Do you know the state when you want absolutely nothing, nothing causes emotions, and even getting out of bed is a real problem? Yes, it's apathy. What to do and to which specialist to run? A person who is indifferent to everything is immediately noticeable to others. He cannot concentrate, is distracted, and there is a feeling that he is emotionally "burned out." When such a state lasts for a long time, this is a cause for concern. Do you have apathy? Don't want anything? How to be? Sometimes people justify themselves by saying that they were attacked by depression. But do not confuse concepts. Depression is a medical diagnosis that requires treatment under medical supervision. You can get rid of apathy on your own, it is enough to understand the reasons that cause complete indifference.

Important!

Never take antidepressants without a doctor's prescription. Do not try to "crush" apathy with alcohol. Rest, sleep and find the cause of apathy. By acting systematically, you will again feel the taste of life, and you will enjoy every moment.

Natural temporary recession or a serious problem?

Experts have proven that every person experiences a physical and emotional decline at some point in their lives. This phenomenon is normal if it does not continue for a very long time. We all need to take a breather and take a break sometimes. This time is better spent on a “talk” with yourself, perhaps overestimating values ​​and guidelines. Or, on the contrary, to realize that the chosen life position is the most correct, so it is worth moving on with renewed vigor.

Apathy is the result of violent emotions

What are the reasons that a person does not want to wash, comb, communicate with friends? Why does he feel lethargic, exhausted and tired, is he constantly tired? There can be many reasons, but it is important to understand the main thing.

Our unconscious desires are hidden from us. Therefore, we may not guess what our psyche asks for. The main reason for the emergence of apathy is the lack of realization of our desires.

Want nothing. I sit like a vegetable, there are no desires, no feelings, no aspirations. Complete lack of interest in life. There is not even the strength to move at all and do anything. Go to bed, and better forever.

But before life inside was on fire. There were desires, there were aspirations, it was interesting, and life brought pleasure. Now in the soul - only emptiness. What went wrong, what went wrong? Who to contact for help, what to try?

We understand the causes of the state and with that, with the help of the latest knowledge of our time - system-vector psychology.

Man is the principle of pleasure

What is apathy? A state of indifference and indifference to everything around. How does this even happen? Let's start to understand this from the very beginning: from what a healthy person is.

A person, in essence, is his psyche, that is, a set of desires and properties, which in system-vector psychology are combined into vectors. There are 8 vectors in total, each of which carries its own unique desires and characteristics, determining the values, aspirations, type of thinking and all other features of their owners.

Man unconsciously always strives for pleasure. Everything he does in his life, he does it out of a desire to have fun. Feeling a desire for something, a person goes to realize it. Getting what he wants, he enjoys, and then the desire doubles. Further, we make more efforts, but then the pleasure from achieving the goal is already greater.

The barrier is that our unconscious desires are hidden from us. Therefore, we may not guess what our psyche asks for. The main reason for the emergence of apathy is the lack of realization of our desires.

What are they, our unconscious desires?

To understand how apathy arises and how to deal with it, let's take a closer look at what desires a person lives in each vector.

• Owners strive for superiority - social and material. For them, the status in society, the opportunity to earn good money for their work is important.
• For owners, the main value is family, children and home. In society, respect and recognition are important to them. They are the best professionals, masters of their craft.
• For representatives, the meaning of life is love, warm, heartfelt relationships. They want emotional connections with people.
• For people with the main request is the knowledge of the forces that govern this world and the people around, the knowledge of their destiny, the meaning of appearing on this earth.

To understand how to treat apathy, you need to formulate the exact cause of apathy. It will sound like this: "I want and I don't get."

Reasons for apathy

1) We do not realize, and therefore do not realize our desires.

A person is disoriented and often makes mistakes, he realizes not his desires, but those imposed by society. For example, a person with an anal vector seems to feel that he wants a family, but from all sides they shout: “First you need a career, then a family! You will create a family - you will not wait for a career! And he tries, plows, to build a career. Inside, there is constant dissatisfaction. It's like you're not doing what's right for you.

A person does not know himself and is making efforts in the wrong place. It is invested - but it does not receive pleasure. Again he makes efforts - again he receives nothing. And then there is no energy for anything, and I don’t want to do anything. There is a state of apathy.

2) Bad script or traumatic experience.

