Why apathy occurs, what symptoms does it manifest. Is it possible to overcome the disease on your own. When to seek medical attention and what treatments are available. Apathy is a state in which a person loses interest in everything that happens around him, becomes passive, indifferent and indifferent. Doctors also believe that this is a manifestation of the protective properties of the body, which is unable to cope with the number of events, emotions and obligations that rush into it. In this case, the brain seems to be turned off and ceases to perceive signals sent to it from outside.
The reasons for the development of apathy in humans
Before you understand how to deal with apathy, you need to understand the reasons that provoke such a condition. There are many factors that affect the psychoemotional state of a person, including the manifestation of his interest in what is happening and the environment.
Often all the reasons boil down to the fact that an individual at this stage of his development cannot cope with the difficulties that regularly appear on his way. As a result, he gets nervous, panics, loses faith in himself, thereby bringing his apathetic state closer. The main causes of apathy that need to be highlighted:
- Dramatic changes in life … For a person whose lifestyle has always been clear and measured, sudden changes can be serious stress. These changes include the birth of a child, the death of loved ones, parting with a loved one, dismissal, retirement, and others. In this case, apathy can come from a misunderstanding of how to behave in a given situation.
- Perfectionism and exaggerated demands from others … A person who always strives for an ideal result and at the same time believes that there is no limit to perfection, he drives himself into a corner. As a result, this leads to a decrease in self-esteem and constant dissatisfaction with the results achieved, which can eventually become the first step on the path to apathetic state. The same happens when exaggerated demands come from other people: parents demanding high marks; leaders demanding a certain result; spouses who are trying to fit the other half to their own ideal.
- Prolonged stress - both physical and emotional … This is a condition in which fatigue and apathy border on each other. A person who exhausts himself for a long time with physical or mental work, does not have adequate rest, ceases to receive satisfaction from the results of his activity. The same thing happens with a long stay in a certain emotional state - experience, tension, expectation and the like.
- Addiction … According to statistics, apathy often overtakes people whose consciousness is guided by a certain addiction (smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling). This is likely due to frequent and dramatic mood swings. In addition, individuals with addiction are more likely than others to face a lack of understanding of others, constant moralizing and the realization that they cannot justify either their own or others' expectations.
- Hormonal background … Many have probably noticed how a woman's mood changes during the period of the so-called premenstrual syndrome. Sharp changes in the psychoemotional state are associated precisely with a change in the hormonal background. In addition, people with apathy are found during the period of taking hormonal drugs.
- Chronic diseases … Their influence on the psychoemotional state of a person is associated with two factors. First, the disease itself makes adjustments to the work of all organs and systems. Secondly, a layman who knows about a chronic disease provokes an apathetic state with his thoughts about the disease.
- Professional burnout … Most often, the question of how to deal with apathy arises in people whose activities are directly related to communication and helping people. Doctors, psychologists, social workers, teachers - this is a far from complete list of professions that are at risk.
The main symptoms of apathy in humans
Apathy is a disease that is included in the international classification of diseases under the code R45.3. Therefore, like any other, it has its own characteristics and symptoms. Long-term observation of signs of this ailment in oneself is the basis for seeking medical help. Symptoms are directly related to the causes of the disease, but for the most part in the early stages they manifest themselves in almost the same way.
The first bell for defining apathy is complete indifference to everything that happens. A person cannot fully rejoice in those moments that previously aroused positive emotions in him. There is a desire to be alone. Lack of communication, in turn, only exacerbates the situation, as the individual continues to wind himself up with negative thoughts. Emotions such as sadness, disappointment, emptiness arise. A person gives up, and he stops making plans for the future, taking initiative. Such a state may simply be a defensive reaction to an excess of external stimuli. If it is not regular for the layman, he manages to cope with it in two or three days, then there is no particular reason for concern. However, it is very important to pay attention to the first signs of apathy and if they only get worse every day, seek medical help. Otherwise, the disease will progress, manifest itself with new symptoms and ultimately take the form of depression. At later stages, signs of apathy appear with new signs. Bad mood is accompanied by lethargy, lack of any emotions, loss of appetite, constant sleepiness. A person ceases to be interested in what was previously of great value to him, was important.
This indicator can be considered as a type of mental disorder. Although people tend to associate this with chronic fatigue, lack of adequate rest and other routine problems. However, such a signal cannot be ignored. Do not close your eyes to the fact that a person from sociable and sociable suddenly turns into a closed and unsociable. Weakness, drowsiness and refusal to communicate are the main symptoms of the second, more serious stage of the disease.
