Apathy: causes, symptoms and correction of this condition

And pathia is a complex of psychological states in which a person feels indifference to something. This disease is characterized by a host of accompanying symptoms that complicate life. This pathology has been studied in psychology for a long time. There are a significant number of provoking factors that can push a person to such a state.

The disease can be short-term or last for many years. It is much more difficult to get rid of a protracted pathology than a fresh problem. Difficulties in treatment lie in the complexity of diagnosis, since the causes are sometimes hidden deep in a person’s subconscious.

Experienced specialists use a whole host of approaches. Psychotherapy in most cases is combined with the use of drugs that improve mood and have a tonic effect. Apathetic people lose their zest for life. They stop being interested in anything. This condition is often combined with depressive and behavioral disorders. Timely diagnosis is extremely important.

What is apathy?

What is apathy and how does it manifest itself? This psychological term means a state of detachment that does not bring satisfaction. An apathetic person lives with a lack of motivation. The disease may worsen over time. With such a pathology, a person ceases to perceive the world painfully and seems to lose all its colors. The patient looks lethargic.

An apathetic state can develop gradually and become a response to psychological trauma. Disappointment or a serious shock that leaves an imprint in the subconscious can contribute to the development of the disease.

The apathetic state from a medical point of view has a complex characteristic. The disease manifests itself as a syndrome that allows a person to see the world through a dense lens, sensitivity and perception are lost.

The state of apathy should be differentiated from depression. Although both of these diseases are often combined, they still have fundamental differences. With depression, a person feels depressed and sad. Apathy syndrome is not manifested by any feelings, but rather by indifference. A person may refuse to eat, his appetite and general condition worsen.

Apathy, what it is, how to cope with it, interests all patients. And this is no coincidence. Self-therapy is necessary along with the help of a professional. The term apathy in psychology means manifestations of reduced perception of the surrounding world. At the same time, there is often laziness and lack of desire for any activity.

The meaning of the word apathy is associated by many with a complete loss of meaning in life. Pathology can occur against the background of chronic fatigue syndrome. There is a burnout of feelings, emotions and aspirations.

Apathy is a state that does not bring satisfaction to a person. Many note the only plus - the absence of negative emotions. An apathetic mood that recurs periodically is a rather alarming sign that should be on your guard. The disease cannot be ignored, otherwise it may become chronic.

Apathy: causes and symptoms. How to get rid of apathy?

The state of apathy occurs for many reasons. Conventionally, they are divided into external and internal. The first group includes:

1. Stressful situations. These are dismissal, serious conflicts, loss of a loved one, natural disasters. All of them provoke the development of post-traumatic disorder.
2. Emotional burnout. Appears with chronic stress, increased responsibility at work, or an overly stressful lifestyle.
3. Diseases of internal organs. We are talking about pathologies that have a direct effect on the brain. A good example is atherosclerosis of blood vessels.
4. Hormonal imbalances.
5. Side effects of medications. Among them are drugs to lower blood pressure, sleeping pills, and contraceptives.

Internal reasons for indifference include:

1. Simple schizophrenia. It develops slowly, almost asymptomatically. A person develops coldness, apathy, and problems with thinking. Over time, he completely separates from society. The result is personality disintegration.
2. Alzheimer's disease. Affects the frontal lobes of the brain. Provokes the development of dementia (acquired dementia). Apathy and complete indifference to what is happening are observed in almost all patients.

Depression also belongs to this group. Apathy develops in 2 cases:

• for depressive disorder;
• for dysthymia (mood disorder with physical and cognitive manifestations).

Don't forget about masked depression. They are often disguised as other diseases. Added to the apathy are pain in the spine, unbearable itching, and breathing problems. These symptoms make it difficult to make a correct diagnosis.

All the reasons why apathy appears can be divided into two large groups: external and internal.

External causes are factors that act on the brain from the external environment or from other areas of the body. What causes apathy in such people:

1. Severe stress - loss of a loved one, dismissal from work, man-made or natural disaster; may lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.
2. Emotional burnout - chronic stress, work with high responsibility, stressful lifestyle; there is a high probability of developing neurasthenia, there may be reactive depression.
3. Somatic diseases are diseases of organs that indirectly affect the brain; for example, vascular atherosclerosis, which causes stroke
4. Endocrine disorders.
5. Side effects of medications: drugs that lower blood pressure, sleeping pills, contraceptives.