A person may be fully aware of his desires, but something may prevent him from getting what he wants.

For example, in the skin vector, this could be a fail scenario. It is formed in childhood when a child with a skin vector is beaten or humiliated. As a result, the child is retrained unconsciously to enjoy not from achievements and victories, but from failures and failures. Consciously, he sets himself big goals, wants status, money, and unconsciously relaxes and calms down if nothing happened again.

When a person is unaware of such a scenario, he can beat like a fish on ice, but never achieve anything. Until the scenario for failure is understood and worked out, nothing will change. Then it gradually quenches frustration, knocks down the desire that a person not be so hurt from endless fruitless efforts.

People with a visual vector are very emotional and sensitive. Their main desire is love. With all their hearts, they strive for her - for a warm, tender relationship. But it doesn't always work out to build emotional connections. A person can suffer, try, but never get what he wants. And after the mass of pain experienced, he already resigns himself and does not try anymore. And wants nothing...

Injuries in the visual vector are also possible: there has been a strong shock, for example, the loss of loved ones, and the psyche, in order to save itself, turns on a protective mechanism and blocks emotional sensitivity. Then a person experiences a complete or partial shutdown of emotions, he feels emotional emptiness. But this is a temporary state.

3) Desire gets into time trouble.

It happens that a desire is quite felt and realized, but in given life circumstances it is not possible to realize it. This happens, for example, with women on maternity leave, when they do not have the opportunity to do their favorite job, communicate with people, “go out”.

fading desires

When a desire is not realized for a long time, it turns into frustration, into internal tension. When frustrations (“I want and don’t get”) accumulate for a long time, a person constantly feels pain and dissatisfaction. He becomes aggressive - he begins to hate everyone, get annoyed, yell or throw tantrums, that is, "dump" his shortages on others. All this aggression begins to corrode him from the inside. This manifests itself in the form of psychosomatic illnesses and disorders.

And then, gradually, the psyche begins to curtail desires in order to save a person. This is a kind of mercy of nature. A person becomes lethargic, without energy, does not want anything, and can no longer. It just completely fades away. No desire - no life.

How can this happen, for example, in a woman with an anal vector? Her main value is family, home, children. But in those situations when the family broke up or loved ones died, an inner emptiness sets in, often women call this state emotional burnout. For whom to knit warm socks? Who should bake pies? Whom to meet after work, whom to take care of? The meaning of life is lost, emptiness inside. Gradually comes to not be so painful to live.

Complete apathy and depression

The sound vector stands separately in the hierarchy of desires. His desires are the only ones not connected with the material world. If earthly desires (in the remaining seven vectors) are fully realized by people, then the desires of the sound vector are most often not realized.

Desires in the sound vector are desires to reveal the structure of the world, what is hidden, the reasons for our birth, the meaning of life, our destiny. If these desires are not fulfilled, a person completely loses interest in anything, does not want to communicate with people, loses the meaning of any daily activities, feels physical weakness, drowsiness, calling it chronic fatigue syndrome. in the sound vector - a consequence of severe conditions, depression, this is complete weakness and despair from the inability to fill one's sound desires.

The sound vector is dominant, which means that if its desires are not fulfilled, then it gradually reduces the desires in other vectors (the desire for communication, family, money, love, etc.). Gradually, a person completely loses the meaning in life, can hate people, constantly strive for loneliness.

He does not want to communicate with anyone, and he needs to answer the questions that others constantly ask him. A person does not understand what he wants, where to move, more often he does not want anything at all. A complex emotional disorder arises - a person is alive, but psychologically, emotionally, he seems to die, he lives simply on the machine, in apathy.

How to get rid of apathy and depression in order to return to a full life? Revealing the device of the psyche at the training "Systemic Vector Psychology" by Yuri Burlan, the sound person forgets about depression, he wakes up with a completely unbridled interest in life and a desire to live.

Apathy: what to do if you do not want anything

The advice of a systemic psychologist: to realize your natural desires, use the principle of pleasure in life, corresponding to the internal structure of your psyche.

When a person realizes his own nature, his true unconscious desires, already at this stage, his energy is released. This makes it possible to start moving in your life not at random, but in the right direction, with knowledge of your device. Treatment of apathy is a problem to be solved.

You no longer have to get bad experiences. In addition, you will be able to free yourself from the fetters of previous experience, from obstacles that prevent your desires from being filled.