How to deal with apathy
There are various methods of dealing with apathy, most of them depend on the reasons that provoked it. However, there are universal ways to overcome the state of indifference and detachment:
- Pity yourself … No wonder they say that they knock out a wedge with a wedge. In this case, it's about giving in to your mood instead of fighting it. You need to start feeling sorry for yourself, using the most compassionate and at the same time absurd phrases like: “Oh, what a poor, unhappy I am. Nobody will pity me. Nobody needs me. How bad I am. I'm the biggest loser in the world,”and so on. You can cry a little, thereby releasing everything that has been accumulating for more than one day. Such auto-training should trigger a mechanism in your mind aimed at directly combating the painful condition.
- Pamper yourself … When the victim of apathy cried a lot and realized that no one but himself needed it, you need to proceed to the next step - to pamper your person. Once in a lifetime, you can afford to eat a whole cake, buy an expensive dress or go to a concert of your favorite artist. Such actions, even if they cost a pretty penny, can restore interest in life and lift your spirits. And already with an elated mood, you can properly engage in the fight against the disease.
- Understand the reason … In order to eradicate the cause of apathy, you need to find it. It is recommended to understand the current situation, to understand what is really gnawing and does not allow to live normally. Often it all comes down to the fact that a person does not have an elementary goal in life, so he does not strive for anything. Hence the next step.
- Make a plan for the near future … Without a purpose in life, people feel confused. Therefore, it is very important to prescribe your plans for a year or two in advance. The main goal must be broken down into small components, to achieve which and work over the designated time. In this case, there will be no time to be bored and depressed.
- Change environment … Surrounding himself with people prone to pessimism and whining, a person condemns himself to a state of constant apathy. This feeling is passed along a chain from one to another, turning into a general depression. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to let purposeful people full of vitality and optimism into your social circle.
- Workout … The human brain is designed in such a way that it cannot focus well on various processes at the same time. Therefore, if you go in for sports, then you have neither the time nor the opportunity to regret and wind yourself up. Exercise allows you to focus, invigorate and force yourself to act, no matter how hard it is.
- Take a break … Apathy and fatigue are two bordering conditions, so proper rest is often far more beneficial than antidepressants and other therapies.
- Change your lifestyle … Improper diet and bad habits can also cause mental disorders, including apathy. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of your body, not to exhaust it with smoking and alcohol, not to exhaust it with constant diets, but to strengthen it with vitamins.
- Evoke emotions … Indifference and lack of any emotion are the main symptoms of apathy. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to provoke these feelings on your own. Naturally, these should be positive experiences. It is enough to watch your favorite comedy, go to a concert, ride the rides, and the question of how to get rid of apathy will disappear by itself.
- Eliminate sources of negative emotions … Most often, such sources are the media. During periods of psycho-emotional recession, it is better to protect yourself from watching television news and programs that describe negative events. It is also recommended to avoid contact with pessimistic friends or people who oppress you.
Features of the treatment of apathy in humans
As mentioned above, apathy is recognized as a separate disease, and therefore, it must respond to some form of treatment. Depending on the stage of the disease and the person's ability to resist it, the treatment of apathy comes down to traditional medicine or the use of folk remedies.
Treating apathy with traditional methods
There are a number of components that make it clear that an independent fight against apathy has reached a dead end and there is a need to seek help from a specialist:
- Time … If the signs of apathy last no more than two or three days, during which a person finds the strength and the ability to cope with them on his own, then there is no particular reason for concern. The main thing is that this state does not take on a regular character. But if apathy lasts more than two weeks, then this is the first bell to seek medical help.
- The severity of apathy … If the usual rhythm of a person's life does not change much, then we can argue that he retains control over his well-being. In this case, you will most likely be able to overcome the blank state with the help of the above methods. But if an individual has withdrawn into himself, has ceased to take care of himself, cannot force himself to eat or go to work, then it is necessary to immediately contact a specialist who will tell you how to get rid of apathy.
Those who believe that only psychiatrists work with apathy are mistaken. Depending on the reasons that provoked such a disease, a person will be advised to seek advice from a therapist, gynecologist, endocrinologist, neuropathologist, cardiologist and other doctors.