Important

Apathy can be a symptom of a number of mental and neurological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease.

All of the above is not uncommon for a person who lives in a modern city. The emotional reaction in the form of situational apathy in these cases is a variant of the norm and goes away with the elimination of the stress factor.

Why does apathy set in towards everything that happens when there are no external causes or reasons? Here internal reasons come to the fore. Apathy can be a symptom of a number of mental and neurological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease.

Apathy with depression. Apathy can occur both in major depressive disorder and in dysthymia and masked depression. The latter is a type of depression in which somatic complaints (pain in the spine, itching, breathing problems) come to the fore in the absence of objective signs of the corresponding diseases. These are the so-called “masks” of depression; such conditions often cause difficulties in making a diagnosis.

Apathy in simple schizophrenia. This form of schizophrenia is characterized by slow progressive development and loss of natural mental functions. Emotional coldness, pathological indifference, and thinking disorders come to the fore. Delusions and hallucinations are not observed at all or hardly at all, which is why the disease can go undetected for a long time. Without the intervention of a specialist, it leads to complete social isolation and personality disintegration.

Apathy in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the frontal lobes. The occurrence of apathy is associated with damage to these particular parts of the brain, as well as with the development of dementia. Apathy develops in most patients with this disease.

Most often, apathy occurs due to severe mental, physical or psychological stress, and may be a consequence of other, more severe mental conditions.

The causes of its occurrence are divided into the following groups:

1. Overwork, fatigue and drowsiness. Occurs against the background of overload of the body (physical or psychological). It seems that a person is simply too lazy to do anything. Disappears after proper rest and recuperation.
2. Professional and emotional burnout. Appears in people who work in large teams; in production that requires enormous psychological and emotional input, and do not receive positive emotions in return.
3. Prolonged stress. Inadequate relationships at work, unsettled family life, leading to a state of chronic stress, which results in apathy.
4. Incurable, serious illnesses. The accompanying surgical interventions and prolonged pain weaken the body and cause a state of apathy. This type of it quickly passes, as soon as the person is cured and undergoes a course of rehabilitation.
5. Brain lesions. Any traumatic conditions or previous brain infections can cause apathy. But after treatment is completed and the body and brain functions are fully restored, the disease goes away.
6. Schizophrenia. Apathy is one of its first signs. Here you need to treat the underlying disease.

The causes of an apathetic state (fatigue, drowsiness, laziness) can also include: disruption of the endocrine system, taking medications, PMS in women, heredity, vitamin deficiency, alcohol addiction, passion for gambling and much more.

Experts note that apathy develops as a result of severe illnesses (including mental illnesses), in the presence of chronic diseases, chronic lack of sleep, weak immunity, lack of vitamins D and B12, lack of iodine in the body, disorders in the endocrine system, premenstrual syndrome and intake hormonal medications, diabetes, drug addiction, alcoholism. Apathy occurs as a chronic form of nervous disorder and can develop into a depressive state.

Apathy manifests itself as a result of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged physical and emotional stress and life crisis, failures at work and in personal relationships. In its manifestations, apathy is similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, because people who do not know how to fully rest fall into the risk zone of apathy.

Apathy can occur in a person several years after infectious diseases and diseases associated with organic brain damage.

Apathy arises as a result of all kinds of addictions, including emotional ones, and is associated with feelings of guilt, shame, and even excessive perfectionism.

“There is often a state when you just want to lie down and do nothing, I’ve never been that kind of person, I don’t know what’s happening to me, there’s complete emptiness inside, I’m very depressed and I don’t know how to get out of this.” “My husband has apathy towards work and family, he has become emotionless, silent, and it’s difficult to talk. How can I help him?

What to do when you lose interest in everything? In this article especially for CogniFit, psychologist Natalia Stepanova will tell you what apathy is and how it manifests itself, what are its signs, causes and symptoms. Which people are most susceptible to apathy? How to get rid of apathy?

What is apathy? What are the signs and symptoms of apathy?

