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Our life is a constantly growing box of emotions. Day by day we have positive and negative feelings. It fills us with impressions, helps to see the contrast and move on along the path of life. The moment when the distinction between everything that happens is erased is called apathy.
What is apathy
Apathy is a mental state of indifference, detachment and stoic calm. This term came to us from antiquity, when such a state was called the unreasonable movement of the soul. In psychology and psychiatry, this kind of disorder is considered a pathology that requires timely diagnosis and proper treatment. Apathy can accompany a variety of mental disorders, one of which is schizophrenia.
Causes of Apathy
The causes of the disease can be both external and internal factors. It is quite possible the appearance of a similar state on the background of complete physical health, but due to the performance of loads that are several times higher than the capabilities of the body. People of completely different gender, status, and age may suffer from apathy. With the confluence of certain circumstances in life, its causes can be:
- Exhaustion - as a result of long hard work. In this case, it is customary to speak of “burnout”.
- Hormone failure - pregnancy, the postpartum period, menopause, endocrine system malfunction.
- Brain damage - even after a fairly long period of time after neuroinfection, head injury or any other diseases involving the involvement of brain tissue, apathy can occur. In this case, an apathetic condition may indicate a more serious illness - Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia.
- Prolonged alcohol or substance abuse.
- Taking pills, such as hormone-based contraceptives, some heart medications, as well as the uncontrolled use of antidepressants.
- Long-term stress - asocial family members, a despotic bosses and much more can lead to a complete renunciation of the situation and, consequently, to apathy.
- Lack of nutrients and vitamins in the body.
- Mental illness and disorders.
Apathy in its mild form most likely affected each of us. Autumn blues, spring vitamin deficiency, fatigue, prolonged illness or a life crisis are the causes of short-term emotional decline and indifference. Anxiety and anxiety should cause cases in which violations of memory, intelligence or other mental functions, prolonged indifference, passivity, neglect of appearance and personal hygiene are clearly visible. If you notice something similar with your close people, immediately contact the specialists for help.
Symptoms of apathy
Symptoms of apathy can be combined into two words - this is indifference and detachment. Among all the manifestations of the state of apathy, the most frequent and significant are:
- Refusal to perform duties or work - can reach the extreme point, when the patient is not able to force himself to perform even hygiene procedures, get out of bed, eat.
- Social isolation.It happens that a man of "soul-company" suddenly refuses to go to events, reduces the number of friends, or completely eliminates them from his life.
- Constant bad mood. Lack of interest in past hobbies. Hobby - one of the main sources of positive emotions. A person in an apathetic state loses the slightest interest in his beloved work.
- Dizziness, nausea, general weakness, impaired memory - vivid symptoms of apathy.
- Constant feeling of abandonment and acute loneliness. Unreasonable fear and anxiety.
From the above list, anxiety and immediate access to specialists should cause constant dizziness, impaired memory, fear and anxiety. Even if a loved one assures that he feels great, seek the opportunity to get a doctor for a consultation. It is also important not to confuse apathy and depression. Depression is characterized by the lack of physical and moral strength to do something, apathy is, first of all, the absence of any desire to continue working, communicating, living.
Types of apathy
There are only three types of apathy. The first - and he is the most dangerous - active apathy.It is characterized by complete indifference to work, entertainment, communication. The patient refuses to leave the bed, eat food, care for himself. Outwardly, a person may look completely normal and not give any signs of internal self-destruction. Those suffering from this type of illness are most susceptible to suicide.
The second kind is passive apathy. Quite noticeable indifferent attitude to life, work, people. The lack of focus on results, and his very achievement is absolutely indifferent. The third type is traumatic apathy. The definition itself speaks about the reasons for its occurrence. Head injuries can lead to unjustified aggression, nervousness, and hysteria. After the elimination of the brain disease, the state of apathy disappears.
How to fight and get rid of apathy
Each of us is at risk of falling into a state of apathy. But a short-term breakdown is easier and easier to overcome than a neglected and deep one. What to do if you suddenly feel captured by ailment?
- Adjust the diet. A range of products can help you overcome unwanted condition.Chocolate, bananas, rosehip tincture, sea buckthorn tea, bee honey, ice cream, milk are products that increase the production of the hormone of happiness, endorphin.
- The next step on the road to recovery is sleep. Always and everywhere a good rest, and a sound healthy sleep is the key to a great mood and good spirits. Before you go to sleep, be sure to air the bedroom. And at the time of sleep, leave the window slightly open - the saturation of blood with oxygen at night will make you feel great throughout the entire working day.
- Physical activity is also one of the main methods of dealing with apathy. Sport, movement is life. If you already visit the gym, then in addition you can simply change the daily route of movement. Get to work the other way, give up public transport, go for an extra walk.
- The next method of dealing with apathy can be communication. Do not block out from relatives and people close to you. If you want to cry, and this can also help, do not restrain yourself. The “vest” of a loved one, sympathy, a desire to listen and help can have a very positive effect on your condition.
- Further, it is simple, but very effective to clean the house, to clean the house from dust, throw away unwanted trash, old things, dismantle the eternal blockages on the balcony. Even on a psychological level, they say, one cannot keep old rubbish - it is a source of negative thoughts. Down with the negative. And with it the garbage from the house!
- Sauna visits, get-togethers with friends, organizing a holiday “I don’t want it through” are methods for getting rid of apathy, which have proven to be effective and efficient.
- You can also note the good old shopping, beauty salon or spa. There is no need to drastically change the state of apathy! You can always dye your hair or have a haircut, but an unsuccessful hairstyle, and even more unsuccessful hair color, can drive even the most balanced person into tears and hysterics.
Drugs for apathy
In the case of extreme neglect of the mental state, help from specialists cannot be avoided. In such a situation, you must visit a general practitioner. According to the results of examination and testing, he can refer you to an endocrinologist, a cardiologist, an oncologist, a gynecologist, a consultation with a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist.Drug treatment should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Depending on the severity of the disease and its specificity, both vitamins and adaptogens are prescribed, as well as stronger drugs from the nootropic group. For serious mental illnesses, the psychiatrist may prescribe sedatives and antipsychotics.
Prevention of apathetic conditions
In order not to fall into an apathetic state, you should follow a few simple rules. So, more fresh air, movement, healthy food, less stress and worrying over trifles, alcohol. So that life does not turn into an endless series of work-home, find new hobbies and hobbies. Start running in the morning, cross-stitch, scrabbooking, sign up for yoga. But do not forget that the body is not iron and really appreciate your strength.
In other words, do not overload yourself with excessive physical exertion, do not allow emotional exhaustion and nervous overstrain. Rest more often, and especially after doing any work. Do not be discouraged in case of failures or losses.One should always remember that in life one cannot get away from bitter disappointments and take all the blows with dignity. Try to quickly switch from negative to positive, and then the decadent state will not take you by surprise and will not make you suffer.
Saturation of the body with vitamins, oxygen and positive emotions will always keep you in good physical shape, and, as you know, in a healthy body - a healthy mind! Love yourself and be healthy!
Video: how to overcome depression, apathy and laziness
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