Apathy implies alack of motivationor desire to achieve a goal or simply to deal with the obstacles of everyday life. That is, those who are apathetic tend to show a lack of interest in those aspects that previously motivated them. But why can we feel this way? And what can we do to address it?
What is apathy?
Apathy is a feeling of lack of interest in different aspects of life, as well as in different daily activities. We can all have moments when we feel more listless, but when this continues over time, it can be a sign that there is a problem, which can be either physical or mental.
How do I know if I suffer from apathy?
Some of the main signs that may indicate that a person suffers from apathy are the following:
- Feeling disconnected: Apathetic people tend not to feel very present in what they do on a daily basis. Therefore, it is difficult for them to spend time with loved ones or do the things that used to motivate them.
- Decreased or Lack of Emotional Expression: When a person experiences apathy, they tend to experience less of their emotions, both negative and positive. That is, they may react differently than usual because of this emotional numbness.
- Lack of motivation: When a person feels apathetic, they tend not to have enough willpower to complete the tasks or demands of the day, thus making many aspects of their daily life difficult.
- Lack of energy: Emotional apathy is also related to a lack of daily energy. In fact, people may even wake up tired despite having a good night’s rest.
- Social Withdrawal: An apathetic person may avoid going to a social event because of this. This, over time, can cause the person to isolate themselves from family or friends, causing increased apathy.
It is important to detect apathy because this could be a sign that we are facing a physical or mental health problem.
Why does apathy arise?
Most people can experience feelings of listlessness from time to time. But when this apathy is persistent and affects different areas of our lives, we are faced with a problem that we must address. In such cases, apathy may arise due to the following:
- Anxiety: Apathy may be related to aanxiety disorder. The reason is that by feeling anxious, we end up worrying excessively about our future, which in the long run can cause constant tiredness and lead to apathy.
- Depression: Similar to anxiety, depression is also associated with mental fatigue which can be associated with apathy.
- Schizophrenia : One of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia is apathy or emotional numbness. That is, schizophrenia disorder makes people appear emotionless.
- Dementia: Dementia can also be associated with apathy because of all the changes it causes in the affected person.
- Stress: Living with one for a long timeexcessive stressIt can also lead to feelings of apathy.
When apathy is chronic , it can end up interfering with many different areas of our lives. In fact, it can end up causing problems in our jobs, relationships, or even our mental well-being.
How to deal with apathy?
If you feel like you’re feeling lazy, the following tips may help you cope with this feeling:
- Get out of yourcomfort zoneand dare to explore new experiences, even if it is difficult for you. This step will allow you to enjoy your day more and feel positive emotions towards life.
- Spend time doing activities that you really enjoy and have stopped doing. Try to gradually resume them, starting with ten minutes a day and increasing the time according to your preferences.
- Give yourself rewards for your efforts. We often forget to take care of ourselves. Setting rewards for every action that requires effort can be an effective remedy for apathy.
- Set small daily goals to combat lack of motivation, general exhaustion, and general apathy. You can write them down in a visible place, like a board or notebook, and check them off when you reach them.
- Break big projects into smaller, more achievable steps. Breaking your goals into more manageable ones will help you fight apathy, as lack of motivation often comes from taking on challenges that are too daunting.
- Pay attention to the triggers that cause your apathetic state. Identify those situations or factors and work to remove the obstacles that prevent you from feeling motivated in life. Prevention is one of the best ways to combat apathy.
- Change your routine to avoid monotony. If you have a routine that is too rigid, try to set aside time to enjoy experiences that are different from your usual activities. If you can’t avoid your routine, try making small changes, such as changing the way you work or study.
- Go to therapy: If apathy affects you in many ways, we strongly recommend that youcontact a professional psychologist. Therapy will help you identify the cause of this apathy and how to address it.
Overcoming apathy can be difficult, but by combating those feelings, you will be able to feel better about yourself, both physically and emotionally. Making motivating changes in your life can make a difference in your overall well-being.