Apathy occurs when someone becomes indifferent to life and suppresses their emotions. They can seem lacklustre, sluggish and unwilling to do anything to improve their circumstances. People who suffer from apathy resign themselves to very unpleasant situations such as illness, a dull job, a bad relationship or general monotony in their lives.
Although their lifestyle is substandard, they are not usually unhappy about it. However, they rarely fulfil their potential as they lack the energy and the ambition to do so. Apathetic people also deprive themselves of the joy of being alive by not feeling passion or excitement.
Negative people often experience feelings of self pity. They often feel put upon in life by others and are often heard to say “why me?”.
Apathy and negativity are often caused by frustration and a sense of powerlessness that causes sufferers to withdraw from life. They can also be a symptom of low mood. However, the ultimate cause is their attitude and the way they react to the world.
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Natural remedies such as the Bach Flower Remedy Wild Rose can help with apathy and generate a lively interest in life, work and the world in general. Willow can help people feel less resentful and forget past injustices. (Always read the label.)
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Watch the news. Make sure you actively watch the news every day. Let the news stories land on you emotionally instead of impassively watching.
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Volunteer. Become more active in your community. Putting your focus of others can help you with becoming less apathetic.
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Do one more thing a day. Gradually build up the number of things you do in your day – and make at least some of them interesting!
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Exercise naturally boosts levels of serotonin, making you feel good, so exercise for 30 mins every day.
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Spend more time outdoors. Connecting with nature can be very beneficial for those experiencing apathy.
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Look for the positive. Even if there is a situation in your life that makes you feel apathetic, there are probably a lot of good things in your life that you are simply not appreciating. Think about all you have to be thankful for each night before you go to bed and when you wake up in the morning.
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Reach out to others. Offer your help to existing friends and family or volunteer for a team project at work or within in your local community – there are many resources online that will help you find something suitable.
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Do try and keep up your family connections throughout the course of your life. Even if things have been tense in the past, try to build bridges.
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Explore your interests and take up a hobby. This is a great way of meeting likeminded people in a relaxed setting whilst learning something new.
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Watch your diet. Eating the right things can make you feel healthier.
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Look after yourself. Pay some more attention to your appearance and you’ll make yourself feel good.
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Ask for help if you need it. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends or family if you feel like you’re feeling negative or full of apathy.
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Don't hold your feelings in. Cry and get angry if you need to.
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