Feeling "blah" about life is common. It isn't sadness or anger, either. Rather than feeling these emotions, you don't feel much of anything.

What Is Apathy?

Apathy is when you lack motivation to do anything or just don’t care about what’s going on around you. Apathy can be a symptom of mental health problems, Parkinson’s disease, or Alzheimer’s disease. It often lasts a long time. You may lack the desire to do anything that involves thinking or your emotions. The term comes from the Greek word "pathos," which means passion or emotion. Apathy is a lack of those feelings.

But it isn't the same thing as depression, though it can be hard to tell the two conditions apart. Feeling "blah" about life is common in both conditions. Things that used to make you happy don't excite you anymore. You no longer feel motivated to achieve your goals.

Everyone loses interest in things at one time or another, but when it happens a lot, it can affect your relationships, your job, and your ability to enjoy life. Treatment can make a big difference, so talk to your doctor or a mental health professional to get the help you need.

Apathy Signs and Symptoms

You may be able to see the signs of apathy in yourself. Or a friend or family member might point out that you don't seem as interested or engaged as you used to be.

The doctor might diagnose you with apathy if you're no longer motivated and you:

• Lack the effort or energy to do everyday things
• Depend on other people to plan your activities
• Have no desire to learn new things, meet new people, or have new experiences
• Don't care about your own problems
• Feel no emotions when good or bad things happen

To count as apathy, your symptoms must be severe enough or happen often enough to affect your social life, job, or other parts of your life. And they can't be due to drugs, alcohol, or any other substance you take.

Apathy Diagnosis

Before you can treat apathy, see your doctor for a diagnosis to be sure that’s what is causing your symptoms. Your exam may include:

• Full medical history, including any neurological or psychosocial conditions you’ve had
• Questionnaires that measure your motivation levels, personality, and behavior
• Imaging tests like MRI, CT, or PET scans to look for any changes in your brain
• Going over what medications you take, including antidepressants like SSRIs, that may cause apathy as a side effect
• Ruling out other psychiatric disorders whose symptoms may mimic apathy

Apathy Treatment

While apathy can be hard to diagnose and treat, there are ways to manage it. You can also try these tips to help you or a loved one manage apathy: