Apathy

[Otherside]

I feell so apathetic that I have nothing to say. At times like these when my imagination stops dominating my thought processes, everything "is what it is" (a phrase I can't stand). I've probably got another 30-40 years to live, but no real plans to do anything. If I were to become enthusiastic about anything today, I'd be bored with it tomorrow after all the second-guessing.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

What do you like to do? What interests you?

 

[Otherside]

What do you like to do? What interests you?

At the moment, nothing. That's the issue

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

At the moment, nothing. That's the issue

No computer games, books, movies, philosophy, economics, psychology?

There must be something...

 

[P.H.]

What do you used to like? Can't you pick up on that to try and feel less apathy, or does that only make you feel more apathic because it makes it painfully obvious how you don't feel anything for that anymore?

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

If you're a teenager it may not be such a big problem. We were all teenagers once and went through that troubling time.

 

[Otherside]

What do you used to like? Can't you pick up on that to try and feel less apathy, or does that only make you feel more apathic because it makes it painfully obvious how you don't feel anything for that anymore?

That's true in the case of playing guitar. I pick it up for 30 seconds and then I'm bored.

I was generally wondering if anyone else ever felt this way for an extended period of time. It's getting old.

 

[Otherside]

If you're a teenager it may not be such a big problem. We were all teenagers once and went through that troubling time.

Unfortunately, I'm 45, feeling "burned out" on everything.

 

[Otherside]

No computer games, books, movies, philosophy, economics, psychology?

There must be something...

Have studied a lot of things in depth, and have a couple of degrees. I feel a little old for it but a computer game might be fun.

 

[P.H.]

That's true in the case of playing guitar. I pick it up for 30 seconds and then I'm bored.

I was generally wondering if anyone else ever felt this way for an extended period of time. It's getting old.

Only under stress. I don't really know why but under stress I block out emotional connections with stuff/people. I found it very disturbing to not feel the same anymore about something/someone and generally avoided those situations. Nevertheless, I tried to reconnect in controlled doses but I think the main thing that got me over it was stop doing what I did, because it clearly made me very unhappy. I'm much more comfortable now at university so I don't feel (or not feel) like that anymore.

I hope you get rid of it soon. It wasn't fun.

 

[Otherside]

Only under stress. I don't really know why but under stress I block out emotional connections with stuff/people. I found it very disturbing to not feel the same anymore about something/someone and generally avoided those situations. Nevertheless, I tried to reconnect in controlled doses but I think the main thing that got me over it was stop doing what I did, because it clearly made me very unhappy. I'm much more comfortable now at university so I don't feel (or not feel) like that anymore.

I hope you get rid of it soon. It wasn't fun.

Being in college was probably the happiest time of my life.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Unfortunately, I'm 45, feeling "burned out" on everything.

Are you married by any chance? Have children?

Have studied a lot of things in depth, and have a couple of degrees. I feel a little old for it but a computer game might be fun.

Have a look at a game called eve-online. When I was playing it most of the people I played with were in your age range.

Do you have a good diet? Do you exercise?

Being in college was probably the happiest time of my life.

I absolutely hated doing my bachelors. Work was too easy and most of it was inconsequential. I just wanted to work. Now I am doing a PhD. Wtf?

What about college made you happy?

 

[Minuend]

Male depression

 

[Cognisant]

There is an overstimulation thing that's basically the presence of 24 hour entertainment (including treat foods and such) causes us to maintain such a high level of feel good brain chemicals that, depending upon how you look at it, the chemistry becomes unsustainable and/or relative enjoyment causes diminishing returns.

So you could be coming down off a stimulation high, meaning you're bored and there's nothing you can really do about it, except maybe trying to be as bored as possible (removing stimulation, trying to calm yourself) so that it passes quicker.

 

[Cavallier]

I have gone through similar things. (I'm not 16 so this advice should hopefully count for something. Although I also don't have kids and a family relying on me so perhaps it's not so helpful. *shrug*)

Have you tried ditching everything, packing a few essentials, and going on a walk about? I find they are incredibly helpful for point of view adjustments and general broadening of horizons. Even just a few days in the mountains alone or a short trip can be helpful. It doesn't have to be 3 months long. Although, at 45 maybe 3 months would be necessary.

I often wonder if those Buddhist/Hindu men who leave their family and all their worldly possessions in order to find their path to nirvana are actually just utterly burned out middle aged men.