Apathy is a specific human condition in which a violation of the emotional-volitional sphere occurs. This mental state can be described as indifference that arises in a person, not only because of the monotony of his impressions, but also because of their excess.

Apathy is difficult to treat and is susceptible to chronic manifestations.

Reluctance to do anything, indifference... In simple terms, apathy is experienced as a painful state when a person is unable to force himself to start doing something, treats what is happening with indifference, feels lethargic and is in a state of “I don’t care.” He constantly has a feeling of fatigue, laziness and drowsiness; the person becomes so indifferent to what is happening that he even devalues ​​his own life.

In philosophical categories, this term was defined as “impassion.” It was even believed that only sages who had lost interest in reality were capable of such a higher state.

In the modern world, the term apathy has entered medicine and acquired a different meaning. It came into use during the First World War, when soldiers who had passed all the tests and returned from service became unable to experience emotions in civilian life. Because, according to them, the most emotional events in their lives took place during the war.

A modern person with severe apathy has reduced or completely absent motivation, he is lazy and therefore has difficulty engaging in activities.

His feelings, emotions and reactions are “colorless”, his speech is monotonous, his own well-being and the reaction of loved ones to his condition are of little concern to him.

Apathy can also arise due to monotonous work and lack of goals. Despite the fact that a person is involved in social activities and continues to go to work, he has no internal incentive.

To achieve your goals, you need motivation, planning, the ability to break the goal into subgoals and develop an appropriate plan. Initiative is important when performing assigned tasks, control, verification of results and emotional reinforcement are required. At any stage of the components of our activity, apathy can arise, which leads to an increase in its varieties.

Causes of the disease

The causes of apathy can be different. The peak of exacerbations often occurs in the autumn and spring periods. At the same time, weakness is felt. The disease can be provoked by many factors, the main of which are:

• long-term psychological trauma;
• death of loved ones;
• problems that cannot be solved;
• a lot of work and little rest;
• family problems;
• the birth of a child (especially at an early age);
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• serious illnesses;
• taking certain medications that affect mood;
• puberty;
• pregnancy.

Indifference to everything often occurs after the breakup of a long-term relationship. This condition is typical for both women and men. Apathy, the causes of which are varied, is characteristic of workaholics and people engaged in activities that require increased responsibility.

Apathy towards everything and the weakness that accompanies it is often a chronic process, repeated at certain intervals and manifested in the presence of provoking factors. When you don’t want to do anything, there is fatigue that cannot be overcome, it is recommended to pay attention to this predisposing condition.

Psychology identifies this disease as a separate group, since it has a complex etiology. When apathy occurs, the first signs are loss of strength and weakness. This condition occurs when a person is exposed to stress over a long period of time. The psyche simply cannot cope with such overloads.

Apathy can be not just a temporary condition, but also a constantly present syndrome. At the same time, some people cope with the initial signs of pathology on their own, while others have to seek help from specialists.

The resulting weakness during apathy is characterized not only by sluggish thinking, but also by inhibited psychological processes. Quite often, the precursor to the disease is vigorous activity or a fight against something that ended unsuccessfully.

The result of apathy syndrome is not only weakness, but also a lack of emotions. A person can go from a depressed state to depressed and indifferent.

Causes of apathy

Since apathy has many different facets, which are not always perceived as a full-fledged pathology, it has many causes. It does not form as a one-time manifestation; it is already an ingrained syndrome caused by a long-term factor. Problems caused by a state of apathy cannot be easily resolved; they grow into the individual’s everyday life.

Prolonged stress, the so-called “on edge” state, can provoke apathy. This tension should not be caused by something out of the ordinary; it could be a simple overload. Lack of rest, even with a seemingly habitual, non-exhausting rhythm, can also exhaust a person to the point of apathy. That is why, according to all the canons of hygiene, everyone should have a vacation. This is necessary to prevent burnout and apathy. Apathy and laziness are most often combined when overworked. Apathy and weakness are more typical after illness.

