translated as “lack of passion for life”).

The key feature of apathy is that a person becomes equally indifferent to all areas of his life. He even reacts equally neutrally to both good and bad news. In psychology, apathy is considered not as an independent diagnosis, but as a symptom of a number of other disorders and diseases. The causes of apathy vary, and in some cases you can get rid of it on your own, but sometimes you may need qualified help from a neuropsychiatrist.

Causes

Apathy itself is usually a symptom of some disease. The cause of this condition may be:

depression;
schizophrenia;
diseases of the central nervous system;
dementia;
HIV;
brain tumor;
alcoholism;
addiction;
endocrine disorders.

In addition, the following can provoke the appearance of apathy:

some medications (sleeping pills, tranquilizers, antidepressants, oral contraceptives, etc.);
stress and strong emotional experiences;
overwork and lack of rest.

Signs of apathy

Apathy is quite noticeable from the outside, especially if you have known the person for a long time. Having immersed himself in this state, he behaves more detached, passive and indifferent. Please note that every person periodically behaves more calmly and phlegmatically (how is that?) than usual. But in a state of apathy, there is a noticeable lack of interest in many significant things. A person no longer strives to exchange emotions; it is as if the need for love and communication disappears. Relatives often take this personally and are offended by the person for paying much less attention to them.

You can determine the presence of apathy in yourself or a friend by the following signs:

poor health, lack of strength, constant fatigue, drowsiness;
lack of interest in everything, a rather indifferent reaction to good and bad events;
solitude, reluctance to go out and communicate with friends;
slow response to an appeal (the person does not answer immediately or does not answer correctly);
slow, monotonous, almost completely emotionless speech;
lack of desire to take care of oneself (a person ceases to pay due attention to hygiene, appearance, health);
“nervous” habits (foot tapping, hand rubbing, finger snapping, etc.).

How does apathy manifest itself?

Apathy has been the real scourge of the last two decades. With apathy, a person’s psycho-emotional sphere is disrupted, his motivational abilities are reduced, and moral and physical fatigue appears.

At different periods of life, every person encounters a similar phenomenon. But an apathetic mood should not be confused with true psycho-emotional apathy, which significantly reduces the quality of life, never goes away without a trace and often leads to serious complications.

How does true apathy manifest itself? The first and most important sign is a bad mood, lack of joy and other positive emotions. A person feels depressed and loses the desire to move forward and learn new things.

Other manifestations of apathy include:

Increased fatigue, feeling of constant tiredness. A person feels tired not only after work or physical activity, but also after sleep and rest.
Lack of appetite. This symptom is often accompanied by a decrease in the sense of smell and taste and can lead to weight loss and metabolic disorders.
Closedness. The person stops making contact with other people. At first he develops a reluctance to communicate with strangers, and then with loved ones.
Impaired cognitive functions of the brain. Thanks to this function, our brain perceives, transmits, analyzes and remembers various information. As a rule, people who are in true apathy have impaired concentration and memory. Previous tasks and work are given to them with great effort.
Lack of initiative, increasing laziness, indifference. A person does not show initiative in the family, relationships, or at work. As a rule, modern society displaces uninitiated people. Therefore, apathy can lead to the destruction of a person’s social life, depriving him of his favorite job, friends and even family.

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Causes of apathy

In most cases, people attribute apathy to fatigue or bad mood, but the list of its causes is much wider. The most significant factors are:

1. Anxiety

. The human psyche is fragile and vulnerable, so it has developed certain protective mechanisms. And one of these mechanisms is ignoring too strong stimuli. Therefore, excessive anxiety can lead to apathy simply because the brain is trying to reduce stress levels.

Depression apathy

Apathy often breeds depression. Whether to treat it or not is of interest to many people. If the condition has persisted and you do not know how to get rid of it, then do not hesitate and seek help from a doctor.

Signs that should alert you first of all are emotional disorders, slow thinking, low mood, decreased motor activity. It is important that these signs are observed for a long time. Often the concepts of depression and apathy are confused with chronic fatigue syndrome. In the second case, the cause of the disease is physical fatigue, and not external causes.

Depression - apathy has a variety of clinical manifestations. This is a loss of interest in the outside world, somatic manifestations of physical discomfort, intestinal disorders, headaches. A feature of depression and apathy is that patients can spend a very long time being examined by various specialists, but only psychiatrists can prescribe effective treatment.

Depression - apathy occurs due to stressful situations and psychological trauma. However, it happens that these signs appear for endogenous reasons: disorders occur due to a lack of serotonin production in the brain. Treatment includes antidepressants and psychotherapy.

How to get rid of apathy?