Script for failure, resentment, bad experience, procrastination (postponing for later), fears, panic attacks, phobias. All these problems are worked out at the training "System-Vector Psychology" by Yuri Burlan.

System-vector psychology is a multifaceted knowledge about the human psyche, about what drives us from the inside. For people with a sound vector, the study of this knowledge is the greatest pleasure available in our time.

It's time to come back to life. This world is waiting for you - alive, energetic, waiting for the realization of your talents! Not a single person is born just like that - this world needs him, and each person is able to become happy when he realizes himself according to the properties inherent in him by nature. confirm this. These people were able to return to life from their depressions and apathies:

“There was a certain anticipation of new discoveries every coming day. I began to go out into the street and now I can’t sit still for a minute. A new source of energy appeared inside - the thirst for life. Understanding myself, the components of my psyche (vector) and their needs, I clearly realize that I have no right to do something other than my own business in life and be in the wrong place!!”

And you, too, can beat apathy. Start with a free online training "Systemic Vector Psychology", which will take place in the near future. .

The article was written based on the materials of the training " System-Vector Psychology»

With the onset of gloomy autumn days, you don’t want to get out of a warm and cozy bed, especially if your favorite gadget is at hand. It seems that he would have lain down for a week if he had not had to slam the doors of the refrigerator and toilet. “Apathy has overcome,” we timidly justify ourselves, because it is a shame to admit to ordinary laziness, first of all, to ourselves. So with ease, without hesitation, we put ourselves a serious diagnosis. So apathy or laziness, or maybe something even more serious? Let's try to figure out what is really happening to us and what to do if you just don’t want to do anything.

Banal laziness

So let's start with laziness. Let's finally admit that she is the most "native and green" lazy mother - a real bad habit. Yes, it is a habit that is not associated with either physical or mental problems. And its basis lies in two reasons: a lack of motivation and a weak strong-willed component of character. If a teenager sits at the computer, spitting on an important control - this is laziness. And do not throw away the Christmas tree until the eighth of March - too lazy.

How to deal with it? In principle, there are, alas, two common options left: with a stick or a carrot. Force or offer incentives in return for work done. Probably, if we are talking about children, this option can still work. But, to force an adult or, even worse, a loved one, is sometimes simply an impossible task.

But, not for nothing we started talking about motivation. If a person who is overwhelmed by laziness is offered not a boring job or a study “sitting in the liver”, but a trip to visit or something else very interesting, then you will not recognize a recently huddled unfortunate! So the surest way is to select the necessary motivation and work with the education of the will. Or maybe it’s really time for you to change the boring and imposed work?

Fatigue should not be written off

There are times when we just can't concentrate properly and fall down. There is a lot of work, and we reproach ourselves for slowness and the desire to simply “hibernate”. And sometimes it turns out like this: we just turn off the phone, send the children to their grandmother and are ready not to open our eyes for days on end. Or maybe not even a day. Can we talk about laziness here? No, if it is not typical for you at all. And, at the same time, the rest of the time you work "for wear and tear."

The fact is that the reserves of the human body are not infinite and are very individual. When this very organism is depleted, it simply refuses to function normally.

And we are talking not only about physical overload, which can be understood and tracked. We are talking about nervous or mental (mental) overload. And sometimes even psychological. After all, if we hand over this damned report all day long, which we redo a hundred times in the shortest possible time, while facing the facts of outright envy and sabotage of “good colleagues”. Naturally, after a successful fait accompli, sometimes you just want to get enough sleep (about getting drunk before that is a topic for a separate conversation).

What to do in this case? Allow yourself to rest, without any remorse. After all, if you do not do this, the body can rest without your knowledge. Yes, do not be surprised, he will just get sick! After all, if he does not have the strength to work normally, where will he get the strength to resist disease?

Another thing is that “just getting enough sleep” in case of constant mental overstrain is excellent, but not all.

It is very important to change the type of activity to establish a balance. In a word, if you are exhausted in the office, be sure to find some movement for yourself! Fitness, yoga, cycling. Yes, just take a walk in the park in the evening.

Such physical activity often restores better than any passive rest. Sometimes I had to hear feedback from clients who barely trudged to the dance with the thought "how to fall and fall asleep." And they returned charged with energy, as if they had “swallowed a battery”.

What if it's more serious?