Depending on the clinical picture of the disease, the following can be prescribed:
- Tranquilizers … Drugs of this group are impregnated if apathy is manifested by overexcitation and is accompanied by destructive disorders. For its treatment, benzodiazepine tranquilizers are used, which quickly cope with sleep disorders and anxiety conditions. Despite all the effectiveness, therapy with these drugs should not exceed 2-4 weeks, since they have rather serious side effects - addiction, return and even intensification of symptoms after drug withdrawal, impaired coordination, memory, attention and concentration. The most popular drugs in this group are phenazepam, diazepam, alprazolam and others.
- Antipsychotics … Effective in the fight against psychosis. Their principle of action is based on the inhibition of dopamine, a substance responsible for the speed of transmission of nerve impulses in brain cells. Such drugs are taken in small doses under the close supervision of a physician, since they also have a number of side effects. New generation antipsychotics - clozapine, rispolept, quetiapine, olanzapine.
- Antidepressants … If the problem cannot be solved at an early stage and it has acquired signs of depression, the doctor may prescribe similar drugs. With the help of antidepressants, it is possible to improve the patient's mood, normalize appetite and sleep, and relieve emotional stress.
- Stimulants … Treatment with stimulants is indicated when the patient is sluggish. It can be either nootropics or natural herbal preparations. Their action is aimed at improving brain activity, memory and mental performance. Lemongrass, ginseng, eleutherococcus, ginkgo have nootropic effects. Among the stimulant medications, one can note piracetam, diazepam, diapirim, fezam and others.
- Diuretic drugs … They can be prescribed to relieve cerebral edema in traumatic disorders.
- Vitamins … Lack of vitamins and minerals is one of the causes of apathy. Therefore, it is necessary to charge the body with useful substances regularly.
To combat apathy, antidepressants of various groups are used:
- Tetracyclic antidepressants … They are powerful enough drugs that can eliminate any anxiety-depressive symptoms. In the absence of contraindications, it can be used for a long time. The disadvantage of this group is a large list of side effects. Among the popular drugs are amitriptyline, maprotiline and others.
- Selective serotonin inhibitors … This group of antidepressants is safer, therefore it can be used to treat and prevent apathy for a long time. The effect of taking the drugs does not come immediately, but only after 2-4 weeks. Among these drugs are Paxil, Prozac, Tsipramil.
- Double-acting drugs … The combination of the properties of both groups allows the new generation of drugs to achieve the maximum effect with minimal manifestations of side effects, therefore, today they occupy a leading position in the practice of treating depressive conditions, including apathetic ones.
Do not self-medicate! Only a competent specialist can explain what apathy is and what to do to overcome it.
Folk remedies to combat apathy
In the early stages, when a person is able to independently assess their problem, along with the above methods of dealing with apathy, you can also resort to some advice from traditional medicine:
- St. John's wort … This plant is believed to help the brain produce mood-boosting substances due to its composition. St. John's wort is contraindicated in pregnancy, and in other cases, this herbal tea will be the best drink for breakfast. One tablespoon of dry collection is enough for a glass of boiling water to regain vitality, interest in the world around you, get rid of anxious thoughts, fatigue and weakness.
- Hop … This herb is brewed for medicinal purposes like regular tea. In doing so, it improves sleep and relieves stress.
- Bath … It has long been believed that the bath is able to cleanse not only the body, but also the soul. Together with sweat, hormones are released, causing a state of stress. The use of herbs in the steam room enhances this effect and helps to better cope with apathy. Usually, herbal preparations such as wormwood, lemon balm and conifers are used.
Apathy prevention rules
In order for apathy not to become a constant companion in life, it is necessary to carry out a number of preventive measures. They include those components that contradict the actual causes of this disease.
First of all, you need to protect yourself as much as possible from stress and anxiety. For those whose life and field of activity does not allow you to completely relax, experts recommend doing yoga. Don't forget about rest. The time spent on recuperation is nothing compared to how much it will take to restore health. It is also necessary to take care of the correct lifestyle. This, first of all, includes proper nutrition, walking in the fresh air, playing sports. Not the least role in this case is played by the rejection of bad habits.
How to deal with apathy - watch the video:
Every person can face apathy in their life. The main thing is not to succumb to the disease, but to be able to resist it with dignity. There are many methods that allow you to regain your joy in life and the desire to develop. If you cannot get yourself out of this state on your own, you do not need to be ashamed of going to a specialist. Timely qualified assistance will allow you to avoid more serious problems, and a competent specialist will tell you not only how to get rid of apathy, but also how not to bring yourself to such a state in the future.
