Thinking and mood / Apathy
Thinking and mood
Apathy
Explore what happens when it is difficult to start or keep doing an activity.
Get free informationWhen getting started is harder than it used to be
The lack of initiative or interest can be experienced in different ways and relate to different circumstances. The assessment takes into account the evolution of the situation, the affected activities and other emotional or cognitive aspects that should be explored.
Loss of initiative, loss of enjoyment, low mood and low energy are different experiences. They can overlap and can also have different causes. What matters is what has changed for you: what you have stopped doing, when it began and how it affects self-care, relationships or responsibilities. Calling it laziness can obscure what is happening.
Sudden confusion needs immediate medical attention. Do not wait for a reply to a contact form.
Understanding change and agreeing on possible support
In ADIR we start from what concerns you and how your day-to-day is changing. In the assessment we want to know the beginning, the affected activities, what happens when someone offers support and what still makes sense to you. It is also useful to explore rest, mood, health and the difficulties to organise, without taking for granted a single cause.
An agreed plan starts with specific, achievable goals for your circumstances. It may help to identify what makes a meaningful activity easier to start, which barriers can be reduced and what support you need. We review progress so the plan can change if it is not helping.
It can also help you
The lack of initiative does not explain its cause alone. These pages help to know related experiences; the services guide the way to consult.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily. Sadness, loss of enjoyment and difficulty starting activities may overlap, but they are distinct experiences. Being less active is not enough to identify a disorder. An assessment considers these experiences in the context of your life and history.
Pushing or criticising someone can overlook a real difficulty. Ask what is hard and what support they would accept. If you support someone, describe the changes you have noticed and respect their involvement and preferences.
If loss of initiative is new, persists or affects your ability to look after yourself, seek advice. Changes in memory, health or medication also warrant medical assessment. Do not change treatment on your own. Psychological support may be appropriate alongside other care, depending on the assessment.