In responding to another PC'er's post moments ago, it occurred to me to post this question. How long can a person go on not caring about anything? (Of course, this presumes that it really is possible to not care about anything, zilch, nada... I don't know if this is in fact really possible. We may think we literally don't care about anything. But, in fact, there are things we would care about were they to come up.)

But, for the sake of this posting, let's presume that it is in fact possible to simply not care about anything. How long could one live in such a state? Could one potentially live whatever remains of a full normal human lifetime without caring about anything? What do you think?

This is more than a philosophical discussion for me. I frequently ask myself how long I can go on living the ruse I have lived for the majority of my adult life. I don't know that I could truthfully say that I don't care about anything. But the unrelenting angst I experience is, I think, essentially similar to being in a state of not caring about anything. So I'm anxious to know what other PC'ers think.

[Maria38Divine]

Good question. It's difficult to imagine someone being completely apathetic, but if one were, I don't think it could last a lifetime. Something will pop up to change that, even for a short time: a birth, a death, a new job, a new love, a child, a pet. We may experience a certain level of numbness to many things happening around us, but I don't think anyone is so numb as to not be affected by anything at all, forever--unless you're brain dead, literally. Maybe if we truly cared about nothing, our brains and body would eventually shut down for lack of stimulation.

[Altered Moment]

Well there are the cases where two people have been together for 50 or 60 years and one dies. Very shortly thereafter the other spouse dies. Presumably because they just lost the will to live.
I am reading "Mans Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankyl. He describes how they could tell when one of the prisoners in the concentration camp had lost the will to live. They would say oh Frank is next and sure enough in the next couple of days Frank would be dead.

I wrote a philosophical post about it this morning but it seems no one saw it or didn't think much of it.

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...g-meaning.html

[TheOriginalMe]

I don't think it is possible not to care about anything at all, but I have lived for much of my adult life in an exisitence where nothing "moves" me. I can see and recognise distress or joy or happiness or sorrow in others, but it is impersonal and entirely the affair of the other person, I am without empathy. Having said that I can respect other people's wishes and needs and I accept that I don't have the right to hurt them because I am hurting. I can foresee that I will live the rest of my life feeling like this, but it is an emptiness rather than total apathy.

[mulan]

Well, if there isn't any any any thing to care about people wouldn't care also if they were alive or dead... Right?
So perhaps since the moment you start not caring until the moment you die, there's the time between when your body runs out of fuel (water, food...).

Originally Posted by mulan

Well, if there isn't any any any thing to care about people wouldn't care also if they were alive or dead... Right?
So perhaps since the moment you start not caring until the moment you die, there's the time between when your body runs out of fuel (water, food...).

I used to work in a nursing home....The residents stopped eating 2 or 3 days before they died.
(the ones that died a natural death of course....the otherwise healthy ones)

It was like a knowledge they would get.

[Frankbtl]

Hi Skeezyks, from my perspective, yes with severe depression it is possible to care about nothing (and no-one). And for how long? Well I'd say it's a "how long is a piece of string"? And hey, you've know some of the lows and where they can take you if.
Now you might not like me for being me but (!!) I'd say the really important question is not "how long?" but how to change that?!!
If it gets to caring about nothing (although not only at that point) then changing that alone can be the hardest thing, so often people are going to need that bit more whether it's in therapy, through medication, through others stepping in and offering support...............
So back to you, is carrying on with this ruse really so important right now?? Or maybe something you want to spend some time thinking about??
There are people who will understand/support you whatever, and anything at all I can do to help (however little that may be)....................



Alison

Originally Posted by The Skeezyks

In responding to another PC'er's post moments ago, it occurred to me to post this question. How long can a person go on not caring about anything? (Of course, this presumes that it really is possible to not care about anything, zilch, nada... I don't know if this is in fact really possible. We may think we literally don't care about anything. But, in fact, there are things we would care about were they to come up.)

But, for the sake of this posting, let's presume that it is in fact possible to simply not care about anything. How long could one live in such a state? Could one potentially live whatever remains of a full normal human lifetime without caring about anything? What do you think?

This is more than a philosophical discussion for me. I frequently ask myself how long I can go on living the ruse I have lived for the majority of my adult life. I don't know that I could truthfully say that I don't care about anything. But the unrelenting angst I experience is, I think, essentially similar to being in a state of not caring about anything. So I'm anxious to know what other PC'ers think.

Don't forget that the act of self-sacrifice is one of love.
I think that matters.

[paynful]

Originally Posted by The Skeezyks

In responding to another PC'er's post moments ago, it occurred to me to post this question. How long can a person go on not caring about anything? (Of course, this presumes that it really is possible to not care about anything, zilch, nada... I don't know if this is in fact really possible. We may think we literally don't care about anything. But, in fact, there are things we would care about were they to come up.)

But, for the sake of this posting, let's presume that it is in fact possible to simply not care about anything. How long could one live in such a state? Could one potentially live whatever remains of a full normal human lifetime without caring about anything? What do you think?

This is more than a philosophical discussion for me. I frequently ask myself how long I can go on living the ruse I have lived for the majority of my adult life. I don't know that I could truthfully say that I don't care about anything. But the unrelenting angst I experience is, I think, essentially similar to being in a state of not caring about anything. So I'm anxious to know what other PC'ers think.

It seems to me that for most people, it is a double negative. If you truly didn't care about anything, then it wouldn't bother you. () However, (the double negative) you do care about not caring about anything. All that angst and anxious, relestless energy is your body telling you that you aren't fulfilled. I often find myself cursing the fact that I WANT TO WANT SOMETHING... a passion that drives, something to strive and thrive FOR. I think a person can and will live until all hope is extinguished.

It isn't until we give up and all hope is lost.. that our very soul will start to rot us from the inside out. Self-destruction sets in... in various forms... but we either die a literal death or we become a shell of the person we used to be. The "person" we become... isn't anyone we wished to meet when we were children imagining who'd we grow up to be. It is a death of self... without the mercy of an end.

When a person is lacking purpose, it is difficult to find joy in any form. I feel adrift and aimless... lost and alone.

Your body is literally telling you, you aren't living a life you were meant to. Mine is doing the same. I'm finding that the hardest part is finding and forging those first few steps. Only time will tell, but I don't think hope is lost for either of us. ...otherwise, we wouldn't be hurting and we wouldn't CARE that we have nothing to care about.

Thank you for your posting. Your thoughts and philosophical questions keep the mind going and heart pumping. I'm sorry if I got too personal and wandered with my ranting/venting. Thank you for tolerating my rambling (but I can always take it down).

[Altered Moment]

If you truly didn't care about anything, then it wouldn't bother you. () However, (the double negative) you do care about not caring about anything.

Very insightful.

It is like praying for the willingness to be willing. Sometimes that is all I can do.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this post! I tend not to have has much on-line time on the weekends as I do Monday - Friday. Also, my head is in a rather down place today. Hopefully, Monday, I'll be able to digest all of your wonderful comments & repond. I really want to... Hope you are all having a great weekend!