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

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

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

Such signs are, of course, not uncommon. However, do not underestimate them. You can’t be sure if you have apathy that this is a trifle that you shouldn’t pay attention to. In some situations, this condition not only reduces quality of life, but can also be dangerous. For example, if a person is sick with a somatic illness, apathy will prevent him from gaining motivation for treatment. Apathy can also 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 understand it.

Signs of apathy

Main symptoms of apathy:

slurred speech;
decreased ability to work and unwillingness to perform routine duties;
slow mental and physical reactions;
lack or sharp decrease in appetite;
limiting communication with relatives and friends for a long time;
lack of initiative;
decreased concentration, sleep disturbance;
depressed mood, indifference and detachment.

Survey

To find out the causes of apathy, you need to consult a psychiatrist and neurologist. The examination begins with a clinical interview of the patient: the duration and severity of apathy and provoking factors are determined. With severe apathy, patients remain indifferent, do not answer the doctor’s questions on their own, and the conversation is held with relatives. During the observation, the absence of external manifestations of emotions, slowness, and weakening of motivation come to the fore. To more accurately determine the cause of apathy, the following methods are shown:

Psychodiagnostic testing.
The use of psychodiagnostic techniques makes it possible to diagnose apathy as a symptom of mental illness or a state of psychological maladjustment. A set of tests for men and women is selected individually by a psychologist. Various self-esteem tests are used, for example, the Beck Depression Inventory, and complex personality questionnaires - the Cattell questionnaire, SMIL, Eysenck questionnaire. If schizophrenia or dementia is suspected, a pathopsychological study of cognitive functions (thinking, intelligence, memory) is carried out.
Neurological examination.
Apathetic patients with symptoms of nervous system damage are examined by a neurologist. Using a survey and special tests, the neurological status is assessed, the nature of the central nervous system lesion (focal, diffuse), the localization of the lesion is determined, and the main pathophysiological mechanism is established. Data from a neurological examination allow the doctor to suggest the causes of apathy and select instrumental procedures to clarify the diagnosis.
Instrumental research of the brain.
To assess the nature of brain damage and determine the localization of the lesion, imaging methods are used: MRI of the brain and supplying vessels, ultrasound of the vessels of the head and brain structures, CT of the brain. Apathy often accompanies damage to the prefrontal zones, pituitary gland, and limbic system.

Reasons influencing the development of apathy

Are you overtaken by despondency and apathy? The reasons may be different, as well as the ways in which you can get rid of them.

Apathy can be triggered by fatigue, systematic lack of sleep, problems at work or “critical” days. This is a short-term phenomenon, and getting rid of these types of symptoms is not difficult.

The true reasons for prolonged apathy lie much deeper, and among them:

Dysfunction of the endocrine system.
Mental, emotional, physical exhaustion.
Chronic stress.
Drug addiction, alcoholism, old age.
Taking birth control pills, antibiotics, steroids and other medications.
Heredity.
Recently experienced severe psychological stress, for example, the death of a loved one, divorce.
Chronic diseases.
Emotional burnout and energy decline.

This is a condition that needs to be combated, as it can be a trigger for the development of depression. It is important to take timely measures to eliminate it.

We will tell you how to get rid of apathy and depression, and you decide for yourself which method to choose.

Causes of occurrence in men and women

Apathy can be a sign of various diseases, accompany physical ailments, or appear on its own.

Main reasons:

Prolonged physical activity leading to constant fatigue.
Emotional overload - in this case, apathy acts as a protective mechanism of the psyche.
As one of the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Due to the development of a physical illness, the emotional background changes. The person doesn’t care what happens to him next. Usually accompanies incurable diseases.
Improper nutrition - the body does not receive the necessary substances and microelements, as a result, metabolism and hormone production are disrupted.
Thyroid diseases.
Premenstrual syndrome.
Experiencing traumatic situations.
Routineness, a feeling of monotony in life, the impossibility or inability to change something.
Increased level of fear, constant feeling of nervousness.
Changing your usual lifestyle.
Loss of a loved one.

Apathy does not necessarily develop immediately; months or even years may pass. Therefore, psychologists study not only current life, but also pay attention to events that happened in the past.