It is a completely different matter if the dishes are not washed, not because the person is “stuck” on social networks, but because he simply does not have the strength. Moreover, washing itself does not seem like a boring job to him, just as communication with virtual friends is an interesting pastime. He does not have any emotional response to anything around him. As well as the "rest" itself is not a pleasure. That's when you should think about apathy or even depression.

Characteristic signs of apathy

• I don’t want anything at all, it’s impossible to single out what can give pleasure at the moment;
• It is impossible to rest and sleep, the condition lasts more than two weeks;
• The manifestation occurs suddenly, and has never been observed before. In contrast to laziness - a trait that is formed gradually.

Reasons for development

1. Asthenic apathy develops as a result of an illness or surgery, when the body must normalize its work. It's just worth experiencing. The recovery process depends, including on you. It has been scientifically proven that even a specially forced smile, in the end, also cheers up. The more you try to motivate yourself and start doing something, the faster you will return to normal. Although the help of a therapist and psychologist will not be superfluous either.
2. Apathy due to lack of nutrients. As a rule, these are vitamins. (For some, such manifestations are observed in February). But symptoms can also be with anorexia and during improper diets. Also, apathy or depression can occur with a deficiency of certain trace elements. But, do not forget that too good is also not good. An overabundance of forcibly introduced vitamins and minerals will not lead to anything good. And the final verdict of what your body lacks should be made by a doctor after preliminary tests.
3. Apathy caused by hormonal abnormalities. Sometimes drowsiness and a complete loss of all desires can be a companion of PMS, menopause or the period preceding it, and also be observed when the hormone-producing glands fail to work. So be sure to check your hormones and thyroid gland. As for the critical and menopausal days, remember that such a flow of the described periods is not the norm. Be sure to consult a gynecologist for advice.
4. Apathy as a variant of neurasthenia. This is the case when a person is experiencing severe psychological trauma (death of significant people, sudden and painful breakup of relationships, unplanned and shocking dismissal). But, in this case, you should not talk about true apathy. There will be no indifference to the surrounding reality. Rather, the picture will consist of very rapid fatigue, depression, tearfulness and irritation, up to emotional outbursts. Why, then, do we consider neurasthenia in the context of apathy? Because, with some features of the nervous system, a person can simply completely withdraw into himself, sleep for days on end. He will have no appetite and generally no desire to live, which is very similar to the symptoms mentioned. But, at the same time, he will have a clearly expressed “black event”, the memory of which will certainly cause a reaction, even if it is negative.
5. Apathy as a symptom of a psychiatric illness. This is too broad a topic to cover quickly. But, in any case, this is an option that requires the immediate intervention of a psychiatrist. So, if you know about a person's psychiatric diagnosis and see manifestations of apathy on his part, act immediately. Because the patient himself is not able, in this state, to soberly assess the situation and help himself.

Apathy is a term used to characterize the state of indifference to what is happening around a person. Over time, without proper treatment, it can progress. In most cases, the state of apathy accompanies some mental and nervous diseases. Outwardly, the signs of the disease are very similar to banal laziness, so it is so important to take into account all the symptoms, diagnose the problem in time and start fighting it.

Causes of apathy

Apathy can be caused by a variety of factors. Most often it is:

• Prolonged emotional or physical stress
• Lack or lack of rest
• Certain chronic diseases, especially those with severe symptoms
• Dissatisfaction with desires and needs, as well as shame for them
• Abrupt changes in environment or condition, including pregnancy, retirement, death of family and friends, family problems, and others
• The desire to get only the maximum result in all situations
• genetic predisposition
• Lack of vitamins and sunlight
• Constant reproaches and instructions from others, strong pressure from their side
• A long wait for something scary or exciting
• Frequent stress and anxiety
• Taking certain medications, such as steroids, birth control, sleeping pills, antibiotics, and many others
• Elderly age
• Various types of addiction, such as alcohol or tobacco
• Incorrect hormonal therapy and problems with the endocrine system.

These are not all the reasons for the occurrence of this condition. And not always the presence of one or two of these factors can cause this condition. It depends on them how to deal with apathy in each case, what to do to eliminate the symptoms and return the person to normal life.

