Posted by HelenInCalif on September 20, 2006, at 20:22:54
In reply to Re: Apathy and no motivation, but otherwise fine, posted by BryanII on September 20, 2006, at 17:28:30
> Though I've had apathy during depression, I've also experienced paralyzing apathy without depression as well as depression without apathy. The "apathy-only" is sometimes transitional to depression, but sometimes it is its own problem.
A good way of breaking things down. I'm familiar enough with depression to feel that (know that?) this isn't depression- it seems entirely unrelated to it. i.e. I could imagine getting depressed, and it would be affecting an entirely different part of me.
The apathy during depression seems more like a "I can't possibly do anything well or right, so why start."
This apathy now is more like "well, I could start my overdue project. I could also learn to weld. Maybe someday..."
> Caring about something and initiating action about it seem to be separate processes and might be biologically distinct. Maybe animal behaviorists or neurobiologists have studied this?Exactly!
> I have periods where I just can't initiate (work, social contacts, etc) even though I feel OK emotionally. Normally I'm very self-motivated and independent, but at these times I feel totally inert. I can't get started on my own, but if someone else gets something started I can engage with it, contribute well and even enjoy it. I'm not blocked by fear or depression; this is different. I wouldn't say everything else is completely normal, but inertia is the main thing.
>
I could have written this myself. If I have a slight push, I'll do fine. If I'm working with someone else, I'll do fine. But when I have to initiate, nothing. So for example if the choice is between reading a book I've already read, or zipping down to the library to get an exciting new book, re-reading the old book seems like just as good of a thing. Even though all the rest of the time I'd prefer the new book.In effect- as far as getting tasks done- it's like a depression. Except that all the usual symptoms of depression aren't there, and I've certainly gone through depression before. But if I can't get my work done- and I'm a consultant, so I have to initiate things- then that's bad.
poster:HelenInCalif
thread:687589
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060919/msgs/687739.html