Thoughts on apathy

[Vrach]

It's probably not wise to argue with you, since you're presumeably a mod. However, I will say this.
Censor him if you want, it doesn't bother me anyway.

Spoiler: reply

Rofl am not, just a user, but the majority of the bans I've seen around were for lack of content - they ban "first!" posters, posters who just post a picture ("pictures aren't replacements for actual content") etc. While I disagree with some on a post-to-post basis, like this one, where it's actually funny, allow it and you get posts just turning into massive amounts of smartass spam (see WoW forums for what I mean).

From what I've seen, smartass comments are fine, as long as they're not overly offensive or flame inviting, and, are followed by something that actually contributes something more than a lol to the people reading the thread. But not 100% sure ofc, just saying what I saw so far

But let's not derail the thread, OT:
I don't know if your apathy is "chemical", by which I mean you need medicine for it, but assuming (hopefully) it's not, as the poster above me said, surround yourself with people who care about you and not an overly negative environment which would make you want to accept apathy. Speaking of which, don't allow yourself to do that, hide your emotions in apathy, even if you feel sad/angry/crap, it's better than an uncontrolled apathy and at this stage, don't try or even think about controlling it, just try to get out of it as hard as you can. Worst case scenario, you feel crap for failing and that's a non-apathy feeling right there

Be careful with medication btw. Don't take anything that's not prescribed (family members sometimes have habits of offering help in form of their own medication) and go for a second opinion to make sure your doctor isn't putting you on anything that's just gonna cause you problems afterwards.

 

[KindOfnElf]

Apathy is hard. Hard on you, hard on your family and friends, hard on everyone who cares for you.
The only way I ever got out of my depression was through sheer force of will. I didn't want to do anything, I care for anyone, I didn't care about myself. When a friend came to me with a problem, I literally could not find it within myself to sympathize, empathize, nothing!
Eventually though, my health suffered greatly and I had to actually force myself to enjoy life again. In small ways at first, but eventually the emotional stoppage broke and I began to feel once more.
It's tortuous, difficult, and soul-shattering... but it can be beaten. Just surround yourself with caring people and a positive environment.
And it may seem like the "Easy-Road to Ruin" but anti-depressants do help. Talk to a doctor and find one that doesn't adversely effect your sleeping or attentive habits. There are many out there that simply boost the natural chemical balance of your body without introducing foreign substances that could cause dependence.

Thank you for sharing and for the advice.
Anti-depressant however do not have affect on apathy, since apathy is not a depression, and yes I have asked a specialist opinion on the matter. In depression you need serotonin to "make" you happy, cause you are drowned in negative emotions. And the pills are working the chemicals in your body to create it. In apathy you are completely shut down on emotions: not happy - not sad. And there is no pill to "turn" emotions on, cause in apathy you are in lack of ALL of them.

 

[KindOfnElf]

It's probably not wise to argue with you, since you're presumeably a mod. However, I will say this.
Censor him if you want, it doesn't bother me anyway.

Spoiler: reply

Rofl am not, just a user, but the majority of the bans I've seen around were for lack of content - they ban "first!" posters, posters who just post a picture ("pictures aren't replacements for actual content") etc. While I disagree with some on a post-to-post basis, like this one, where it's actually funny, allow it and you get posts just turning into massive amounts of smartass spam (see WoW forums for what I mean).

From what I've seen, smartass comments are fine, as long as they're not overly offensive or flame inviting, and, are followed by something that actually contributes something more than a lol to the people reading the thread. But not 100% sure ofc, just saying what I saw so far

But let's not derail the thread, OT:
I don't know if your apathy is "chemical", by which I mean you need medicine for it, but assuming (hopefully) it's not, as the poster above me said, surround yourself with people who care about you and not an overly negative environment which would make you want to accept apathy. Speaking of which, don't allow yourself to do that, hide your emotions in apathy, even if you feel sad/angry/crap, it's better than an uncontrolled apathy and at this stage, don't try or even think about controlling it, just try to get out of it as hard as you can. Worst case scenario, you feel crap for failing and that's a non-apathy feeling right there

Be careful with medication btw. Don't take anything that's not prescribed (family members sometimes have habits of offering help in form of their own medication) and go for a second opinion to make sure your doctor isn't putting you on anything that's just gonna cause you problems afterwards.

As I said before, there are no pills for apathy, since it's not depression.
Apathy is not a matter of choice to hide or not to hide emotions: in apathy, emotions are shut down by the will of the self-defense mechanisms of the body. You don't have a say in it. It just happens. And there are no emotions whatsoever. So, there is no anger, sadness or anything to be hidden or to be controlled. Apathy is not suppression. It's just blank.

 

[Vrach]

As I said before, there are no pills for apathy, since it's not depression.
Apathy is not a matter of choice to hide or not to hide emotions: in apathy, emotions are shut down by the will of the self-defense mechanisms of the body. You don't have a say in it. It just happens. And there are no emotions whatsoever. So, there is no anger, sadness or anything to be hidden or to be controlled. Apathy is not suppression. It's just blank.

