Apathy

It's the feeling I try to deny and reject when it comes.  But I can still feel it, lingering under my mask of hopefulness.

So why does apathy come?  Apathy can be a result of an unfavourable decision which you cannot rise above or to an unfavourable situation which you have no control over.  Apathy means the loss of emotional connection to a particular person, organisation or the world.  Apathy overall has a lifeless feeling - like you don't care either way what happens because you have no personal investment to it whatsoever.

I have seen apathy in the social work field when bad things happen to good people and the workers don't care.  Or else the worker has seen so much trauma or horror in a child or family's life that they doubt they can make any difference so they barely try.

To me, the only way you can overcome apathy is to face your fears.  Become concerned with the world again (even if it's just your small part of it), become emotionally involved knowing that your feelings could get hurt, and get interested in your work again by finding new ways to connect with it.

As easy as it is, try not to dwell on the negatives.  As I've learnt they can slowly etch into every aspect of your life until you feel trapped.

No one else has control over our lives except ourselves.  So take the greatest fear that you have and hit it head on.  Hopefully then your moral, emotional and physical paralysis will be smashed!