 

[Kairoh]

I've had issues with depression and apathy, but, I'm only 20 years old. Philosophy has helped me through most of this. I know that it doesn't make a difference for a lot of people, but on the off-chance that it might spark a realization in you, here's how I see things:

There is nothing that you need to be doing. There's nothing that you're "supposed" to work towards. Whatever you choose to do in a singular moment is exactly what you should be doing. If you're doing nothing, there is still satisfaction in doing nothing, because nothing doesn't need to be something.

All of the anxiety and negative emotions we experience are the result of us tricking ourselves into thinking that we have some kind of trajectory or purpose in life. Like we're supposed to become some complete, developed version of ourselves at some point down the road, once we have a stable career and material goods. And if we don't achieve those, we think we've failed. But, in this moment, we're already the most complete, most developed versions of ourselves. Reality does not have a past or future, past and future are constructions and projections of the human mind - all that exists is this singular moment, being replaced by the next singular moment. There is nothing to fail at, because there is nothing we need to change about ourselves either "from" a past self or "toward" a future self because these do not exist.

In this way, you can do anything without failure and without success. You just, do things. They don't need a goal or a purpose, they are perfect actions within themselves. If you pick up a guitar and play for 30 seconds and then get bored and put it down, you have not failed at anything. You have just picked up a guitar and played for 30 seconds and then got bored and put it down and there are no positive or negative implications of that action. You had the expectation that you should have continued playing, or found interest in it, and this expectation is causing negative emotion. Without preconceived expectations, all actions, any actions, can become boundless and fulfilling in themselves.

 

[sti_lin]

You posted here looking for answers from others that can only come from within? Perhaps an idea in this topic will spur on your internal processes allowing you to find the answer which you can not see yet.

Anyways, I am 32 and personally if I had the means I would become a full time student for life. The amount of knowledge to be gained is infinite, sure you may have to replace some but I am of the mind that the ability to learn is infinite. So I say go back to school.

If on the other hand you need some alternate reality to escape to then a good mmorpg can do that. Another more productive idea would be find a new hobby.....become a chess master or even more practical become a mechanic.

 

[snafupants]

There is an overstimulation thing that's basically the presence of 24 hour entertainment (including treat foods and such) causes us to maintain such a high level of feel good brain chemicals that, depending upon how you look at it, the chemistry becomes unsustainable and/or relative enjoyment causes diminishing returns.

So you could be coming down off a stimulation high, meaning you're bored and there's nothing you can really do about it, except maybe trying to be as bored as possible (removing stimulation, trying to calm yourself) so that it passes quicker.

Yeah, I've definitely experienced a species of stimulating entertainment detox boredom. When I roll up to the pearly gates, I'll come toting a checklist of complaints, both of a personal and ontological nature. Younger generations, no need to fret, snafu will make it right!

 

[sti_lin]

You have a choice in regards to your exposure to "over stimulation". So there should be no reason for one to not be able to cope with this by making necessary adjustments. Turn off your tv, phone sit in a quiet place and meditate or sleep

Everyone needs to recharge now and again. Hopefully by your age you know how to recharge your own batteries. Obvious obstacles are everyday mandates like work or family but you should still be able to find minor ways of recharging.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

The way I see it, one experiences apathy when one doesn't receive a strong enough external stimulus or lacks a steady income of them, to generate internal excitement and interest.

So I mean either nothing interests you because nothing is that impactful to you, or when things do interest you, that stimulus dissipates quickly because you are insulating energy more than you are conducting it.

The solution is clear:
Find an activity which will give a strong enough stimulus to bring you back to life( like defibrillators)
and / or:
Lead a life full of activities that give strong enough stimuli to maintain high levels of internal excitement


Easier said than done, it's probably not going to be easy to start, but it does and will work. More effective with a close friend who's up for it too.

 

[rattymat]

It seems like your mind is bored of its own thoughts, quite possibly due to them having run their course. Digested thoughts are no longer as fun to toy with, I would suggest finding new external stimulus for your mind to process. The possibilities may yet again thrive.

 

[vrikodara]

You had the expectation that you should have continued playing, or found interest in it, and this expectation is causing negative emotion. Without preconceived expectations, all actions, any actions, can become boundless and fulfilling in themselves.

Very well put, and, I think, should be canon for all INTPs suffering from apathy.