It isn't uncommon to feel like you don't care about anything from time to time. Such moods may often result from feeling unmotivated or stuck in a rut. In other cases, however, losing your interest in everything and everyone in your life can be a sign of a mental health condition such as depression.
What Is Apathy? Apathy is when you lack motivation to do things or just don't care much about what's going on around you. Apathy can be a symptom of mental health problems, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's disease. It often lasts a long time.
Symptoms of Avolition
Signs that might indicate that a person is living with avolition include: Not bathing and grooming. Lying in bed for hours. Watching the day go by while doing very little or nothing at all.
It might feel like no matter what they do, they can't manage to feel pleasure about anything. For most people, anhedonia will go away with professional treatment. However, it's not likely to simply go away on its own.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. 1 Due to these ADHD symptoms, adults and children with this disorder are often labeled as unmotivated, lazy, or apathetic—negative labels that are unfair and hurtful.
People may experience episodes of apathy with certain psychological conditions, such as major depression and schizophrenia. In addition, people who experience traumatic events may develop apathy syndrome (indifference and emotional detachment) as a way to protect themselves mentally and prevent further distress.
Anhedonia or emotional flatlining is the inability to feel joy. Most of the time its a symptom of Major Depressive Disorder. But, it can also occur in the first 2-12 months of sobriety when recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Anhedonia, a reduced ability to experience feelings of pleasure, is a key feature of several mood and attention disorders, including MDD and ADHD. The neurobiology of anhedonia is complex and involves a dysfunction in pathways that regulate reward and motivation.
The term anhedonia is derived from the Greek an-, "without" and hēdonē, "pleasure". Interest in the nature of pleasure and its absence dates back to ancient Greek philosophers such as Epicurus.
But if you have a serious mental illness, brain injury, or dementia, talking might be hard. This lack of conversation is called alogia, or “poverty of speech.” Alogia can affect your quality of life. If you can't carry on a conversation, you may withdraw from friends and family. Or you may not be able to work.
Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping. Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations. Inability to cope with daily problems or stress. Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people.
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.
Some common synonyms of unconcerned are aloof, detached, disinterested, incurious, and indifferent. While all these words mean "not showing or feeling interest," unconcerned suggests a lack of sensitivity or regard for others' needs or troubles.
If the feelings of apathy you experience are caused by something clearly identifiable, like a repetitive routine or burnout, it can be helpful to change up your routine. Try new things that challenge or fulfill you in different ways, such as a new hobby, a new exercise routine, or making new friends.
Some signs that you might be understimulated include: Lack of motivation. Physical hyperactivity. A sense of unease, making you feel "flat" or irritable.
The ADHD brain experiences feelings on a spectrum that ranges from emotional numbness to intense engagement. Learn how to understand what your brain is communicating in different emotional phases.
ADHD & Laziness Are Not the Same
The truth is that people with ADHD often come across as lazy because their minds move too fast. Before getting an ADHD diagnosis, people with this problem have trouble focusing. Their minds work overtime, but they have difficulty completing tasks on time.
Why People Emotionally Shut Down. Trauma, prolonged stress, anxiety, depression and grief all contribute to feeling emotionally shut down.
Physical symptoms of anhedonia may include: Inability to derive positive emotion from physical sensations. Food may not taste as good as it once did; it may taste bland. Physical touch, such as hugging or hand-holding, may no longer bring comfort.
The mental health conditions most often associated with emotional numbness are depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Emotional numbness can also come up in some dissociative disorders, which are connected with a personal history of trauma.
Strategies that might help include trying new things, talking to different people, or making plans with a friend. Practicing gratitude can also be a great way to notice, appreciate, and take an interest in the great things in your life.
Schizoid personality disorder is one of many personality disorders. It can cause individuals to seem distant and emotionless, rarely engaging in social situations or pursuing relationships with other people.