Apathy is a symptom or a temporary mental state characterized by indifference, emotional coldness, indifference. It is manifested by indifference, detachment from what is happening, lack of motivation for any activity, decrease in emotions, slowness of actions. Diagnosis depends on the cause of apathy, the main methods are clinical conversation, observation, psychological testing. In addition, an examination by a neurologist, instrumental studies of the brain are prescribed. Symptomatic methods of treatment include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, daily regimen correction.
In a period of apathetic mood, indifference to all external events is formed, emotions become weakly expressed or absent altogether, and interest and desire for action decrease. In men, this condition manifests itself more clearly, it occurs more often: they spend a significant part of their time at home, do not go out to work, refuse friendly meetings, habitual hobbies, and sports. In women, apathy is formed less frequently due to their natural emotionality and greater involvement in social interactions - caring for children, communicating with friends, and meeting with parents.
The basic psychological mechanism for the development of apathy is the depletion of reserves of mental energy (emotions, motives, involvement). In healthy people, indifference and indifference are the results of prolonged excitation of the central nervous system. The brain begins to induce inhibition processes, protecting the body from the further waste of energy, and excessive nervous tension. Sometimes apathy, arising as a defensive reaction, is fixed as a part of the personality, and then subconsciously used at certain periods of life.
The key manifestations of an apathetic state are the absence of expressed emotions, and interest in ongoing events and people around. As a result of these changes, there is a refusal to work, household duties, and a narrowing of the circle of contacts. In men, apathy is accompanied by a reluctance to perform hygiene procedures, get out of bed, and eat. In women, emotional devastation is more noticeable - loss of interest in communication and hobbies, inability to be happy, sad, or angry. Apathetic people are often distracted, inattentive, and unable to cope with the usual things: they cannot choose clothes, make a shopping list, or cook dinner.
Other characteristic symptoms that are equally common in both men and women are general weakness, slow reactions, a feeling of loneliness, and memory impairment. It is worth distinguishing laziness and depression from apathy since these conditions are symptomatically very similar. Laziness is selective - you do not want to perform certain actions that do not bring pleasure. At the same time, a person can easily start doing what he likes - go for a walk, to meet friends. Apathetic states cause paralysis of any activity, a complete absence of desires.
Depression is characterized by a decrease in mood, and the predominance of negative emotions - sadness, sadness, disappointment, and depression. When apathy develops, positive and negative emotions are smoothed out, practically absent. Anxious depression proceeds with motor restlessness, an apathetic state is always accompanied by the slowness of movements. Sometimes it becomes a manifestation of severe depression: patients are indifferent to ongoing events, sit or lie for a long time without moving, not talking.
Emotional exhaustion develops as a result of stress, traumatic situations, and somatic diseases. In addition, it is a symptom of mental disorders and organic lesions of the nervous system. Apathy is a temporary condition, a manifestation of another pathology, or a side effect of taking medications. In men, it is often formed against the background of alcohol and drugs. It occurs as an independent disorder, in combination with a lack of will it presents an apatico-abulic syndrome, and in the absence of motor activity - an adynamic syndrome.
In men and women, mild apathy can be a character trait combined with low social activity, slowness, and phlegm. The causes of apathy as a state of maladaptation are situations that deplete the motivational-emotional resource. Personal qualities or external events for which a person was not prepared are considered as provoking psychological factors. Common causes of apathy:
Possible causes of pathological apathy are mental disorders. In patients, the signs of lethargy are pronounced, they reduce social activity, and interfere with the implementation of household chores, and hygiene procedures. Often such people need daily outside care, organizing, and stimulating help from relatives. The most common mental illnesses associated with apathy include:
Apathy can be a symptom of neurological diseases - dementia, brain tumors, strokes, neuro infections, and traumatic brain injuries. It manifests itself on the basis of organic brain damage (vascular, neurodegenerative, traumatic). It is especially characteristic for pathologies accompanied by damage to the frontal lobe, anterior cerebral artery, pituitary gland, or limbic structures. Common neurological causes of apathy:
Prolonged use of certain drugs leads to the development of side effects, accompanied by apathy. The risk is highest when taking tranquilizers, antidepressants, sleeping pills, oral contraceptives, and antibiotics. Another possible cause of apathy is withdrawal syndrome (alcohol hangover). In both cases, emotional disturbances are caused by biochemical changes in the processes of the central nervous system in the brain regions responsible for emotions. Apathy occurs within the following syndromes:
To find out the causes of apathy, you need to contact a psychiatrist and a neurologist. The examination begins with a clinical survey of the patient: the duration and severity of lethargy, and provoking factors are ascertained. With severe apathy, patients remain indifferent, and do not answer the doctor's questions on their own, the conversation is held with relatives. In the course of observation, the absence of external manifestations of emotions, slowness, and weakening of motivation come to the fore. To more accurately determine the cause of apathy, the following methods are shown:
Apathy is not always a condition that needs to be treated. If a person has become less emotional and proactive after a period of high stress or a traumatic situation, you need to give the body time to recover - to provide good sleep, healthy nutrition, protect from worries, and mental stress. If the apathy is pronounced, lasts more than a week, and significantly worsens the quality of life of the patient, special treatment is necessary, including psychotherapy, medication, and changing the regime of rest and work.
Good rest helps to overcome apathy
Psychotherapy and psychological counseling are necessary for patients with severe apathy. To improve the condition, methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoanalysis are used. The specialist conducts individual sessions, where the probable causes of apathy are discussed, and ways to overcome apathy. With the help of a psychologist, the patient again learns to feel his emotions, set goals, and resist stressful influences. In the second stage of therapy, it is possible to attend group training - interaction with other people increases the interest and motivation of a person.
If the cause of apathy is excessive stress and overwork, minimal medical support is indicated to help the body recover faster. Vitamin-mineral complexes and herbal adaptogens are prescribed, for example, tincture of ginseng or Eleutherococcus. With severe apathy due to mental and neurological diseases, pharmacological preparations are used: psychostimulants, antidepressants, and analeptics. Their combination, dosage, and duration of administration are determined by the doctor individually.
Along with the main treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of apathy, it is recommended to introduce new activities into the daily plan, even if at first they seem uninteresting. It is necessary to remember what hobby was fascinating before - sports, art, self-education. It is worth avoiding stressful situations, alternating periods of work and rest, adhering to a healthy diet, and a regimen of moderate physical activity. It is important to involve loved ones in the rehabilitation process; in the first stages, their will is the main organizing and stimulating factor.