If you correctly understand what apathy is, then you already know that it is an undesirable state that does not lead to anything good. Of course, sometimes it occurs for natural reasons - this is the body’s way of signaling to us that we just need to take a break from everything. But in most cases it is better to get rid of it as soon as possible. Obviously, the most effective remedy against apathy caused by fatigue is good rest.

It is better to choose some moderately active pastime , for example, relaxing by a pond or in the village. Passive relaxation on the couch won't help much here. Too much load is also ineffective, but 1-2 days can be devoted to playing badminton or volleyball. The main thing is that after intense physical activity you have at least a couple of days left for the body to recover.

The main rule during the entire vacation is to completely protect yourself from work and from most everyday activities. Therefore, it is better not to consider vacationing at home or near home at all - go to the village, to the sea, to the lake, to the forest or to any other accessible place. You need to spend at least a few days in a “foreign” environment, with full awareness that work and everyday bustle are far away.

It is important to consider that apathy is a fairly advanced crisis state. It arises for various reasons, but almost always we are talking about a large pile of problems accumulated over many months. Therefore, it is impossible to get rid of apathy in 1 day , even if it is the best and most eventful vacation of your life. If the cause of this condition is fatigue, a long vacation is necessary. If the causes of apathy are hidden more deeply, the help of a psychotherapist may be required.

Of course, you need to start treating apathy with good rest. In order for it to be of sufficient quality and effectiveness, the following requirements must be met:

You need to rest quite actively, but without exhausting yourself with heavy physical activity. Walking, swimming, active games, hiking, outdoor recreation are great options. If, instead of having a good rest, you go to the dacha and dig up a garden, this can only worsen the state of apathy, even if such an activity gives you pleasure.
You need to rest as far as possible, ideally in a new and completely unfamiliar place. Your brain must understand that work, problems and everyday hustle and bustle are far away and are now inaccessible to it. This is the only way to completely get rid of unnecessary worries and relax for a good rest.
While on vacation, try to sleep at least 8 hours every day. Keep in mind that lack of sleep and oversleeping are equally harmful to health and well-being.
Try to minimize the amount of alcohol. Perhaps sometimes it really helps to relax better and throw problems out of your thoughts. But its detrimental effect on health will ultimately greatly impair the quality of your rest.
Forget about work and problems altogether. Make sure that nothing makes you think about the things you are trying to take a break from. All issues at work should be resolved, there should be no “tails” that can weigh on you. Ask colleagues or subordinates not to call you unless absolutely necessary.

Of course, the more time you spend relaxing, the better. But even if you only have a week, this is enough to have a good rest and “reset” your thoughts. But the fight against apathy will need to be continued even after returning from vacation. To do this, always observe the following principles:

Remember that the optimal sleep duration is 7-8 hours. Less sleep is not enough for good rest, but if you sleep more than 8 hours, the quality of sleep deteriorates greatly.
Have breakfast every morning and watch your diet. Your energy depends on the quality of your diet, as well as the timely supply of nutrients to your body.
Create a schedule and stick to it. Typically, people who avoid schedules feel like it limits personal freedom and takes up a lot of time. In practice, it turns out the opposite: people who live according to a schedule usually manage to get more done and have several hours of free time every day that can be spent on anything.
Eliminate irritants. We constantly put up with unpleasant little things, without thinking that some can be eliminated altogether. Try to eliminate from your life everything that throws you off balance. Is the sun shining in your eyes at the office? Find a way to close it (stick a poster on the desired part of the window, if your bosses don't mind). Remember that every irritant can be eliminated or weakened. For example, if we are talking about a damaged relationship with a colleague, you can make peace (for example, using the advice of Dale Carnegie) or simply stop attaching importance to this confrontation.

If you have had a good rest and taken care to improve your living and working conditions, but the apathy does not go away, you need to contact a neuropsychiatrist. This is a specialist whose profession involves knowledge of psychology and neurology. His competence includes mental health disorders associated with diseases and organic lesions of the nervous system.

Precursors to apathy

Many people confuse the concepts of apathy and depression. The latter is manifested by a depressed mood, and the former includes a complete rejection of life’s pleasures, communication, and lack of any activity.

Sometimes relatives and immediate circles of a family member in need of psychological and mental help may incorrectly assess the patient’s behavior, as a result of which negative changes in condition will occur.

