A condition when you don’t want anything: what is it called, causes and treatment

• June 14, 2019
• Depressive states
• Ekaterina Kirillova

Many people are interested in the name of the state when you don’t want anything. Let's say right away: it is called apathy. More specifically, apathy is a mental state characterized by a decreased ability to feel emotions and physical stimuli. A person experiencing this is reluctant to engage in any activity, leaves existing social relationships and avoids building new ones. Read about the causes of this disease and its symptoms, and find out how to treat it.

Apathy: what to do if you don’t want anything

A person in this state loses the will to live, cannot engage in any activities, and limits his daily duties to the necessary minimum. Often activities that were usually enjoyable, entertaining, or a source of relaxation fall completely out of his range of interests. Usually apathy is accompanied by so-called automatism. When consuming food, talking with loved ones, or doing everyday activities, a person in this state behaves like a robot, creating the impression of “action on autopilot.” Feeling depressed, reducing your needs to a minimum or worsening your mood and slowing down your desires are other factors associated with apathy. This, in essence, is the answer to the question of what the state is called when you don’t want anything. Now let's move on to specifics.

Becoming good employees without consequences

If you work overtime, then only for additional pay.

If a person wants to achieve good results at work, get career growth, earn more money, and at the same time not harm his rest or personal life, he can adhere to certain rules.

1. Work overtime. You can ask your boss for additional responsibilities, take work home, or become a proactive employee. However, work beyond the norm must be paid separately.
2. Strengthen your social connections. There is no need to ignore lunch breaks and continue to throw yourself into work. During this time, you definitely need to eat well and communicate with colleagues. It would be a good idea to gather in a cafe after work from time to time. If children ask to spend a holiday together, do not refuse them.
3. If you are given a serious task that requires a quick solution, try to complete everything as quickly as possible, ahead of the expected deadline.

Symptoms

Symptoms of apathy occur in many forms and with varying intensities. The effect that this disease has on a person depends on individual characteristics. However, it is worth knowing the main symptoms that are the common denominator when this disorder occurs. Apathy, as a state of mind when you don’t want anything, usually affects functioning in several areas:

1. Mood and emotions. Decreased mood, tendency to feel sad and depressed. Difficulty expressing emotions associated with joy. A feeling of absence of any emotions, giving the impression of emotional numbness.
2. Reaction to physical stimuli. When we experience apathy, we react differently to the information our body tells us. Responses related to basic needs such as hunger, thirst or sexual desire are very limited. Apathy is often accompanied by less sensitivity to physical pain.
3. Social relations. Restriction or withdrawal from existing social relationships. Reluctance to build new ones. People experiencing apathy often avoid gatherings, even among friends and family. Still don’t understand what the state is called when you don’t want anything? It is not surprising, since apathy does not only imply a lack of desires. Based on this list alone, it is already clear that it affects the entire life activity of a person.
4. When people with apathy decide to take part in a social event, it is often accompanied by a feeling of great effort or automatic behavior. That is, they seem to overcome themselves, act like robots.
5. Intellectual and cognitive activity. The state of apathy usually negatively affects concentration, learning and memory. Difficulties in these areas further impede intellectual activity, which, in turn, reduces opportunities in this area, creating a kind of vicious circle.
6. Physical activity. Apathy implies abandonment of existing activities. Performing daily duties is usually limited to a minimum or takes the form of automatic behavior. Activities related to sports or recreation are suspended, and new challenges and problems are left to chance. Sometimes this is associated with a loss of physical strength, and sometimes with a lack of feeling the positive emotions that were associated with such physical activity. Apathy often affects the need to take care of one’s appearance. A person in this state can push himself very hard.
7. Dream. Apathy can also affect the quantity and quality of sleep. The body's reactions in this area can be very different, causing excessive drowsiness, a feeling of constant fatigue and other difficulties. This also makes a person feel like he is not in the mood, doesn’t want to do anything, and so on.

True and imaginary slackers

The unemployed who experience difficulties in finding work primarily include those who experience discrimination. These include:

• women who were recently married and have no children;
• women with preschool children;
• single mothers;
• divorced women with two or more children;
• people of pre-retirement age;
• university graduates entering work in their specialty for the first time;
• young professionals without work experience.

In addition to the listed categories, the following may be looking for work for a long time:

• people who have spent several years caring for children or a sick relative;
• wives and husbands of wealthy spouses, whose income previously allowed them to engage exclusively in household chores;
• former entrepreneurs;
• those who have never worked before and entered the labor market only at the age of 30, as well as those who decided at this and later ages to change their profession and start a career from scratch;
• freelancers who have worked unofficially for a long time.

