Don't Feel Like Doing Anything
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Try one of these related symptoms.
No interest in anything
I lost interest in my hobby
Lack of physical activity
Decrease in activity level
Decreased in spontaneous movement
About the Symptom
Not participating in spontaneous activities. Most commonly, it can be a symptom of depression.
Possible Causes
Generally, Don't feel like doing anything can be related to:
- Frontotemporal Dementia
A group of disorders involving the progressive loss of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain (behind your forehead and ears). The brain shrinks and loses function in the affected areas. It can be caused by several conditions that are not fully understood. A family history of dementia increases the risk.
- Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The brain shrinks, affecting memory and behavior. Symptoms worsen over time and can interfere with daily life. Increasing age raises the risk for Alzheimer dementia.
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is also known as mild or "pre-dementia" in which patients experience forgetfulness or other cognitive problems (such as issues with language or thinking) that do not prevent them from daily functioning. A small proportion of patients have MCI due to depression, medication side effects, sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, low vitamin B12 levels or low thyroid function. Some controllable risk factors include excessive alcohol intake, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, as well as lack of mental stimulation. Patients with MCI have a high risk for developing dementia, which occurs in about 14% of cases.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Don't feel like doing anything may be related to these serious diseases:
- Chronic Subdural Hematoma
This refers to blood collecting in the space between the brain and the brain's outer covering (dura). It can be caused by even minor injuries or bumps to the head, particularly in those who are at increased risk. Older adults and those on certain blood-thinning medications or with bleeding disorders are at higher risk. Some people will have no or few symptoms but can develop more symptoms (confusion, headaches, personality changes) if it expands.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you isolating at home and losing interest in your hobbies?
- How is your loss of interest in hobbies or leaving the house now?
- How long have you had loss of interest in things with low energy?
Reviewed By:
Charles Carlson, DO, MS (Psychiatry)
Dr. Carlson graduated from Touro University in Nevada with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He then trained as a resident in Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals where he was also a chief resident and completed a fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry. After training, he started practicing in | Addiction Psychiatry at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he also teaches Psychiatry residents.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- No desire to do anything (just want to stay home)
- Don't feel like doing anything
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FAQs
Q.
Is It Laziness? Why Executive Dysfunction Stops You & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Not laziness: persistent trouble starting, organizing, or finishing tasks despite caring about them is often executive dysfunction, a brain management issue commonly linked to ADHD, depression, anxiety, poor sleep, chronic stress, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological or medical conditions. Medically approved next steps include seeing a clinician to identify the cause and discuss therapy or medication, prioritizing 7 to 9 hours of sleep, using external structure, and breaking tasks into very small steps, with urgent care for sudden confusion, memory loss, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, or new neurological symptoms. There are several factors to consider; see the complete guidance below for important details that can change which next steps fit your situation.
References:
* Couto, J. L., et al. (2017). Executive Dysfunction and Motivational Impairment: Is There a Link? *Frontiers in Psychology*, *8*, 1850. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01850. PMID: 29089921.
* Cicerone, K. D., et al. (2019). Evidence-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation: Updated Review of the Literature From 2009-2019. *Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation*, *100*(12), e1-e30. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.08.110. PMID: 31779951.
* Cortese, S., et al. (2020). Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Controlled Trials. *Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews*, *118*, 46-60. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.009. PMID: 32679261.
* Müller, N. C., et al. (2021). Efficacy of Cognitive Training for Improving Executive Functions in Healthy Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis. *Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences*, *76*(2), 290-302. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa104. PMID: 32644211.
* Dawson, P., Guare, R., & Seidman, L. J. (2021). Evidence-Based Executive Function Interventions: A Systematic Review of Behavioral and Cognitive Approaches. *Journal of Attention Disorders*, *25*(14), 1957-1971. doi: 10.1177/10870547211029472. PMID: 34180479.
Q.
Feeling Apathetic? Why Your Brain Shuts Down and Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Apathy is a real brain-based drop in motivation and emotion, often tied to dopamine shifts, chronic stress or burnout, depression, certain medications, or medical problems like thyroid or B12 issues. Take it seriously if it lasts more than two weeks, disrupts daily life, or includes self-harm thoughts. Medically approved next steps include a symptom check, prompt clinician visit for medication review and labs, improving sleep, small behavior-first steps, gentle movement, social reconnection, and evidence-based therapy or medication; seek urgent care for any suicidal thoughts or alarming symptoms, and there are several factors to consider, so see below for key details that could change your next steps.
References:
* D'Alia, D., Colangelo, P., Del Re, M., De Berardis, D., & Salerno, R. M. (2023). Apathy in neurological disorders: A review of definition, assessment, and treatment. *Journal of the Neurological Sciences*, 452, 120468.
* Santra, S., Dines, J., & Savulich, G. (2021). The Neurobiology of Apathy: A Translational Perspective. *Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences*, 56, 175-199.
* Van der Stouwe, G., Ossenkoppele, R., Bron, E. E., Van der Flier, W. M., & Scheltens, P. (2021). Treatment of apathy in neurodegenerative disorders: A systematic review. *Alzheimer's & Dementia : The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association*, 17(2), 346-367.
* Hsieh, P. H., Fang, S. F., Hu, C. J., & Chiu, Y. N. (2020). Apathy and its treatment: a systematic review of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. *International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry*, 35(8), 848-861.
* Le Heron, C., Apps, M. A. J., & Husain, M. (2018). Neural circuits of apathy. *Trends in Cognitive Sciences*, 22(8), 712-723.
Q.
Why Don’t I Care? The Science of Apathy & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Apathy is a real brain-based symptom of disrupted motivation and reward circuits, often tied to depression, burnout, anxiety, medical illnesses, medications, or poor sleep. Medically approved next steps include using a symptom check, seeing a clinician for screening and labs, supporting sleep, movement and nutrition, practicing behavioral activation, and considering therapy or medication, with urgent care for red flags; there are several factors to consider, and key details that can change your next steps are explained below.
References:
* Thomsen, M., & Thomsen, A. B. (2020). Apathy: Definition, assessment, and management. *Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra*, *10*(1), 1-13. doi:10.1159/000505183
* Le Heron, C., Holgado, P., & Levy, R. (2018). Apathy: From clinical presentation to neurobiological mechanisms and management. *Revue Neurologique*, *174*(10), 652-663. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2018.06.002
* Chauveau, F., Le Heron, C., & Levy, R. (2023). Neural bases of apathy and implications for treatment. *Current Opinion in Neurology*, *36*(3), 273-280. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000001168
* Thabit, M. N., & Levy, R. (2022). Update on Apathy: Pathophysiology and Treatment. *The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease*, *210*(11), 819-826. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000001550
* Santangelo, G., Pontillo, G., Chieffi, S., & Iavarone, A. (2015). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for apathy in neurodegenerative disorders. *Behavioural Neurology*, *2015*, 198901. doi:10.1155/2015/198901
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1