Additional recommendations on how to get rid of apathy towards life

Make a plan for daily tasks that must be completed. This could include cooking, cleaning, laundry, childcare and more depending on your lifestyle and marital status.

Proper nutrition and regular exercise help you to be in a state of mental balance and get rid of apathy. The effect of following a healthy lifestyle is enormous. Instill healthy habits in yourself, and you will not have time to be blue.

Learn to notice things you didn't pay attention to before and do things that previously seemed difficult. There is no need to refuse new experiences, because they can bring tangible benefits.

Make yourself a personal list of joys. It should include points that provide you with a state of satisfaction, and create a feeling of lifting and inner push.

Don’t be afraid to turn to loved ones for help and protect yourself from communicating with them. The support of family and friends to get rid of apathy can sometimes be very helpful, especially if you are confused and don’t know what to do. You should not think that you will be perceived as a weak and weak-willed person.

Start developing positive thinking in yourself. The ability to see the good in everything and think constructively is an invaluable quality that helps get rid of any blues. Unfortunately, few can boast of it. Instead of swallowing pills, try changing the way you think. Sometimes this is difficult to do, but the result will be worth the effort.

At-risk groups

You need to know that there are people who are more susceptible to apathy. Let's look at who is at risk:

women at any age, especially during pregnancy,
people who have just retired, a person shows a lack of social communication, it is difficult for him to readjust, to take up new things,
teenagers,
people with predispositions to psychological and somatic diseases,
workaholics,
wealthy people
individuals prone to alcoholism,
people who actively manifest themselves in the public and social sphere. They can work in a place where they need to communicate a lot and take on serious responsibility. Sometimes a person cannot cope with this and this leads to apathy, especially if the person is in a job he doesn’t like.

In most cases, this condition develops in people who have the following character traits:

perfectionism,
hypochondria,
suspiciousness,
maximalism,
melancholy,
impressionability,
emotional excitability,
low self-esteem,
mood swings, which may indicate the presence of bipolar disorder,
autistic lifestyle.

How to get rid of apathy using stones

In the modern world, there are different ways to get rid of apathy, but many people turn to ancient methods of treating diseases. One of them is to eliminate the blues with the help of precious stones.

Gems, being in the bosom of nature, take from it beneficial properties, pure and bright energy, which has a positive effect on the human body. This effect is invisible, but very effective. Products made from stones are beautiful and harmonious, they complement the external image and improve the emotional background.

How to get rid of the blues and apathy with the help of stones?

Labradorite develops endurance and patience, helps fight hidden fears. Its soft blue energy can cure serious mental disorders and improve well-being and mood. This stone tunes the body and spirit in a positive way.

Apatite helps its owner find motivation and acquire energetic strength. Helps get rid of negativity towards yourself and others. This mineral senses the physical and psycho-emotional state of its owner.

Rose quartz relieves depression, obsessions, and internal complexes. You should carry it with you and, at the moment of exacerbation of the disease, clench it in your fist, mentally turning to it for help. This stone makes a person more resilient, resilient, and able to overcome any obstacle.

Red agate not only absorbs negative energy, but also transforms it into positive energy. It is also a powerful healer and helps relieve stress.

In Russian trade books of the 16th century they wrote about jasper like this: “The red stone will cheer up the heart and drive away indecent thoughts, it increases reason and honor, it heals a person’s strength and memory.” It gives energy, harmonizes the astral body and relieves apathy.

Don't know how to wear gemstones to block the manifestations of blues? Various gems for relieving depression have special abilities under certain conditions. It is believed that they must be worn so that they are constantly visible, for example, in a ring, in a bracelet, or in the form of long beads.

Eastern healers recommend periodically cleaning the stone under running water, as well as exposing it to the sun, as solar energy will help bring light into your life and make it more joyful.

Bottom line

Apathy is a natural state of an organism that is tired, overexerted or does not receive something. The result of apathy can be depression, which already threatens more serious symptoms and treatment. Usually it is easier for a person to cope with apathy.

You should sort out your life, add more pleasant moments in your life, rest and entertainment, which will help distract you from pressing problems, which you can return to over time, when your strength is renewed and your thoughts become clear again.