These people need the support of loved ones, the state, and in some cases, psychologists, since a long search for work leads to the fact that self-confidence is undermined.
American researchers have found that a person who has been in a similar state for a year or more can stop all attempts, losing hope of a successful result, and thereby become a parasite for his family and the state. True parasites, in their behavior, are radically different from those who really find it difficult to find a job. Among them there are four most common types:

1. "gentlemen of Fortune",
2. "philosophers"
3. "hikikomori"
4. "infantiles".
5. The first group is characterized by the desire to get rich quickly. Unlike people with business acumen, a parasite only pretends that he wants and is trying to do something. It takes months, even years, to organize your own business. The future businessman endlessly surfs the Internet, reading other people's success stories, and at the same time cannot at least register a legal entity. If the “gentleman of fortune” nevertheless organizes his own business, it usually does not work out for him, and the money to maintain the activities of the company is taken from the family. The same type includes people who want to become famous, but instead of making efforts to achieve their goal, they dream and complain about their evil fate. Such a writer, supposedly dreaming of a Pulitzer Prize, will endlessly tell grateful listeners about what a brilliant book he is writing, although in fact he has not even begun to collect material for it.

Elena happened to fall in love with such a “gentleman of fortune”: “As soon as Pasha and I moved in together, he left work.
He said that the management is constantly setting him up, but he does not want to sit for anything. I nodded understandingly and hoped that he would find a better job. After going to a couple of interviews, he assured me that it was the same everywhere, so I needed to start my own business. Some of the money he had saved up, some he was going to borrow from a friend. But it turned out that this friend had a sick mother and needed money for an operation, then Pasha decided to wait until everything worked out. True, he cleaned the apartment, cooked, and helped take care of the dacha plot. My patience ran out two years later, when I realized that I was 36 years old, I wanted a child, but how can I give birth to one and go on maternity leave when I also need to feed my lazy dad?” Unlike people with business acumen, a parasite only pretends that he wants and is trying to do something.

• “Philosophers” are lazy in their worldview. They don't want to spend their best years working instead of traveling, pursuing spiritual development, or simply enjoying life. Some even consider money to be evil and working for pay to be a sin. They may occasionally earn extra money, but, as a rule, they sit on the necks of relatives. Or they get a job for a few months, and then join the labor exchange and receive unemployment benefits. In order not to work, this type is ready to make almost any sacrifice. In developed countries, where one can live tolerably for years on a paid benefit, there are absolutely unimaginable examples. For example, in March 2012 in Austria, 56-year-old chronically unemployed Hans Url, after the medical commission of the labor inspectorate declared him fit for work, wanting to continue living on benefits, sawed off his leg above the ankle with an automatic saw and threw it into the oven. so that the doctors don’t sew it back.
• “Hikikomori, or hikki” is a relatively recent phenomenon that has become widespread in Japan. Hickeys are adult children who refuse to leave the parental home, isolate themselves from society and family in a separate room for more than six months, do not have any work and live dependent on relatives. Hickeys are usually uncommunicative, timid and shy. Social isolation ultimately leads to the fact that a young person is immersed in the virtual world (Internet space, computer games, books, etc.), which becomes an addiction and the meaning of life. In 2002, in Japan alone there were, according to various estimates, between 650,000 and 850,000 such young people.

A film was even made about this phenomenon:
Marina encountered this type in her family circle: “My cousin is a real hickey. As a child, due to frequent changes of schools, Lesha immersed himself in the world of computer games, and after his parents’ divorce he completely withdrawn into himself. We tried to get him out of his shell, invited him to parties and trips, but Lesha didn’t need anything. He has no friends and had constant problems with his studies. After receiving a diploma, there is no initiative in finding a job. He sat and said that a classmate had promised to give him a place. Six months passed - no movement. I got him a job, but he worked for 2 weeks and said that they didn’t pay enough. I sent him to another friend for an interview. They call him and invite him to work, and Lesha replies that he will think about it. What can you think about if you have worked for almost a week in your life?! In general, we persuaded him, he has already been working for 3 weeks, he says that it is boring to go through papers. I feel like my brother won’t last long anyway.”

The longer a person does not work, the more difficult it will be for him to get a job in the future and the more time he will spend looking for it.

• “Infants” are adult children who are unadapted to independent life. As a rule, these are spoiled “mama's boys” who do not know how and do not want to do anything, even for themselves. They can exist at the expense of their parents or spouse for years. Sometimes this type of parasitism is accompanied by various addictions. Experts also name the following as stimulating factors for such behavior:
• the presence of significant difficulties in getting a job,
• high level of parental well-being,
• the softness of parents (mostly single or divorced mothers) who cannot force their adult children to work.