Changes in everyday life are also unsafe in terms of apathy. The loss of relatives has a particularly pronounced effect on the development of this condition. The death of loved ones is a great trauma and almost no one gets away with just apathy; individuals who have experienced losses develop a different position in life. Even a relative’s illness can throw you into an apathetic state, especially a serious one. Joyful events can also be a trigger for apathy, especially pregnancy and childbirth. Even for a very vigorous woman, this is still a challenge. Apathy and weakness often develop after childbirth, which is why it is important to prepare your body and family. Cheating and family troubles have a significant impact on the formation of apathy, even the cheater is capable of being subjected to it due to feelings of guilt. Retirement and the associated slowdown in the pace of life can also become a serious provocateur of this condition. Apathy and laziness are the prevailing conditions among many pensioners.

Apathy, as a short-term condition, can develop during PMS. Apathy and weakness are generally characteristic of women during hormonal fluctuations. Taking certain groups of medications can also lead to a similar outcome. Constant apathy is often a symptom of some chronic disease. Addictive behavior, like addiction pathologies, often develops into apathy; this is associated with self-loathing and the inability to lead a normal life.

Excessive severity towards oneself resulting from family upbringing is also a provocateur of this disorder. Constant apathy occurs with low self-esteem, and a strict, overly prim upbringing prevents an individual from understanding and accepting his desires, this leads to personality problems and apathy. Sometimes the environment can be oppressive in terms of apathy, especially if these are people with high demands on others, as well as the oppression of those higher up the career ladder.

Residual apathy is already a pathology that forms as a result of endogenous diseases. Residual apathy is characteristic of schizophrenia, as a manifestation of a decrease in energy potential. Such apathy indicates an increase in the defect.

Symptoms of pathology

Complete apathy towards life is manifested by a number of characteristic signs. Sometimes people who are used to controlling their emotions do not show any signs that are noticeable to others, but this only aggravates the problem.

Apathy, the importance of which is often underestimated, is an illness that causes not only psychological symptoms, but also physiological ones. Patients often experience stool disturbances and sluggish digestive function.

Main symptoms of apathy:

1. Lack of emotional reaction to what is happening. The person experiences weakness, lethargy and does not pay attention to anything.
2. Constant desire to lie or sit in one position. It is sometimes very difficult for a sick person to get up in the morning. A lethargic state can accompany you throughout the day.
3. Deterioration in appearance and well-being. Signs of apathy are complemented by a person’s indifference to hygiene, work and any activity. Even with passive behavior, the patient experiences symptoms of fatigue.
4. Reluctance to make plans for the future, complete lack of any interests. Such people often withdraw into themselves; they practically do not communicate with anyone.
5. Impaired memory and thought processes. It is very difficult to pull a person out of such a state.

The disease can lead to other concomitant pathologies. A disease such as apathy has a wide variety of symptoms. In some cases, the patient experiences attacks of aggression and irritation when another person tries to pull him out of his comfort zone. Based on the recommendations of the attending physician, other family members may participate in the process of stabilizing the condition.

The disease is especially difficult for people with cancer pathologies and those who suffer from chronic psychological illnesses. Most people are afraid to admit the symptoms of an apathetic state, because this indicates instability in the emotional sphere. Thus, they only aggravate the course of the disease.

Patients often experience low blood pressure. Such people tend to constantly sleep or doze. Any activity, even one that does not require effort, leads to fatigue. A person's house is in disarray. Against the backdrop of indifference, family conflict may occur.

If the disease is not paid attention to, it can lead to depression. At the same time, chronic diseases worsen. The gastrointestinal tract suffers, cerebral circulation is disrupted. Vegetative-vascular dystonia may occur.

Apathy - signs, causes, treatment, how to fight?

Apathy (from the Greek words a - without, pathos - passion) - indifference, indifference, detached attitude to what is happening around, lack of desire to do anything.
With apathy, volitional activity decreases and there are no emotional manifestations. Where does it come from and how to resist apathy? It should be said that the state of human apathy is a disease. In this state, people’s mental activity decreases, they become sedentary, taciturn, and lack of initiative. There are disruptions in thinking and memory loss, movement and speech are inhibited. These are obvious signs.

But some people who are subject to apathy sometimes maintain external activity and suddenly, unexpectedly for everyone, it turns out that he has committed suicide. Bad mood, depression, lack of desires are familiar to everyone, but if this continues for too long, then you should consult a doctor.