How to get rid of apathy with herbs

There are medicinal plants in nature that can, if not completely relieve depression, then at least alleviate the depressed state. The unique healing properties of herbs have been known since ancient times, but the exact mechanisms of action on the human body were established only in the twentieth century.

Laboratory studies revealed that:

medicinal plants contain a large number of microelements, vitamins of various groups and antioxidants;
decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs have a beneficial effect on the human body;
Plants contain natural and harmless substances that stimulate the immune system.

Such characteristics make it possible to use medicinal herbs without fear, since they are not addictive and have no side effects compared to tablets. But taking homeopathic medicines based on them should be done only after consultation with a specialist.

How to get rid of apathy and fatigue with the help of medicinal herbs? The nine most effective medicinal plants that help normalize sleep, calm the nervous system and relax include:

Motherwort.

Has a slight tonic effect. It contains substances that have a mild effect on the psyche during depressive states. Motherwort is poured into a glass of hot water, infused for 30 minutes and drunk throughout the day, diluted with tea.

Valerian.

It has long been considered a sedative. This plant helps fight sleep disorders, anxiety and irritability.

Melissa.

Used as a mood stabilizer, helps get rid of nervousness, anxiety, irritability, and sleep disorders. Its calming effect can be enhanced by combining it with other herbs such as valerian, St. John's wort.

Common hops.

Hop cones contain mineral and resinous substances, essential oil, flavonoids, and lupulin. They have a calming, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect on the human body. A mixture of tinctures of hops, valerian, hawthorn and rhubarb is a good remedy for getting rid of neuroses and in the fight against anxiety and worry.

What is it: definition

What does apathy or lethargy mean?

Apathy is a symptom. It is expressed in indifference, indifference to what is happening.

The person behaves detachedly and does not strive for active activity. Emotions can be inhibited, you don’t want anything.

This is not just fatigue , as some people think, but a complex emotional state that interferes with normal existence.

Apathy can become a protective mechanism of the psyche when the body can no longer withstand enormous loads and needs rest.

Overstrain of the nervous system one day leads to the development of apathy, which can later develop into full-fledged depression if you do not pay attention to the symptom in time.

Various physical and mental illnesses can be accompanied by apathy, so it is important to find the root cause.

Apathetic person - who is this?

Apathetic - a person who is in a state of apathy or has a tendency towards it. A person experiences lethargy and finds it difficult to take active actions.

There are no emotions , there is a feeling of indifference to what is happening around.

It is difficult to motivate an apathetic person to do something.

He is not inclined to change, he is satisfied with what is happening to him at the moment, or rather, he does not even think about his life and the need to be more active.

He is not interested in events around him and reacts poorly to stimuli.

The result is problems in personal life, work, difficulties in maintaining friendships, since to other people an apathetic person seems uninteresting, boring, and lethargic.

5Cyclicity of events

Take an example from wise nature. The change of seasons brings something new: in spring nature is reborn, in summer everything ripens, in autumn we reap the benefits, in winter there is emptiness, rest until a new spring. So do you: give yourself a break for a break, rethinking, psychological rest from problems. This is another cycle to go through, because everything eventually passes. And something new comes: a fresh idea is born, a new meeting takes place, a business or work appears, in a word, a new round of events in life begins.

Psychologist's advice

Reasons for apathy in the realities of modern life are a dime a dozen: some negative event occurs, and a person falls into long-term apathy. When faced with unforeseen difficulties, people form beliefs that the world is too aggressive and cruel, that dreams are unrealistic, and there is no point in fighting. The fear of another failure leads to a loss of ability to act - the body goes into energy-saving mode.

It is necessary to overcome a negative attitude. To do this, you need to learn to get rid of destructive beliefs. Here is an approximate list of erroneous thoughts that deprive you of the desire and energy to live:

“Life is a valley of sorrow”;
“Negative emotions cannot be controlled”;
“All people are essentially bad, you shouldn’t expect a good attitude from them”;
“Striving to satisfy one’s needs selfishly”;
“In the future things will be just as bad as they are now.”

For some, an optimistic outlook on life may seem like a complete utopia, but as soon as habitual beliefs are questioned, experience will begin to confirm the truth of new ideas, and the quality of life will increase dramatically.