Apathy? how do you gain interest?

[rachelynn]

How can a person with depression gain interest again??? I don't get it. How can someone who has no interest, doesn't care etc, start to have an interest in anything, and know what they want and care etc. how can things matter again?

I dont know if what I have is depression, but I was just wondering....I don't know.

[Smitten]

I've been wondering that lately too

[Canadian Brotha]

I'm constantly trying to find a solution to a similar problem, it's not that I don't have interests it's that I haven't the motivation to pursue them, I feel so defeated in regular interaction that I'm not often up to trying for the interactions I would actually enjoy

[JayDontCareEh]

I ask myself this all the time.

The best I can ever come up with is the ol' horse before the cart theory.

[ApatheticJalapeno]

Try anything and everything once. I've hitchhiked, gotten into film, photography, writing, skateboarding, wine, paintball, airsoft...

Getting out of the house and seems to help a lot (I love to travel). I found my calling in writing/ playing music, something I used to hate.

[VIncymon]

When i think of dating i think of that too.
How do i get interested to start dating , ,i mean trying to date again.

[Phoenix87]

I wish I knew...

[AloneAsUsual]

i can relate. im in a deep depression lately. not motivated to do anything. there's days i don't even want to get out of bed because there's nothing to get up for except the lavatory, food, and the tele.

[shadowmask]

I've been pondering the same question for years. If any of you guys figure it out, lemme know.

[belfort]

ive always had waves of apathy running thru me...dont know hot get rid of it..tried lots of things but it still remains..

[Phibes]

Does drinking loads of energy drinks help?

[spiderling]

Apathy, who cares?

[Madison_Rose]

Well, apathy is a symptom of depression. If you're depressed, you're ill. You may have situational depression, which is a response to a traumatic incident in your life, such a s a bereavement.

Or, you may, like me, have cyclical depression, which comes on for no reason, and then gets better for no reason. Thatl's the good news, you're likely to just "start feeling better." Doing things like dragging yourself out the house, taking some exercise, disciplining your sleep pattern and challenging negative thougts may help, but don't think you can get out of a major depression simply by making more effort. I made that mistake, and it's a biggie!

At the depression support group I attend, there are people who have suffered but, with professional help, have got better- and, crucially, stayed better. When you're depressed, you feel like nothing's ever going to be right again, and you're never going to get better. This is natural, but it's also irrational. You will get better, all you need to do is stay alive. if you want to get better and stay better, you're probably going to need to ask for help.

I hope this helps. It's a horrible illness, but you can get over it. Last week I was so happy, because I wanted to go for a jog, and it's so long since I wanted to do anything.

[Phibes]

Originally Posted by Madison_Rose

Well, apathy is a symptom of depression. If you're depressed, you're ill. You may have situational depression, which is a response to a traumatic incident in your life, such a s a bereavement.

Or, you may, like me, have cyclical depression, which comes on for no reason, and then gets better for no reason. Thatl's the good news, you're likely to just "start feeling better." Doing things like dragging yourself out the house, taking some exercise, disciplining your sleep pattern and challenging negative thougts may help, but don't think you can get out of a major depression simply by making more effort. I made that mistake, and it's a biggie!

At the depression support group I attend, there are people who have suffered but, with professional help, have got better- and, crucially, stayed better. When you're depressed, you feel like nothing's ever going to be right again, and you're never going to get better. This is natural, but it's also irrational. You will get better, all you need to do is stay alive. if you want to get better and stay better, you're probably going to need to ask for help.

I hope this helps. It's a horrible illness, but you can get over it. Last week I was so happy, because I wanted to go for a jog, and it's so long since I wanted to do anything.

I read what you had to say. Kudos for going out jogging and stuff; making progress
I know that sometimes I get out of the sadness and I start to get active and wake up early and it's really quite a change to the depression.

Do you guys think life would be better if you just had 'Manic-Depression' instead of just 'Depression'...

[Madison_Rose]

Originally Posted by Phibes

Do you guys think life would be better if you just had 'Manic-Depression' instead of just 'Depression'...

Uh, no. I know there are bipolar people on this forum, maybe they have someting to say about it. I don't really feel qualified to comment.

Oh, and thanks for the kudos!

[epril]

Originally Posted by rachelynn

How can a person with depression gain interest again??? I don't get it. How can someone who has no interest, doesn't care etc, start to have an interest in anything, and know what they want and care etc. how can things matter again?

I dont know if what I have is depression, but I was just wondering....I don't know.

Meds, therapy. Act 'as if'. Put structure into your day. Keep searching for something you like, even if it's just a little. Exercise, because it helps raise your mood, even if just a walk. I know it's tough, been there, done that.

[Jaiyyson]

None of us take the necessary action to feel better about things imho.

Too many of us are too cold, too detached, apathetic, couldn't give a crap and wallow around in self pity, but for christ sakes don't ever get together or else we'll drag each other down even more, or realise all the things about the person we dislike and crawl back into our lonely little wholes again. Ahhhhhh, same old situation. Put up barriers.

This whole reality seems pathetic to me.

[mind_games]

Here is a youtube clip of a former NZ rugby player who went through depression, that I feel address the topic somewhat. Well he deosn't offer anything complex; he says "My first rung to being well was actually enjoying the little things."

I've never recovered from depression, but I do know there is some truth to what he says in that I have found myself content, happy and unaware of depression when I'm doing, seemingly insignificant 'little' things. (Feeding a puppy, a little kid waving at me when I was taking a break after a jog, enjoying good food with friends - when I had them etc). I can see how these 'little things' do shine some light into an otherwise gloomy apathetic world, but I'm not sure how I can tie all these individual moments together to bring about a resurgence of enthusiasm and yearning for life.

But I think its got to be done alongside therapy and an effort on our part to keep at it. And support from others around us.



So really, to answer the OP, I don't really know either .

[illlaymedown]

Originally Posted by Jaiyyson

None of us take the necessary action to feel better about things imho.

Too many of us are too cold, too detached, apathetic, couldn't give a crap and wallow around in self pity, but for christ sakes don't ever get together or else we'll drag each other down even more, or realise all the things about the person we dislike and crawl back into our lonely little wholes again. Ahhhhhh, same old situation. Put up barriers.

This whole reality seems pathetic to me.

I can be very cynical too, but it seems I can sit around in my own little depressed put myself down mood all day& think very negatively about the world& my past(my childhood was terrible& my parents are too)but when I get around people who agree with my thoughts about how pathetic I am or the world is I always fight back& disagree. ie: I can say/think it's not going to ever get better& I can't change, but when another person tells me that I'm like ,"you don't know what you're talking about, I can do this." I guess what I'm saying is as depressed/cynical as I get, I always feel deeply there's reason for it all. I hold onto that& it gives me hope. If I didn't have that, I'm pretty sure I would've ended it a looong time ago. But yeah, original question, my head is really cloudy so I try to focus on things that keep my thoughts off the bad things. I listen to music& goof off, dance around& just act silly...it's makes me feel better. I also recommend pets. My cats can take me from tears to busting out in laughter. Do it little by little. You didn't get the way you are in one day& can't expect get over the depression& SA in one day. I have a bad home situation now& those little comforts I allow myself help me make it thru each day. Take it one day at a time Also, try to find what you're passionate about& focus on it& I also recommend a journal. Hope that helps some. I know how you feel though& I know it's hard..some days I feel I won't make it thru the next second, but I always do. it's been good before& it will again

[Cataclysm Ballet]

I don't think the answer lies in gaining an interest in things. It's more a question of learning to feign interest in things that don't interest you.

To a certain degree, I think a lack of interest is simply a symptom of youth.