Well according to DarkJester, who seems to have pulled through it (or was that just a more severe case of clinical depression and I'm reading it wrong?) and as he said, the anti-depressants may help (pills) as can sheer willpower (choice).

I do have to put a disclaimer here, I don't have any experience with it, just trying to provide moral support with the help of something from my own experience that I felt was a little (very little, but still) similar.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

You know what would have been really funny? If NO ONE had replied to this.

 

[pwnzerstick]

I dont care about apathy

 

[CouchCommando]

hmm yeah I guess I've been in a similar state it lasted for about 2 weeks but using hindsight I would say it was as close to depressed as I get, I ended up snapping out of it when a close friend of mine dropped by and had a chat to us.
Of course looking back on it, the incident was a pretty good indicator that I needed to shake some shit up with my life choices and start taking charge and doing what I wanted to do.

 

[kerkanka]

i've been suffering from a pretty bad case of (diagnosed) depression for about a year now. I didn't know about apathy: none of my doctors ever mentioned it, but it sounds similar to how i am in a lot of my "up times" where you just don't feel anything, time becomes a blur and there's no motivation for anything. It's hell, but i have to say i prefer it to how i am when i hit the bottom.

 

[KindOfnElf]

As I said before, there are no pills for apathy, since it's not depression.
Apathy is not a matter of choice to hide or not to hide emotions: in apathy, emotions are shut down by the will of the self-defense mechanisms of the body. You don't have a say in it. It just happens. And there are no emotions whatsoever. So, there is no anger, sadness or anything to be hidden or to be controlled. Apathy is not suppression. It's just blank.

Well according to DarkJester, who seems to have pulled through it (or was that just a more severe case of clinical depression and I'm reading it wrong?) and as he said, the anti-depressants may help (pills) as can sheer willpower (choice).

I do have to put a disclaimer here, I don't have any experience with it, just trying to provide moral support with the help of something from my own experience that I felt was a little (very little, but still) similar.

And trust me your moral support did not went unnoticed. I am greatly thankful to you, and everyone here who shared their experience and advices.

 

[KindOfnElf]

i've been suffering from a pretty bad case of (diagnosed) depression for about a year now. I didn't know about apathy: none of my doctors ever mentioned it, but it sounds similar to how i am in a lot of my "up times" where you just don't feel anything, time becomes a blur and there's no motivation for anything. It's hell, but i have to say i prefer it to how i am when i hit the bottom.

Trust me, you don't prefer it.
And the reason that your doctors didn't mention it is because you don't have it. Apathy is not hell in a depression sort of way (and that is NOT a good thing), cause apathy is scale up after depression. Imagine this: you face something so big in your life that you can't stand it, and your body (meaning emotional part of you) goes blank. And it's not returning, you can't feel a thing anymore.
Would you prefer to be a living dead, emotionless, or you would rather go for pain (depression)?
Cause even pain, makes you feel alive, and makes you care (for you, or somebody else). Think about it.

 

[kerkanka]

i've been suffering from a pretty bad case of (diagnosed) depression for about a year now. I didn't know about apathy: none of my doctors ever mentioned it, but it sounds similar to how i am in a lot of my "up times" where you just don't feel anything, time becomes a blur and there's no motivation for anything. It's hell, but i have to say i prefer it to how i am when i hit the bottom.

Trust me, you don't prefer it.
And the reason that your doctors didn't mention it is because you don't have it. Apathy is not hell in a depression sort of way (and that is NOT a good thing), cause apathy is scale up after depression. Imagine this: you face something so big in your life that you can't stand it, and your body (meaning emotional part of you) goes blank. And it's not returning, you can't feel a thing anymore.
Would you prefer to be a living dead, emotionless, or you would rather go for pain (depression)?
Cause even pain, makes you feel alive, and makes you care (for you, or somebody else). Think about it.

thank you for clearing that up, i guess i just lose my emotions temporarily after being at the bottom for a while as some form of respite for my body. In my case i prefer that state, but i have to agree, if i was like that permanently it probably would be worse than what i have. Also, i know those around me and are trying to help hate this. I hope everyone who's suffering with this sort of thing can beat it.

 

[The Holydiver]

it alright i guess

 

[Dorian6]

i'm indiferent

 

[MerreM]

I don't really care about apathy...

it alright i guess

i'm indiferent

I dont care about apathy

OK, what the hell.
First guy to make this joke get put on probation but no-one else does?

I guess the mod couldn't be arsed.

 

[Mechsoap]

well.. i have asperger so to start i dont really have a huge emotion base

 

[Super Toast]

For those unfamiliar with this condition: it's a state when emotions are "turned off". Body has self-defense mechanisms, and if your emotions get overloaded (meaning you have some sort of strong emotional experience that your body can't take like trauma, near-death experience, etc.) it shuts down emotions.

I am there, I hit a few rough spots a while ago, and for almost 3 weeks now I am going through this state. Yes, I consulted doctors, I also read A LOT about it. So, since we share a lot of things here on our lovely Escapist... Anyone with similar experience, that was/is in such state or near it, anyone that was there and pulled through, or you just have to say something about it, please share. Thanks

I have no strong feelings on the matter.