A special place is occupied by autumn apathy. It occurs in many healthy people in mid-autumn, when it rains constantly and a person experiences discomfort, lack of sunlight. Doctors suggest how to cope with apathy in this case. No special treatment is required. It is enough to saturate life with bright colors, do what you love or discover something new, or even change your image. And then the autumn apathy will go away without any consequences.

Signs of apathy

Recognizing apathy is not easy. Outwardly, it looks like laziness and is a frequent companion of neurosis and depression. Here are the most characteristic symptoms of this condition, noticing which, regardless of the reasons for their occurrence, you should immediately consult a doctor:

• Fatigue
• Indifference to everything, including activities, food, things that used to cause pleasure
• Decreased mental activity
• Emotional decline
• Slowness of speech and movements
• Decreased mobility and talkativeness
• Lack of initiative
• Lethargy, weakness, drowsiness
• Increased fatigue, impotence
• Unwillingness to do something
• Tired of life
• Sadness and depression
• Problems with memory and thinking.

Moreover, these symptoms can be both strongly conspicuous to others, and be invisible. In the second case, a person can commit suicide for no apparent reason or isolate himself from society.

Most often, the state of apathy is also accompanied by such symptoms as indifference to the outside world, the absence of external manifestations of emotions and feelings, inclinations and desires. In some cases, apathy acts as a defense mechanism, for example, with unrequited love or due to the lack of the opportunity to realize oneself as a person. Sometimes it is one of the symptoms of an illness, such as schizophrenia, depression, and others.

Complete apathy

Complete apathy is characterized by the absolute paralysis of all feelings and emotions. A person is like a robot that performs all actions on the machine. He is not interested in anything, everyday duties and actions cause mental discomfort. It is very difficult to get out of this state.

Differences between apathy and laziness

If laziness is not characteristic of a person, and in addition to it there are several other signs listed above, then you need to look for an answer to the question of how to get rid of apathy. After all, it is precisely this state that is signaled by the unwillingness to do anything and take the initiative. It is worth noting several differences between laziness and apathy:

1. With apathy, a person does not want to do absolutely nothing. It is impossible to captivate or interest him. Laziness only applies to certain aspects of life
2. If you suffer from laziness, then you are not indifferent to the results of your doing nothing. While in apathy a person is not interested in anything
3. Apathy is a long-term condition that can overshadow several weeks or months. The feeling of laziness occurs periodically
4. With laziness, there is no emotional-volitional disorder, which is precisely what characterizes apathy.
5. Apathy is a serious disease that needs treatment. There is only one way to get out of a state of laziness - by an effort of will. Only you can defeat it
6. Laziness tends to have a specific focus on a specific action, situation, object. Apathy paralyzes the feelings and emotions of a person and makes him indifferent to everything. In the first case, a person wants something instead of work or other routine duties. For example, watch a movie, relax instead of exercising in the gym.

If a person is able to cope with laziness on his own, then the second condition needs timely diagnosis and treatment. Without the help of a specialist, it will not be possible to cope with it, even if relatives and relatives, as well as he himself will try to take any actions to eliminate the causes and symptoms of the problem, try to get out of this state

How to get rid of apathy

Before you fight apathy, be sure to visit a specialist to identify the causes of its occurrence and exclude the presence of other diseases of a mental or nervous nature. In case of serious problems, for example, drug or alcohol addiction, schizophrenia, depression, drug treatment is usually used. Moreover, the main attention is paid to the elimination of the factor that caused this condition.

If a person suffers from indifference for quite a long time (several months), then the question of how to get rid of apathy is solved in a hospital. It is under the supervision of specialists that the doctor will determine which measures will be most effective. It will help distinguish apathy from laziness, depression and other conditions, and help eliminate the cause of its occurrence.

Also good measures for the prevention and treatment of apathy are:

1. Balanced diet
2. Normal sleep (at least 7-8 hours without a break)
3. Sufficient amount of physical activity
4. Fulfillment of desires, the ability to at least sometimes do what you want and like, saturation of life with vivid emotions
5. Visiting a psychoanalyst
6. Reducing stress and fatigue in life
7. Health monitoring, including the state of the cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems

Do not hold back tears, if you want to cry, do not keep emotions in yourself. Nothing terrible will happen if others see that you need rest and help. This is absolutely normal.