Valentina gives the example of her father-in-law: “I’m incredibly sorry to see how my mother-in-law works two jobs to support a 53-year-old healthy man. He hasn’t worked for 15 years; he even begs her for money to buy flowers for his wife. And the whole root of evil is in childhood - he was an only child. So everything was for him - his mother even called him “king”. So the king grew into a parasite.”

Causes of apathy

Everyone sometimes experiences a decrease in psychophysical activity. A few days of low mood or temporary need to withdraw from overly active activities (or relationships) are a natural part of human life. However, if this condition is prolonged, you should pay attention to it. Often, apathy is a warning signal for us, which suggests that it’s time to think about a little respite and listen to our desires.

When thinking about your psychophysical state, it is always useful to first rule out medical causes of apathy. This condition can be accompanied by a number of diseases - cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, diabetes, etc. That is why it is so important to contact your family doctor to rule out possible medical causes of apathy if this condition persists. Disorders and mental illnesses can also cause apathy. It is worth consulting with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Apathy is often a symptom of mental disorders and illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, so consultation with a specialist can help rule out this type of disorder or begin immediate treatment and prevention. And apparently, psychologists and psychiatrists now have quite a lot of work, if we remember the popularity of questions to them in the spirit of “I don’t want anything in life, what to do.”

Gender differences

A workaholic man suffers more from weakened mental health and is characterized by increased anxiety. He puts his physical condition at risk and there is a lack of psychological well-being. First of all, he worries about his family, especially if he is the only breadwinner. If the opposite situation occurs, and the woman brings the main income to the family, she does not experience any psychological problems, but on the contrary receives emotional satisfaction. The fact is that the norm for men is that he should be a breadwinner and provide for his relatives. No one will praise him for this, this is his responsibility. In a situation where he loses income, he immediately feels the indignation of his loved ones and friends. As for women, initially no one expects this from them. When they achieve great success in their career, everyone around them admires it. Such praise gives incentive, and the woman works with even greater desire, zeal and pleasure. Moreover, if she starts earning less, she will not receive reproach in her direction.

A workaholic woman is more susceptible to stress and the development of depression. Her risk of strokes and heart attacks increases. For men, this issue is not so acute.

Prolonged stress

Chronic stress associated with the profession, family difficulties, long-term financial problems, an excess of tasks that need to be solved, etc. Often it is very busy, busy and nervous people who wonder what the condition is called when you don’t want anything. The need for constant activity and the lack of rest or even a little respite are factors contributing to the emergence of some apathy. Intense activity, a fast pace of life and an inability to reduce emotional stress are often the cause of apathy.

Accustomed to depending on others

Such people have no control over their lives. They are used to relying on other people. This type of thinking usually comes from childhood because parents do not encourage their children to be independent. They instill in them the awareness that life directly depends on money. When such a person grows up, he develops extremely low self-esteem. Therefore, he does not know how to take responsibility for himself and is looking for a person on whom he will continue to depend.

The main thing is time: how to invest correctly before the New Year holidays

Secret stash for a rainy day: why everyone needs it and how to create it

Making a Big Financial Decision: A Three-Step Method to Combat Impulse Buying

This could be parents, friends, or a significant other. Any difficulties cause stupor and a desire to give up. All that remains is to get over yourself. It is important to learn independence, because without it it is impossible to succeed as an individual, either at work or in your personal life.

Age

When thinking about the apathy and mental states of your relatives, it is worth paying attention to the age factor. Teenagers often experience low mood, which, on the one hand, is due to developmental norms, and on the other hand, should not frighten parents too much. Chronic blues are also a common companion for older people. This fact makes them a social group particularly susceptible to feelings of apathy.

They are not interested in anything

A person with the “poverty virus” is not too eager to go somewhere. He usually spends his free time at home. When his friends invite him to meet, he refuses. Such people usually miss any holidays and corporate events. And it’s not just a lack of money for leisure.

They simply are not interested in anything, they feel uncomfortable in the company of other people. Maybe they have a complex about their income, appearance or behavior.

You can get rid of this habit if you overpower yourself. Learn something new, look for something that interests you, and get out into people more often. Hermitage is not the answer.

How to deal with apathy?

If apathy is only a temporary condition, you can try to cope with it yourself. This is the best time to make some changes in your daily schedule. Find time to relax, recuperate, and pay more attention to work-life balance. Regular relaxation practice, autogenic training or participation in stress reduction workshops can bring the expected results. Taking care of a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise should go some way to alleviating the negative feelings associated with apathy.

Consequences

Without rest, a person becomes seriously fatigued

If a person constantly works and hardly rests, this greatly affects his physical and psychological state.

