Sooner or later apathy will also knock on our door. It is established as a feeling of reluctance that extends to the physical and mental plane. We don’t feel like doing anything and feel empty. Sometimes this feeling comes upon us suddenly and disappears as it came. Other times it can be a symptom that something more serious is going on that needs our attention.
Apathy, a definition that goes beyond the lack of passion
To understand the definition of apathy we must go back to its etymological origin. This word comes from the Greek ἀπάθεια (apatheia), which comes from “phatos”, and means emotion, feelings or passion. Thus, the concept of apathy basically refers to the absence of passion and feelings. Indeed, when we feel apathetic we experience a state of affective deficiency. We are not depressed, we simply lack the passion and drive of emotions and feelings .
But apathy isn’t just lack of emotion and enthusiasm, it’s a generalized state of indifference in which we don’t respond to aspects of our emotional, social, or physical lives. We enter a sort of emotional desert where strength and desire leave us.
Apathy not only robs us of our feelings, but also generates a lack of motivation and an attitude of indifference and carelessness. The goals that normally stimulate our behavior lose their meaning and we are left lethargic and without energy, almost paralyzed and unable or unwilling to act.
The main symptoms of apathy
- On a physical levelwe feel heavier, it’s as if we were pedaling against the wind, so that each pedal stroke costs us enormous energy. We feel completely exhausted and rest is not enough to regain our strength.
- Cognitively, we find nothing stimulating or interesting. For us everything is the same. No intellectual stimulus excites us. No idea convinces us. We don’t feel the need to explore or learn new things.
- Emotionallywe feel completely drained. Nothing has the power to make us happy enough to activate, but nothing makes us too angry or uncomfortable either. We live in a state of lethargy and emotional flattening.
- On a volitional levelwe do not find the energy and motivation necessary to move forward. It’s like we ran out of battery. Every time we try to do something, it seems to us that it requires superhuman effort.
When does apathy become a problem?
Apathy is not necessarily a symptom of a problem. Indeed, for the Stoic philosophers apatheia was a state of mind in which we free ourselves from emotional disturbances. It involves eliminating emotional reactions to external events beyond our control. From that perspective, apathy takes on a more positive meaning, approaching a state more akin to equanimity .
But apathy is a symptom of a problem when it becomes an obstacle to our daily life and prevents us from experiencing pleasure. In fact, being listless for an extended period of time can be a sign of depression or dissociative identity disorder.
The causes of widespread apathy
Apathy can have physical or psychological causes. The first step is to exclude that it is not the symptom of a disease. Indeed, thyroid problems and hormonal imbalances, an incorrect diet, anemia or even certain medications can lead to an extreme state of dejection and exhaustion similar to apathy.
After ruling out the physiological cause, the problem is likely to be psychological. Apathy is often a handbrake of sorts indicating that we need to slow down in an overactive life that demands too much of us. In this case, it is normal for apathy to last a couple of days since its mission is to force us to rest and disconnect from the world.
In other cases the causes of apathy are deeper and tell us something about how we are living. When we’re immersed in a life we don’t like, whether it’s because we’ve chosen the wrong job, we’re surrounded by toxic people, or we’re immersed in an undeveloped environment. The lack of meaning, day after day, ends up being felt, depletes our psychological resources and takes away our vitality.
Apathy can also be caused by living too long on autopilot . When all days are the same and there is nothing that can give a little sparkle to our existence, our vital energy can slowly fade away. Mario Benedetti explained it better: “I have the terrible feeling that time passes and I do nothing, nothing happens and nothing moves me to the core”.
On the other hand, apathy could be the result of a deep disappointment. Eventually, when we are apathetic, we lose hope that we can achieve happiness or personal fulfillment. It can happen because we have stopped believing in the value of the goals we set for ourselves or because we have lost faith in our ability to achieve them. In these cases, apathy presents itself as a kind of internal surrender.
In any case, and whatever the cause of the apathy, it sends us a message: we have a problem that we must address. It is no coincidence that apathy lowers our energy level. It does this so that we can’t go so fast that our pace confuses us. By forcing us to take a breath, it encourages us to reflect and resolve what is happening to us.
How to overcome generalized apathy?
To overcome generalized apathy we just have to move. We don’t have to do big things, just start. Take the first step. Although small, but it’s worth it. Maybe we need to do – or cancel – something that makes a difference in that sequence of days that are always the same. Perhaps we need to decompress the compressed or express the removed so that something is activated within us and we can get back on track.
Only we know which apathy treatment really works for us. We have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, “If I had the desire or the energy, what would I do?” We may not find out right away, but when we know the answer, we just have to.
When we go ahead and do something that makes sense or feels good, the sum of those small efforts moves the arrow from apathy to interest. Indifference is giving way to curiosity and the will to live. Once the “engine” is started, everything is easier.