Also, experts, when a question arises, how to deal with apathy, recommend drinking a vitamin-mineral complex, changing jobs, environment, social circle and place of residence, doing what brings pleasure, what you want to do for hours. If laziness or indifference occurs, you should definitely analyze your condition, find out the reasons for its appearance, and only then decide how to deal with apathy.

The benevolent attitude of others and relatives, the lack of pressure on their part, accusations of laziness and doing nothing, will help in the treatment of apathy,

If you notice that you or your loved ones have a feeling of unreasonable sadness, constant laziness, a desire to be alone and indifference to everything for several days or weeks, then you should definitely consult a doctor. It is he who will be able to suggest how to get rid of apathy in your case, what to do to prevent the onset of this condition.

Do not self-medicate and do not think that everything will pass by itself. Apathy and depression need proper therapy. Without it, the patient's condition will only worsen over time.

Cold days inspire a desire to soak up a little longer, wrapped in a blanket and buried in a book. But things are not waiting ... Laziness has overcome, they say alone. Apathy set in, others explain. It seems that such a definition sounds nobler, but it is a shame to admit to laziness. But from a medical point of view, apathy is a mental disorder, which, moreover, can be a sign of other diseases, including schizophrenia, senile dementia, organic brain damage. Wouldn't it be better to understand these concepts and attribute non-existent diagnoses to ourselves?

Laziness or apathy: how to distinguish

Laziness is a character trait, a bad habit, and not a physical and psychological condition. For example, when a teenager watches TV without giving a damn about preparing for tomorrow's test, or an employee leaves work early without completing an important report because he is in a hurry to visit friends, this is laziness. The common thing here is the lack of motivation. I don’t want to do something, because it’s more pleasant and more interesting to do something else. Even when someone leaves unwashed dishes in the sink and goes to lie on the couch or soak in the bathroom, because washing dishes is a boring and boring task, we are talking about preference, which means laziness.

If it seems to you that you suddenly become lazy, and there was nothing like this before, it’s definitely not about laziness. After all, it is a lack of diligence, a conscious or semi-conscious preference for entertainment and idleness, and not work, the desire to avoid difficulties. Yes, and the assessment of laziness in different cultures varies, because this is a category of morality. You can consider this quality as the "engine of progress", helping to invent everything that simplifies human life. Or lack of motivation - it is worth choosing the right incentive - and laziness will disappear. Scientists have created a dopamine theory of laziness: it turns out that normally an increase in the level of the pleasure hormone is associated with a brain area responsible for potential rewards. And those whose dopamine is already released at rest are, as it were, in a state of organic drug addiction, because any effort and change can reduce the level of already existing satisfaction.

Fatigue and apathy: causes

So the desire to treat yourself on a rainy evening is apathy or laziness? Neither one nor the other. If the body requires rest, pleasure (but this is not your permanent choice), then it simply needs to save energy. This happens when a person is tired, and it is not always physical fatigue. It is usually clearer with him: muscles ache, weakness, but it is enough to lie down - and everything will return to normal. If you overwork during intellectual work or get nervous, fatigue is also possible. True, resting on the couch will not help here - a change of activity is more useful, for example, moderate and pleasant physical activity (for example, dancing), walking in the fresh air, a favorite hobby that requires muscle effort (handmaking).

In autumn and spring, with beriberi, a person gets tired faster. Allow yourself to rest - and the forces will be restored.

If you overcome yourself (and it doesn’t matter whether you dig potatoes with the last of your strength, or delve into protracted conflicts of your neighbors, overcome psychological stress, “keep your mark” and smile, although you want to cry), fatigue accumulates. Recovery may take much longer. Chronic stress is usually accompanied by constant fatigue. Her main “motto” is: you want a lot, but you don’t have the strength for anything. Unlike apathy, in which you can even live as usual, but you don’t want anything. However, there are two points of contention in distinguishing between apathy and fatigue, even for scientists: chronic fatigue syndrome and emotional burnout.

Emotional burnout and apathy

Specific psychological fatigue associated with increased emotional stress, without the use of any preventive measures, usually leads to emotional burnout. Moreover, apathy - lack of desire, indifference - becomes the most striking manifestation of such constant overwork. Professionals who work directly with people usually suffer from burnout: managers, teachers, doctors, psychologists, social workers. The most seemingly dedicated people suffer, who put a lot of hopes on their work, dream of helping not formally, but in fact, are inclined to compassion, but in some way idealists who do not recognize the right to free time, fatigue, weakness. Often, the rules are violated, the person goes beyond the scope of official duties. Such psychologists agree to support clients by phone after the session, and doctors sit at the bedside of patients after a working day. The amount of negativity that a person encounters is gradually increasing, and there are less and less resources for its processing. Psychosomatic illnesses develop. A "fuse" is triggered in the psyche: any emotions are turned off during professional activities, interest disappears. The specialist begins to work formally, with indifference or irritation towards clients and colleagues. He is indifferent to the results of labor.