1. Lack of time for personal life. A relationship can only be successful if the other half also constantly spends time at work.
2. Processing has a negative impact on health. After all, sleep is disturbed, normal nutrition and proper rest are lacking. As a result, the body weakens and immunity decreases.
3. A person does not have enough time for hobbies. It's good if a hobby turns into a job.
4. No energy boost. The fact is that in order to relax, you need an informal atmosphere, but there is none.
5. There is no change in activity. For a normal life, it is necessary to replace mental work with physical activity. If this is not done, the body begins to deplete and becomes mentally tired. Such people do not have new ideas and thoughts, they are no longer able to achieve great goals.
6. Reduced efficiency. When a person overworks, sooner or later he runs out of strength, energy, and what previously took 10 minutes now takes at least half an hour.
7. Problems of a sexual nature.
8. Spending all the time at work, a person loses fun, love and friendship. The workaholic husband is an irresponsible person and does not invest in the family at all. His father doesn’t leave him either, he’s practically never at home, he’s not interested in the children’s lives, and he doesn’t take part in their upbringing. In old age comes the realization of wasted years, and sometimes such people remain lonely.
9. A person is in constant stress, tension, afraid of making mistakes, not coping with assigned tasks, not being able to complete a task on time. That is why such people work from morning to night, which leads to serious fatigue and disturbances in the functioning of the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
10. Insomnia and depression develop due to stress.
11. Attempts to overcome depression often lead to alcohol abuse and frequent smoking.

Treatment

However, if the state of apathy persists for two or three weeks, and home methods have not brought any relief, they should not be underestimated. In such a situation, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Lack of energy, sadness, and refusal to engage in various activities can be warning signs of many illnesses and may require a quick check at the doctor's office and proper treatment. It is worth listening to your body and catching its “signals”. Immediate medical attention can not only improve your mood and quality of daily functioning, but above all, it can preserve your health or even save your life. And then you will no longer be bothered by the question: “I’m tired of everything, I don’t want anything, what should I do?”

Psychological support in many cases turns out to be one of the most effective ways to combat apathy. Listen to yourself and maintain mental health, and then you will not suffer because you don’t want to do anything.

They don't want to work

Reluctance to work is not a sign of a poor person. Perhaps, each of us in life has encountered the fact that he does not want to get up early in the morning and go to the office or factory. Sometimes we just burn out. But, as a rule, we all understand the value of work and the importance of building a career, so we try not to shirk our responsibilities.

You can conduct online training: how a student can earn real money

Only humans can set new tasks without prompting: why AI won’t replace workers

Express dating club as a business - is it worth opening?

People with the “poverty virus” behave somewhat differently. They don't realize the importance of work. Such a person will avoid work in every possible way, sometimes through not entirely honest work. They are more interested in the thirst for easy money.

Honest work is the easiest way to overcome the “virus of poverty.” Do your job diligently, even if your salary is low. Don't be afraid to express yourself and strive to increase your salary. But not through cunning or deception, but through improving your skills.

Herbs

Eating plants such as red pepper, lemongrass or ginger will help you cope with laziness. It is important to remember that they help activate the body, and they should not be consumed at night, because. it may disturb your sleep.

Red hot pepper is endowed with amazing properties: it is very good for health, promotes the digestion of heavy foods, increases potency, activates the brain, in addition, eating it improves mood and positive thinking. Use it as a seasoning for food. However, do not forget that it is contraindicated for those who suffer from intestinal diseases, liver diseases, high acidity in the stomach, diabetes mellitus, ulcers or gastritis.

Schisandra is a vine native to the Far East. Schisandra contains essential oils that smell like lemon. Schisandra acts on the human body as a stimulant, it tones, increases performance, both during physical and mental fatigue.

Infusion of lemongrass fruits: grind 15 g of fruits in a mortar, pour boiling water (300 ml) and cook over low heat (but without boiling) for 15 minutes. Take this infusion 1 tbsp. spoon 2-3 times a day.

You can also brew a tonic, aromatic tea with a pleasant taste from lemongrass leaves. To do this, the leaves must first be crushed, pour boiling water and leave.

Ginger root contains many useful substances: it tones, perfectly helps cope with mental and physical fatigue, increases performance, helps overcome stress and restore strength, improves blood circulation in the brain, which strengthens blood vessels and improves memory and learning.

Ginger tea

You will need: ginger root (from the knuckle of your thumb), a small orange or half a lemon, a pinch of mint. Peel a piece of ginger and grate it until you get a small pinch. Cut the orange (with zest possible) into small slices. Place all ingredients in a teapot and pour boiling water over it. Let the tea steep for 20 minutes.