Feeling numb, apathetic, or bored?
Lately, I’ve been coming across many individuals who feel that the spark of life has diminished and all that’s left behind is the tiny bit of smoke from the flame that once burned so fierce. If you find yourself relating to the lyrics recited by The Edge in U2′s hit 90′s song “Numb”, you may not be alone. Life is cyclical, and moves up and down similar to waves. There will be moments in life where we are a bit more apathetic, or bored then others. The important thing about our cycles of emotions is to have the awareness on how you feel! Everyone goes through it, but you should be mindful on the length of time and the intensity of your feelings.
If you have been battling these emotions for a long time, or if these feelings have gotten in the way of your daily functioning, you may actually be depressed. If the feelings are mild, but have lasted two years or more, you may be dysthymic. Many people are unaware that one of the symptoms of depression/dysthymia is this feeling of ‘numbness’ or lack of other emotions, similar to apathy. The DSM-IV categorizes this as a loss of interest. According to the DSM-IV, a person who suffers from major depressive disorder must either have a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities consistently for at least a two week period. This mood is a marked change from the individual’s normal temperament. Additionally their daily, occupational, social, etc functioning must also be negatively impaired by the change in mood.
Other symptoms of depression and dysthymia are as follows:
-poor appetite or over eating
-low energy or fatigue
-low self-esteem
-poor concentration or difficulty making decisions
-feelings of hopelessness
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact us or your nearest health care provider. Also, be honest and open with yourself. Take note on how you feel, it’ll be the best thing you ever do!