How to Live With Depression Apathy

Health Square says that 15 percent of Americans struggle with depression at some point in their lives. Depression goes beyond normal sadness. Its symptoms include fatigue, hopelessness and problems concentrating. They can overwhelm the depressed person and lead to a sense of apathy. The person will withdraw and her functioning will be impaired. Fortunately there are ways to live with depression apathy and lessen its effects on daily life.

Instructions

• 1

  Identify the ways in which apathy is impairing your daily functioning. It may be making you isolate yourself from others. You may not feel like socializing, and it may even get in the way of family and work responsibilities. Make a list of all the ways it is keeping you from leading a normal life.

• 2

  Make a plan to deal with specific items on your life. For example, if apathy is keeping you from taking care of your household, create a specific schedule for doing the necessary chores. If it is keeping you from getting out, call friends and make specific plans. Ask them to hold you to those plans. If it's getting between you and your partner or children, schedule specific times to do something with them.

• 3

  Create long-term goals to act as neutral touchstones. When you feel the apathy, fight it by asking yourself, "Is this feeling getting me closer to my goals or getting in the way?" Then ask yourself what you can do right at that moment to get closer to your goals.

• 4

  Use self-talk to fight the apathy. Psychology Information Online says that self-talk is a cognitive technique. It can help you take power over the apathy. When you don't feel like doing anything, ask yourself, "Do I really want to let depression rule my life?" Then ask, "What can I do right now to motivate myself?" These inner dialogues will teach you to take power instead of being a passive reactor to the depression and apathy.