There is apathy, of course. After all, the same protective mechanism of the psyche works: if too much psychic energy is spent, the body begins to save it and the processes of inhibition begin to predominate. But what distinguishes emotional burnout from apathy as a separate disease?

Apathy in burnout is directed only at what is related to work. It is possible that at home a devastated professional will feel increased weakness (especially if psychosomatic diseases have joined), however, favorite entertainment, hobbies, communication with relatives and friends will still be of interest. But with apathy that is not associated with emotional burnout, indifference to the environment, passivity, inactivity, and drowsiness increase.

Apathy as a consequence of asthenia and neurasthenia

Apathy as a result of overwork after a serious illness has also long been known. Energy was spent not on physical work, but on recovery after operations, severe infectious diseases (,), intoxication. The reasons are different, but the result is the same - the body needs to accumulate strength, so it needs much more rest than usual. This condition is usually called asthenic syndrome. It includes a feeling of impotence - both physical and mental, increased fatigue and exhaustion, tearfulness. A person cannot complete the things he used to do at one time, as he needs more breaks in work. Psychological tension (even pleasant, for example, festive excitement) turns into fatigue, tears, irritation. Asthenia can also be considered a condition that accompanies many chronic diseases that lead to a drop in energy: hypothyroidism, imbalance of sex hormones, hypotension, diabetes mellitus, various kidney diseases, AIDS. Sometimes even doctors say that such a patient suffers from apathy. Indeed, he may not be interested in anything and not want anything, because his health is undermined by illness. But to be more precise, this is not exactly apathy: as soon as the problem is eliminated, and strength is restored (after rest, fortification, increased immunity), indifference will disappear.

A variety of asthenia, which is confused with apathy, is neurasthenia, that is, caused by psychological trauma. The principle is the same: the body saves energy, it only recovers after acute stress (death of loved ones, dismissal, breakup, etc.). In this state, people lose interest in the usual pleasures, but this is not cold indifference, as in classical apathy, but irritation, rapid swings from interest to fatigue.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and apathy

Apathy is one of the manifestations of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). But about the syndrome itself, opinions differ. Some scientists believe that this is just another name for asthenia or neurasthenia. Others, to emphasize the physical basis of the disease, offer such names as immune dysfunction or myalgic encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain, expressed in muscle pain). .

The causes of the disease are still unknown. But unlike asthenic syndrome, CFS can affect large groups of people at the same time. The most common hypotheses are: a virus that has not yet been discovered, an imbalance of bacteria in the intestines and a change in immunity in connection with this, or a latent chronic food allergy. Fatigue and apathy are accompanied by insomnia, muscle weakness, sometimes body aches, subfebrile temperature, swollen lymph nodes and spleen. Yes, and fatigue itself reaches complete exhaustion, when patients even wash themselves while sitting, because it is hard to stand, or eat in bed.

Doctors agree that apathy here is a consequence of fatigue, but it is still possible to arouse interest in the patient, and friends and relatives can sincerely smile.

Apathy as a disease: apathetic depression

What happens when a person suffers from exactly apathy (in previous cases, apathy meant a symptom, not a disease)? He can maintain a normal physical form, therefore, having decided to do something, he carries out his plans without much difficulty. But at the same time, the psychologically ill person does not care so much about everything that even elementary hygiene and household chores cease to interest him. Such a person may stop cooking for himself, go to work, spend whole days in bed. He is little interested in what all this will lead to, what will happen to him. Both sympathy and anger of those around him come up against his indifference. And this, of course, is not about indifference as a feature of character, because quite recently such a patient was emotional and active. Slightly expressed emotions are another notable feature. The nervous system of a patient with apathy weakly responds to stimuli, inhibition processes predominate.

What other signs are characteristic?

