Apathy: how do you overcome it?

[Wyst]

Originally Posted by IF3157

I do keep a journal, and it suffers from the same neglect. In one night, I will write pages upon pages and then . . . nothing. For a long time. I cannot make myself do it.

I'm the same way. Sometimes there will be a gaps of several months to a year in my handwritten journal. But I'm usually writing something somewhere (emails to family/friends, on my blog here, or my personal blog). Whatever I'm dealing with at the time will come out there and I can go back and review it if I need to.

How do you sustain the momentum of the reboot?

Like I said, sometimes things just have to run their course. But meditating on things in a place where I'm not distracted helps me sort myself out. Sometimes staring at the ugliness of my apathy will give me the kick in the ass I need to start caring again.

Ooh la la that is depressing.

"And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world."

[InaF3157]

Originally Posted by Rachelinpa

From Office Space:

Peter Gibbons: The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

Unhelpful, but funny!.

OMG. I loved that line when I saw the Office. I thought it summed up 90% of my life.
Except I am kinda lazy.

Originally Posted by Rachelinpa

From Office Space:
Actually, in this fabulous movie, he just starts doing what he wants to do and makes him come alive. It's not that he doesn't care about anything, it's that he does not care about what he is expected by society to do.

Take note.

I tried doing what I liked, but the exigencies of survival demand my attention. and wear me out. Then i don't care about the work I *have* to do or the things that once got me excited.

[InaF3157]

Originally Posted by Wyst

Like I said, sometimes things just have to run their course. But meditating on things in a place where I'm not distracted helps me sort myself out. Sometimes staring at the ugliness of my apathy will give me the kick in the ass I need to start caring again.

My GP recommended meditation to me for other matters. She is not a psych and the suggestion was kinda out of the blue. I find it hard to avoid distractions, be completely quiet or relax. My head's always darting around stupid corners and alleys.
What kind of meditation do you do?

Originally Posted by Wyst

"And I think to myself.... what a wonderful an overwhelming world."

Fixed.

[Wyst]

Originally Posted by IF3157

I find it hard to avoid distractions, be completely quiet or relax. My head's always darting around stupid corners and alleys.
What kind of meditation do you do?

I find it hard to avoid distractions too. They happen. No way around it. I go off to a place where I can minimize the external distractions. Those are the distractions (people watching, cellphone, email and internet) that will get me off meditating.

The distractions that happen inside my mind? I don't try to constrain them. When I realize I've been on a 5-minute rabbit trail I just move it back to what I was originally thinking about.

Treating meditation/reflection with an attitude like, "Gotta think about X, gotta think about X and nothing else, gotta think about X and nothing else..." is very counterproductive for me. I try to be tolerant with myself in that regard.

[runvardh]

I get pissed off after a while and go for a walk. Suddenly I see something beautiful or pretty that makes me care again, sometimes it's girls...

[InaF3157]

Originally Posted by runvardh

I get pissed off after a while and go for a walk. Suddenly I see something beautiful or pretty that makes me care again, sometimes it's girls...

other times: catnip.
A long walk somewhere quiet helps, particularly if it is somewhere unfamiliar. I find travel reinvigorating for a similar reason, but it is not practical for me to always be on the road.

[01011010]

Regular exercise will help stabilize your mood on a chemical level.

[LostInNerSpace]

Originally Posted by IF3157

Give me your poor, your brilliant, your witty suggestions, yearning to help . . . me.
Christ.
Ok. Let's hear them people. When you are in a prolonged state of "just don't care", what do you do to stimulate enthusiasm for the things you at some point thought mattered?

This is called depression. You need to get out of the state first, then you need to absolutely refuse to allow yourself to get depressed. Go to your doc and get some antidepressants.

Then get this book:

Amazon.com: Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Revised and Updated: David D. Burns: Books

Originally Posted by IF3157

My GP recommended meditation to me for other matters. She is not a psych and the suggestion was kinda out of the blue. I find it hard to avoid distractions, be completely quiet or relax. My head's always darting around stupid corners and alleys.
What kind of meditation do you do?

Amazon.com: 8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life.: Victor Davich: Books

[runvardh]

Originally Posted by IF3157

other times: catnip.
A long walk somewhere quiet helps, particularly if it is somewhere unfamiliar. I find travel reinvigorating for a similar reason, but it is not practical for me to always be on the road.

Ahh, catnip... wherefor must I wait till love uses it again....

Yeah, I can't drive yet, but I do try to find those nice places. That reminds me, I need to get my pictures off my phone and show everyone what I found while I was in Toronto...

Originally Posted by 01011010

Regular exercise will help stabilize your mood on a chemical level.

Endorphins, dopamine, good stuff that the appropreate amount of activity produces. I like adding a little oxitocin to the mix, but I haven't had that opportunity in a while... *sigh*

[Uberfuhrer]

When I ask this question, all I'm told is to see the shrink.