All You Need to Know About Apathy

Have you been feeling disconnected from reality lately? Perhaps things that made you happy don’t even interest you anymore. Maybe you feel like you’re living in a void of indifference and unmotivated ignorance.Things don’t quite feel right but there is nothing wrong. Well, there is no need to worry. What you’re experiencing is called apathy- a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, or concern about something. 

In a way, apathy is an ’emotionless emotion’- meaning you feel like something is wrong in your life, you may even want to improve it; but you lack the desire and motivation to pursue it. 

We realize that apathy might be a tricky concept to comprehend and that’s why we’re here to help you. Below, we have listed some information that we believe will help you understand everything that you need to know about apathy.

What should you look for?

We all experience lack of motivation and disinterest once in a while. For all you, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. So how do we recognize apathy?

Following are some common symptoms of apathy:

• Lack of motivation to do everyday activities
• Reduced productivity and perseverance
• Reduced participation in social activities
• Have no desire to learn new things, meet new people, or have new experiences
• Lack of concern about your own problems
• Indifference to good or bad events in life
• Disinterest in self care

Primary diagnosis of apathy is done when changes in behavior negatively impact somebody’s personal and professional life and if the diminished motivation is not consistent with age, culture and health status.

Where does it all start from?

It makes sense to want to know where your apathy stems from. Is it you that did something wrong? Did it come to you because of genetics? 

There’s no one answer to these questions. Apathy can be caused due to a multiple factors, some of them being poor diet, usage of drugs, improper sleeping schedules, lack of exercise or from organic defects such as a malfunctioning thyroid gland or limbic system.

Apathy is also a common symptom of  anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and dementia. 

However, some psychological factors could also lead to apathy. Do you have a negative perception of your image? Did you lose somebody important to you? Or are you just bored and fed up of your tedious life? 

In an era sucked into the clutches of capitalism, almost everybody experiences some form of apathy at least once in their life.

What should you do to treat Apathy?

Treatments vary depending on whether apathy exists as a symptom of another condition or by itself. 

If your apathy is the result of Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimers, Schizophrenia or any other disease then it might be best to consult a doctor. There are medications available that have proved to be effective in appropriate quantities.

Some of the most common ways to deal with apathy are: 

• Identify triggers: Identify what exactly that you do causes you to feel unmotivated and disinterested. Try making changes to eliminate those triggers. Even if you’re not successful, your brain will recognize the efforts and that should automatically make you feel better.
• Change your daily routine: Have a new routine every single day! Try to add new, fun and fulfilling activities in your day. The change in routine will help your mind get rid of its numbness and help combat apathy.
• Set reasonable goals: One of the most common causes of apathy is setting extremely high goals and then feeling unmotivated when you are unable to meet them. Start small. Set reasonable goals for yourself and direct your energy in fulfilling them. You can gradually set higher goals.
• Try Therapy: A therapist will not solve your problems but he/she will help you acknowledge and work towards them. Talk to your therapist about your lack of motivation and what you think caused it. Sometimes, all we need is a sympathetic ear!

Overcoming apathy is no easy task but its certainly not impossible. Try your best to allow yourself to heal and it is okay if you do not get it right on the first try.