The cause of apathy can be heredity, stress from conflicts, natural disasters, loss of loved ones, retirement from work. Apathy can occur due to serious illnesses, alcoholism, drug addiction. This disease affects people who have failed to realize their creative abilities.

In young people, apathy occurs due to vitamin deficiency, lack of fresh air and sunlight, serious illness, or after severe emotional or physical stress. Knowing the signs and causes of apathy will help you decide on further actions.

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A state of apathy devalues ​​everything

An apathetic person does not express joy from pleasant things, he is indifferent to everything, shows detachment from the people around him and from the whole world, loses the need to love and be loved. His emotions are hidden deep in his consciousness, as if until better times. A person looks constantly dull, lifeless, emotionless, insensitive - no desires, no attractions.

In this state, the patient is not tense or irritable. He is overcome by complete indifference, he does not see the point in any activity. An apathetic person does not understand pleasures or displeasures, positive or negative emotions are inaccessible, the state of apathy devalues ​​everything.

There are two views of the scientific world on apathy. Some believe that a predisposition to apathy arises in people from infancy and is, as it were, a defense of our psyche from unfulfilled needs. Others believe that apathy is unique to modern adults and is the opposite of love and is also a defense against various internal experiences.

In a state of apathy, a person cannot dream or make plans for the future, his life becomes gray and dull. And if the reader of these lines discovers the listed symptoms, then he can confidently consider himself an apathetic person - withdrawn, inexpressive, indifferent, lazy and striving for loneliness.

A person should not be subject to apathy and laziness for a long time.

It is necessary to accept this state as a short-term respite from the daily routine, decide how to resist apathy and, without delay, begin to get out of it.

The simplest thing you can do is get a good night's sleep, restore your energy and strength. Then you can take a vacation, go on vacation for a change of scenery. And you don’t need to get carried away with alcohol or antidepressants.

Apathy is a signal, a warning that a person’s lifestyle is not entirely correct and he needs rest. After this, you should analyze what exactly led to this state. The mechanism of apathy is that with a constant excess of joyful emotions, they gradually become dull, and the absence of positive emotions leads to a breakdown.

To replenish the energy deficit, a person needs a break. At this moment, apathy, drowsiness, and lethargy appear. Apathy can overtake both a successful person and a loser. The situation of an apathetic person is aggravated by the fact that he becomes indifferent to his own person. At this stage of apathy, specialists will help you get out of it.

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Apathy must be fought!

To defeat apathy, you need to have a great desire to defeat it. You need to understand yourself, find out what led a person to such a state. The subconscious should tell you what should be done to return to the previous state, when a person was happy and actively acted, and did not contemplate his life as an outside observer.

At first, being in a state of apathy is not very comfortable, but then a person gets used to it and it begins to seem to him that going with the flow, living days “just for the evening” and not changing anything in life is not so bad.

It is important for an apathetic person to understand that only weak people who are completely disappointed in themselves may not want a better life for themselves. You need to realize that failures should not stop you, because it is an experience, taking into account which you should continue to move forward.

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How to deal with apathy?

First you need to find out whether apathy is caused by failure, stress, or because the person is “burnt out” at work. When the problem becomes clear and the attitude towards it changes, apathy can be overcome. We need to remember the pleasant moments of childhood and youth, when disappointments were unknown.

It is very important not to expect anything from life and from other people, since expectations are not always met. Failures always give way to success and vice versa, this is how life is built. You need to fight apathy, you need to accept your apathy, be a little sad and, smiling, move on.

It is important to complete something to the end, to win at least a small victory, which will become the starting point for further movement. To do this, you should set goals for yourself, maybe small, but they will lead a person to a big and important goal. Then there will be a desire to act, self-respect will appear and there will be no room left for apathy.

Treatment of apathy is carried out only by a doctor. For this purpose, psychostimulants of nervous activity are prescribed. During treatment, you should follow a work-rest schedule, avoid alcohol and unpleasant interactions. After treatment, it is necessary to avoid physical and emotional overload, listen to your body and not neglect days off.

Source: https://PsyTheater.com/kak-protivostoyat-apatii.html

Treatment options

A doctor can determine how to cure apathy. In most cases, drug therapy is relegated to the background. When the question arises of how to overcome apathy, modern methods of psychotherapy come to the rescue.

