What causes apathy?

Apathy Causes

A problem with areas in the front of your brain that control your emotions, goals, and behavior can cause apathy. It's often one of the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, which damage the brain. Up to 70% of people with dementia have this loss of interest.

What causes apathy in a person?

Sometimes, apathetic feelings are a result of things we can recognize and change—for example, we're feeling bored at work or we're no longer attracted to someone we once felt attracted to. But sometimes apathy is a symptom of a larger issue we're facing, like trauma, grief, or an underlying mental health condition.

Is apathy a mental illness?

There is no official clinical diagnosis of apathy, rather it is often a symptom or sign associated with a mental health condition. You can easily self-identify the symptoms of apathy, however.

What mental illness causes apathy?

Apathy may also occur in various psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, stroke, Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease, and dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.

Can apathy be caused by anxiety?

Anxiety. While apathy and anxiety may appear to be separate, and different, states of being, there are many ways that severe anxiety can cause apathy. First, the emotional fatigue that so often accompanies severe anxiety leads to one's emotions being worn out, thus leading to apathy.

What is Apathy? How To Break Past It.

How do I fix my apathy?

What is an example of apathy?

Apathy, or the absence of emotion, is a feeling of generalized indifference and unaffectedness. The term can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, an apathetic voter is one who has not committed to any candidate because they are uninterested in the election.

Can apathy be cured?

The Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve any medications to specifically treat apathy. Medications can treat some conditions that involve apathy, though. The medication your doctor or psychiatrist recommends will depend on the most likely cause of persistent apathy.

Is there medication for apathy?

Dopaminergic agonists seem to be effective for apathy. Acetylcholine esterase inhibitors, methylphenidate, atypical antipsychotics, nicergoline, and cilostazol are another choice. Medication choice should be determined according to the background and underlying etiology of the targeting disease.

Is apathy a symptom of bipolar disorder?

Many people with bipolar get things done—we simply don't feel great about it in the moment. It is up to us to find a way around this apathy and to keep going. Then, we will get to feel the 'regular' emotions of success.

Is apathy a part of depression?

Apathy is one possible symptom of depression, but it may not be a part of everyone's experience with depression. “A person suffering from depression may experience apathy,” says Henry. “However, the intense emotions accompanying clinical depression may not always be seen in an apathetic person.”

Is it normal to not care about anything?

Feeling as if you don't care about anything anymore may be related to anhedonia or apathy. Anhedonia is a mental state in which people have an inability to feel pleasure. It is often a symptom of mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and substance use.

How do I start caring again?

Whatever little thing you find to care about, focus on it for a while. Then, when you feel ready, use the care you feel for it as a stepping stone to find another thing to care about, and then another. Go slowly so as not to overextend yourself and your emotional output.

What is a person with no feelings called?

apathetic. / (ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk) / adjective. having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent.

How do you deal with an apathetic partner?

Make sure to speak openly with your partner about your feelings of apathy. Tell them how you're feeling without guilt or blame, and discuss ways in which both of you could make the relationship work. Also, make sure to listen to your partner's side of the story without placing blame and engaging in personal attacks.

Is being apathetic good?

While it can be harmless and normal to experience, it can also be harmful. The indifference, unresponsiveness, detachment, and passivity that are characteristic of apathy can leave apathetic individuals feeling exhausted and also lead to their making bad decisions—because, well, they just don't care.

Do antidepressants help apathy?

Apathy is not synonymous to depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are commonly used for treatment of depression, have been known to worsen the symptoms of apathy in some patients.

Is apathy a symptom of ADHD?

People who have inattentive ADHD are often spacey and sometimes display apathetic behavior (apathy is a lack of interest or enthusiasm, some might call it “laziness”). Adults who don't manage the ADD may develop mood disorders like anxiety or depression, or have social problems as a result of the condition.

Is apathy a symptom of schizophrenia?

Apathy is considered one of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, but its natural history and relationship to other clinical characteristics have not been systematically studied.

Why do I have no empathy?

They can be the result of genetics (or the characteristics you inherited from your parents), environment (especially in early childhood), disease, or physical or psychological damage and trauma related to an event. Two psychological terms particularly associated with a lack of empathy are sociopathy and psychopathy.

Can antidepressants cause apathy?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), commonly used to treat depression, are associated with loss of motivation, anergy, and lack of curiosity often referred collectively as apathy.

Why is apathy death?

Worse than death, because at least a rotting corpse feeds the beasts and insects.”

What's the difference between indifference and apathy?

Apathy suggests a puzzling or deplorable inertness or lack of passion, as in “the problem of continued voter apathy.” Impassivity stresses the absence of any external sign of emotion in action or facial expression, as in “teachers frustrated by the impassivity of their students.” Indifference connotes a lack of ...

What is the opposite apathy?

Opposite of lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. interest. concern. enthusiasm. passion.

How do I fix feeling emotionless?

Exercise: When you're feeling numb, the last thing you may want to do is get up and moving, but it's one of the best things you can do. Running, swimming, yoga, and kickboxing classes are all great for stress relief, but even just taking a walk around the neighborhood can help flood your brain with endorphins.