There are vital moments, longer or shorter, in which the emotional soundtrack stops sparkling. It's not about being sad, but it's not about being happy either. It is not the rhythm of the blues with its blue note that sets the pace, but rather the white noise of monotony.
The emotional state varies constantly, even in a matter of an hour you can experience various emotions, explains Mercedes Bermejo, health and vocal psychologist at the Official College of Psychology in Madrid. Therefore, it is impossible to always remain cheerful, even when there are apparently reasons to do so.
This rainbow of emotions also includes the most unpleasant ones such as anger, sadness or apathy. The latter supposes a state where motivation seems to have abandoned the body and indifference or reluctance has been embraced, so time passes without pain or glory.
In more technical terminology we can talk about laziness -lack of interest, desire, or care in doing something- or anhedonia -inability to enjoy activities that were previously pleasurable-.
“It has to do with a difficulty in experiencing different emotions related to the pleasure or satisfaction of daily life,” adds the psychologist about the second.
As mentioned before, one of the correlations with lack of morale is lack of motivation. Thus, in those languid days, proactivity in getting things done is rather conspicuous by its absence.
It is reasonable to worry and put your hands on your head, since anyone can identify with such a state. The question could arise: “Could it be that I am not well?”
Tiredness, bad news, a day with adverse weather, returning to work after vacation or suffering from a cold are more than likely to lead to a state of apathy, compared to other moments in which greater activation is present. Even the absence of novelty can plunge us into this gray mood.
“Sometimes, it may not be justified by any life event. Simply the fact that nothing happens to us, neither good nor bad. Constant monotony can also alter our emotional state,” explains Bermejo.
She emphasizes allowing us to also go through those emotions that we find most unpleasant. “It is important to understand that they are part of our emotional state,” she points out. As she explains, constant happiness is rather at the pole of utopia and emotions such as apathy also play their role.
Therefore, it is not so much about trying to get out of that state at all costs, but rather surfing it and letting yourself be. Some advice from the psychologist includes looking for people with whom you feel comfortable, who you can accompany and respect, so that they do not put pressure and thus be able to give yourself that permission. She also cites physical activity as a mood lifter, something that has already been seen as a panacea for good mental health. Caffeine consumption has in turn been associated with this boost.
When should the alarms go off? If apathy is associated with other symptoms or behaviors such as not performing basic activities, for example, eating or washing, or it lasts for a long period of time. One would be talking about months to consider it pathological, so spending even a week in this state is within the normal range.
Scientific literature has also shown that languor is a risk factor for the development of future mental health problems. People with low positive well-being, but who were also not bad, were seven times more likely to be depressed after 10 years, according to an article in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Another study, this one from the American Journal of Public Health, also added that good mental health, understood as not only the absence of discomfort, but a complete state of well-being, was a protective factor to avoid future disorders.
When in doubt, Bermejo recommends going to a professional “even if it's just to rule it out.” “Just as we go to the doctor when our arm hurts, we can go to the psychologist when we don't know if something is wrong with us,” he concludes.