However, in severe cases, drug treatment is an auxiliary method. Main group of drugs:

1. Antidepressants help improve the patient’s mood, tone up and slightly increase blood pressure. They have a number of contraindications and lead to addiction.
2. Nootropic drugs. Improves cerebral circulation. Regulate the tone of the vascular wall. By improving brain nutrition, the body's resistance to stress increases.
3. Anxiolytics. Used least often. Used when apathy is accompanied by anxiety disorders.

Most people wonder how to get out of depression, because it is not always so simple. In the initial stages of the disease, it is much easier to fight the disease. Individual consultations with a psychotherapist are very helpful. At the same time, provoking factors are studied in detail: trauma, problems, conflicts. Group classes also give very positive results.

The fight against apathy in adolescence includes fairy tale therapy, modeling, and sand therapy. The main thing that needs to be done is to get the person out of his condition. Sometimes difficulties arise when the question arises of how to deal with apathy. It is not always easy to convey to a person the appropriateness of therapy. Some patients refuse basic treatment methods, considering themselves absolutely healthy.

Everyone needs to know how to deal with apathy that progresses. In addition to modern methods of psychotherapy, you can also use home methods.

Methods to combat apathy

Well, treatment (without medical intervention at an early stage) will be the same for everyone. To do this you just need:

• take time for yourself;
• diversify your daily routine;
• change route to work;
• engage in psychoanalysis (try to comprehend everything that is happening);
• change your diet;
• go to the cinema (theater, museum, exhibition, etc.);
• eat something tasty without thinking about your figure;
• to take a bath;
• go to the spa;
• give yourself a gift;
• think about what you want to do for yourself (not useful, but simply pleasant);
• come up with a hobby;
• read a good book (watch a movie or listen to music);
• take vacation, sick leave or time off.

If a way out of the current situation is not found, and apathy continues to progress, then you need to contact a specialist. He will examine you and prescribe treatment, this could be hypnosis or some antidepressants. When taking pills, you should not hope for their immediate effect; it takes time for the results to appear.

Additional treatments

How to deal with apathy on your own? Treatment at home in severe cases is excluded. Therapy should take place in a psychoneurological clinic. However, a specialist will help you figure out how to deal with mild apathy.

First of all, you need to change your lifestyle. At first, there shouldn’t be any drastic changes. New habits need to be introduced gradually. It is necessary to regularly take a contrast shower, which will increase blood circulation and help invigorate. At first, even such an easy task will cause difficulties.

To answer the question of how to cope with apathy, it is first recommended to assess the severity of the problem. It is necessary to sort out the essence of the negative state, based on the following recommendations:

1. Express the feeling of apathy on a piece of paper using colored pencils. Draw your emotions as vividly as possible.
2. Understand what exactly is stopping you from changing your behavior.
3. Analyze the reason for what is happening.
4. Reframe a negative attitude into a positive one.

The answer to the question of how to overcome apathy is not always easy. Before attempting complex techniques, it is recommended that you work through the core of the problem. Treatment of apathy is primarily aimed at overcoming the barrier that prevents you from leaving the state.

It is necessary to decompose the problem into its component parts and understand why it protects the patient. Maybe a disease allows a person to take a break from boring work. Before talking about how to get out of a state of apathy, you should understand the benefits of your illness for the unconscious. After all, if a person does not pay attention to his emotional state for a long time, then the psyche begins to manifest itself, but only with negative attitudes and images.

Everyone wants to know how to treat apathy caused by dissatisfaction with oneself or the conditions of one’s life. The necessary method of therapy is to increase self-esteem and self-worth. To do this, you need to take a blank sheet of paper and write all your negative beliefs on it. Then rephrase them into opposite, motivating attitudes.

How to get rid of apathy in this way? You just need to recite positive attitudes 3 times a day every day. Gradually, the unconscious will remember the information, and thinking will begin to change.

What does apathy look like: symptoms and signs

Apathy deprives a person of interest in life, desires and motivation. The absence of these important stimuli has a detrimental effect on behavior and performance. A low energy level will interfere with both daily routine tasks and taking on new challenges.

Important

Over time, despite the actual deterioration of the condition, patients talk less and less about their problem, but go deeper and deeper into it.