• Loss of interest in communication. The life of friends, relatives ceases to interest. A person avoids companies, gatherings, meetings with those whom he loved before.
• Giving up hobbies and past favorite pastimes.
• Slow reactions. A person, as they say, "slows down." In addition, the reactions are weak.
• Slow movements.
• Speech becomes monotonous, intonation monotonous.
• Absent-mindedness. A person loses things, forgets orders, cannot perform the usual actions. He does not worry if he forgot something or did not fulfill the promise.
• Difficulty concentrating. It is difficult for the patient to focus on one thing. He looks "dozing in reality", "hovering in the clouds."
• Weakening of memory. Due to inattention and the peculiarities of the ongoing processes, a person even forgets what he wanted to say, sometimes you have to write down thoughts in advance in order to conduct a dialogue.

If such a condition lasts longer than two weeks and does not go away after rest, is not associated with somatic diseases, it is urgent to see a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

Often relatives believe that a person has fallen into depression. They look for some psychological trauma in his life, console him, try to improve his mood. But - with apathy there is no self-accusation, suffering due to a sense of one's own guilt, expressed sadness. A person simply does not have enough energy for deep sadness. And yet - relatives are right in their own way, because the full name of apathy is apathetic depression. This is also a kind of depression, but different from the classic one, it is even classified as atypical. A person does not consider life terrible, unbearable, but devalues ​​it, recognizes it as meaningless. He can perform the necessary actions without any desire, but a life without pleasure is fraught with suicide attempts. Worst of all are those who interpret apathy as laziness, and begin to overload themselves with business, work, and communication. Such an overload can lead to a breakdown, when the patient no longer wants to get out of bed.

Sometimes doctors share mournful insensitivity (psychic anesthesia) during depression as “conscious apathy”, when the patient feels that something is missing, he has lost his emotions, the brightness of sensations. He critically evaluates his condition - as coldness, painful indifference. With "pure" apathy there is no criticism, the patient does not think that his condition is unusual. “I don’t want anything, and that suits me.”

Apathy as a symptom of schizophrenia andorganic lesionsbrain

Apathy is a condition in which you should immediately consult a doctor, since in addition to all of the above options, it can be a manifestation of such severe neurological diseases as Alzheimer's disease, various dementias, and neuroinfections. In this case, the symptom is a consequence of degradation. The weakening of the intellect is accompanied by a loss of motivation, except for the satisfaction of the simplest needs.

It is important to know that apathy can be one of the first symptoms of schizophrenia. A person does not have hallucinations, he does not express delusional ideas, but suddenly falls into apathy. Emotional liveliness, activity, interest in something disappear, a person hardly “kills time”, not knowing what to do with himself. The patient becomes sloppy, stops throwing away rubbish, creates a bizarre and unsanitary environment in his home. He can explain the state by the fact that he is thinking hard, he needs to be alone. In schizophrenia, after a while, hallucinations are added to this state or crazy ideas appear that attract the attention of the patient and seem to return his energy. The sooner psychiatric treatment begins, the greater the chance of recovery in this case.

How to deal with apathy

If this is a symptom of any disease, it is necessary to get rid of it - and then the problem will be solved. If we are talking about apathetic depression, medication is needed. Usually, nootropics and specific antidepressants are prescribed, as well as psychostimulants (which cope with excessive inhibition). It is dangerous to take antidepressants without a doctor's prescription, because those drugs that help with classic depression (muffle suffering), with apathy, can further muffle the response to external stimuli than worsen the condition.

Getting rid of apathy, like any other form of depression, must be started “from the mind”, while there is no desire yet. But do not strain yourself with work, but introduce into life your favorite pastimes, entertainment. Walking, feasible physical exercises, massage and self-massage are useful. It is important to adhere to the daily routine, and allocate more than usual time for sleep and rest. .

Negative emotions break through - do you want to cry, feel sorry for yourself, get angry at your helplessness? Allow yourself to express your feelings, because this is a sign of recovery. Negative emotions often require more energy than others, and if there is strength for this, the ability to rejoice will appear further.

If you suspect lethargy in a friend or relative, try to refer them to a doctor. After all, such patients are indifferent to their fate and will not turn to doctors themselves. You should not write off everything for laziness, promiscuity or expect that "it will pass by itself." Remember: the longer a person stays in a similar state, the more the body gets used to the “economy mode” and the more difficult it will be to overcome apathy.

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