The precursors to such a change are the following signs:

Reluctance to do usual work, participate in events, conduct everyday life and personal hygiene procedures, often ignoring basic norms. This change becomes very noticeable to all the people around him.
Limiting acquaintances, reducing the constant circle of contacts. Relatives should notice if their family member, who was previously the life of the party and had a sufficient number of friends, suddenly stopped communicating with them. This indicates an apathetic mood flowing into a more serious form.
A low mood level is the first indicator of apathy. If a person has a negative attitude over a long period and does not react in any way to any attempts to change the situation, then special attention should be paid to this.
Giving up a favorite activity: everyone gets positive emotions from doing what they love, but if it doesn’t make you happy and attractive, it’s a sign of emotional decline.
An objective indicator of changes in consciousness is a person’s absent-mindedness and memory impairment. You can notice such a constant repetition of actions when you forget your keys at home or don’t lock the door. Repetitive absent-mindedness is an indifferent attitude towards everyday life.
Poor concentration is another serious factor that worries a person’s loved ones and relatives.
Lack of strength to get out of bed due to pronounced weakness is the first indicator of the disease (weakness is the main indicator of the developing disease).
Refusal to perform hygiene procedures independently.
Slow reaction - indifference is manifested by a reluctance to fully respond to stimuli.
The appearance of feelings of anxiety, fear, abandonment, a feeling of uselessness, lack of meaning in future life, while those around you always become to blame.
Dizziness – actively manifests itself already at the stage of a progressive state of indifference to life.

The alarm should be sounded when the listed factors are observed in the patient for more than two weeks, and there is no regression. The last three manifestations are the most dangerous symptoms, leading to devastating consequences. You cannot completely trust the words of a person suffering from apathy. He tells others that everything is always fine with him. In fact, if similar symptoms are identified, the patient needs to undergo a full course of procedures to restore his mental health.

This psychological absence is very similar to laziness. It is necessary to pay attention if a person who has not previously been noticed as unwilling to perform actions suddenly suddenly begins to become lazy.

How to deal with apathy?

Apathy as a condition definitely needs correction. You cannot 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 actions, as it will be more difficult to do later. 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 place to start treating apathy. The fact is that physical activity cannot be replaced by anything. If you stop moving, the problem only gets worse over time. A person is designed in such a way that even small exercises can help cope with obsessive states. That's why it's worth signing up for dancing and walking more on the street. By taking daily walks, you will free yourself from additional mental anguish. You should not neglect morning exercises. If you have the strength for systematic gymnastics, you can include it in your daily routine.

Daily regime

When thinking about how to deal with apathy, you should take into account such a thing as the correct daily routine. This important component will protect 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. Competent treatment of apathy is never complete without building an effective routine. Your body should get used to going to bed strictly at certain hours and eating at a time when you are hungry. Gradually you will learn to feel your needs and desires.

Trips

How to deal with the feeling of being cut off 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 capabilities, but it is recommended not to spare money for mental recovery.

Communication

Interaction with loved ones helps in many ways 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 their loved ones that they want 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 come to your senses, restore your psyche and lost spiritual strength.

Medications

They are not always recommended, only in the most difficult situations, when ordinary positive actions and support from loved ones are not enough. Don't be shy about asking 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, the doctor may prescribe strong tranquilizers that will help relieve anxious thoughts.

Thus, a pronounced state of apathy is a serious reason to think about your life. Apathy as a psychological disorder definitely needs treatment. The right approach to treatment is needed to help overcome the feeling of internal hopelessness. You can seek help from the Irakli Pozharisky Psychology Center . Working with a specialist will be helpful. You will be able to understand the disturbing situation and outline ways of internal liberation.

How to cure apathy

Eliminating any mental problem takes time. If you or a 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 this that the choice of the correct combination of the following therapeutic approaches depends.

First of all, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy will help.

Individual psychotherapy is one of the most effective methods. If the stressor cannot be eliminated, your doctor will help you find a different way to deal with it. During the sessions, patients learn to better understand the problem, fight 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 appropriate modern medications. For example, they use mild tranquilizers that effectively relieve anxiety, or antidepressants that normalize mood and have a positive effect on mental activity. Antipsychotics may be used.

Additionally will help:

support from family and friends: if you want to find out more precisely how to help a person with apathy, a specialist will tell you how best to do this in your case
normalization of lifestyle, adequate sleep, elimination of stress factors: this point is important for apathy of any etiology
physiotherapeutic treatment, massage, vitamin therapy, adaptogens: restoration of the body after difficult, debilitating periods (overwork, past illnesses)

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

All people can experience apathy, which makes them painfully passive and lethargic. Of course, this risks missed opportunities and wasted time. But such periods can be seen as a temporary phase that almost everyone goes through. 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 emergence and progression of severe mental illnesses (depression, anxiety disorders, and others).

Author: Specialist of the Alliance Mental Health Center

SpecialistsChief physician, psychiatrist, professor

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Sources used:

https://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/ushakov/740114
https://ru.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/apathetic
https://cmzmedical.ru/simptomy/apatiya/