Emotions become dulled, which is why everything that usually aroused interest no longer gives an emotional response. Attacks of apathy deprive you of interest in almost all aspects of life. A person may be indifferent when long-awaited events occur, or when meeting new people. It is difficult to make an effort even to solve personal problems.

At first, when the manifestations have not reached their maximum, people may express similar complaints: “I have some kind of apathy, I don’t want anything,” “I’m tired of everything, I can’t concentrate, I have no desire.” Over time, despite the actual deterioration of the condition, patients talk less and less about their problem, but go deeper and deeper into it. If your loved one complains to you about painful feelings, you should not ignore these words - the person may need help.

The main signs of apathy:

• decreased or absent aspirations and motivation;
• changes in emotions and behavior: decreased interest in life, communication, previous hobbies and new events, difficulties in performing current tasks, lethargy, lethargy, poor concentration, decreased mental functions, etc.;
• impact on quality of life: changes in behavior negatively affect professional success and personal life;
• changes in behavior are not associated with drug and alcohol use.

Clinically significant is the presence of these signs in a person for four weeks. However, if you notice apathy in yourself or a loved one, which lasts less but causes significant discomfort and interferes with life, do not delay contacting a specialist. A professional will quickly help you understand the situation and understand whether it is just a bad mood, fatigue, or a condition that requires correction in order to prevent complications.

Diagnostic measures that can be carried out in a person with complaints of apathy:

1. Consultation with a psychiatrist-psychotherapist
2. Pathopsychological examination: helps more deeply
3. explore mental functions such as thinking, attention and memory. The method helps to detect disorders in the early stages and prevent the occurrence of severe manifestations
4. Laboratory and instrumental techniques to confirm
5. diagnosis: Neurotest, Neurophysiological test system, EEG, CT, MRI of the brain (if organic pathology is suspected)
6. Consultation with related specialists (neurologist)

According to psychology, apathy is a state in which a person loses interest in life, desires, and motivation to act. Because of this, his behavior changes and his performance decreases. It becomes difficult to carry out daily work, as well as take on something new.

Symptoms

Symptoms directly depend on the form of apathy. There are only 3 of them:

1. Active. The behavior has not changed. But over time, mental disorders appear.
2. Passive. A person feels constant fatigue, excessive fatigue, and drowsiness. These symptoms are noticeable to others.
3. Traumatic. This type of apathy develops as a result of brain injury. Behavior and psyche change.

Psychologists also identify a number of common symptoms:

• lack of interest in favorite activities and hobbies;
• reluctance to develop;
• fatigue even after a long rest;
• slow reaction;
• lack of appetite;
• slurred speech;
• always in a bad mood;
• problems with concentration.

A person faced with apathy does not seek communication, does not want to talk to anyone, or discuss his problems.

Signs

Apathy has practically no external manifestations. It develops asymptomatically. It resembles paralysis, only not physical, but emotional. A person's mental activity decreases. He becomes taciturn and uninitiative. Movements are slowed down. There are problems with memory and thinking.

Sometimes it's different. The “patient” is not indifferent to everything that happens around him. He leads an active lifestyle, communicates with friends and relatives. And then he suddenly commits suicide. The reasons are personality disharmony, internal destruction.

Symptoms

The first thing worth noting is the external visibility of this condition. Apathy, the symptoms of which boil down to indifference, is easily noticed from the outside. A complete loss of interest in what is happening and increasing passivity always strikes the person’s relatives and acquaintances.

Gradually, a person stops doing things that usually brought satisfaction, hobbies disappear, and the number of social contacts may decrease.
At the same time, not only the pleasant “little things” of life disappear, but also events that normally cause unpleasant emotions do not touch the person. Alienation from society may gradually increase, both in the form of professional isolation and within the family. Behavior becomes indifferent, life is reduced mainly to the usual maintenance of physical well-being. A special feature is speech, or rather its vocal and intonation characteristics. It acquires a monosyllabic character, monotony and fearlessness. Value judgments often disappear.

Another significant sign of apathy is loss of empathy. The problems of relatives cease to worry a person. Help begins to take on a formal character.

At the same time, attempts to get closer to an apathetic relative, as a rule, cause even greater alienation, which can take the relationship into a hostile direction.