Apathy: When You Have No Motivation And You Are Exhausted

People say that apathy is like a curse. They say that once it catches you, it will not let go. It will tear your life apart, blow out the flame you have inside you, and extinguish your emotions completely. It is a state of mind where discouragement abounds, your hope disappears, and even your body hurts. You lack energy and desire, as if you are a prisoner of absolute physical and mental lethargy.

Most of us have experienced this at least once. But is it really a state of mind? Or is it a feeling? Is there perhaps an attitude to life? Apathy is actually versatile. We know this because we have first-hand experience with it. Its impact reaches almost every part of our being. There is a lack of motivation, there is exhaustion, there is disappointment, there is sadness…

This kaleidoscope of mental, emotional and physical processes is often described as one of the most unpleasant situations a person can experience. It is like pressing the “pause” button on life and being suspended in a strange dimension where an absence of initiative and hope reigns. No one should be there longer than necessary. So let’s look at the causes of apathy and how you can deal with it.

What is apathy?

Apathy literally means  “ lack of feeling “.  Although it may sound a bit exaggerated, just think of the last time apathy took over, and thoughts like these swirled around in your head:  “Nothing catches my interest. Everything is meaningless. I do not care what happens now. Nothing matters… ”

This unbearable lethargy greatly affects a person’s cognition. It distorts your focus. You can not focus or keep information. However, the shadow of apathy affects your emotions even more. So much so that you may be wondering if you are experiencing symptoms of depression.

Two things need to be clarified here. While it is true that depression sometimes presents with apathy, this will not always be the case. Apathy is not always there. Some have been diagnosed with depressive disorder without apathy, and vice versa.

That is, apathy in itself is not a direct indicator of depression. Therefore, as soon as you perceive the presence of this unpleasant companion, you must encourage it to leave as soon as possible. But first  you need to know where it came from and why.

What is the origin of apathy?

There is not just one origin of apathy. This can be due to several factors, and you should definitely take them all into consideration. They are as follows:

Organic factors

• Anemia.
• Certain infections.
• A weak immune system.
• Nutritional deficiencies.
• Lack of sleep.
• Lack of training.
• Thyroid problems.
• Possible onset of dementia. In fact, you should keep in mind that apathy is one of the most common neuropsychiatric symptoms in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Similarly, brain damage due to traumatic accidents can also be the cause of apathy.
• Malfunction of the limbic system or the connection between the frontal cortex and the basal ganglia.
• Substance abuse.

Psychological factors

• Bipolar disorder.
• Deep depression.
• Dystymia.
• High levels of anxiety.

Environmental factors

Sometimes you find yourself in certain environments where you do not find any positive stimuli. You will find only negative, stressful or uninteresting stimuli. Living in environments like this can naturally take you towards depressive thoughts  and a state of mind characterized by apathy.

How can you deal with apathy?

Once all organic problems have been ruled out, it is time to put certain exercises, strategies and approaches into practice to eradicate apathy from body and mind. That said, it’s a fact you can not neglect. No advice will help you if you do not change your mindset first.

Whatever triggered this state of lethargy and loss of motivation, you need to understand that  what keeps you trapped in it is your perspective. That is why we say that it is more useful to first try to “fix” what is in your mind. Remember that the outside world is generally  out of your control. Here are some things that can help:

• Psychological therapy focused on  cognitive restructuring.
• Getting out of one’s routine,  trying new activities, changing environments, meeting new people, finding new interests.
• Physical exercise and a balanced diet.
• To be in contact with nature.
• Practicing disciplines such as yoga or mindfulness (mindful presence).

To conclude: a good way to banish apathy from your brain is to commit to life in a more creative way. Getting to know yourself better and setting new goals can help give you a new perspective on the world. Have hope and blow away the heavy air of apathy and lethargy.