Listlessness

Listlessness describes a permanent state of lack of energy, the cause of which can be various disorders or clinical pictures. Due to the variety of causes, a detailed anamnesis and individually tailored treatment are required. Mild forms of listlessness can be prevented and, under certain circumstances, cured without medical help, while more serious cases require medical attention.

What is listlessness?

Loss of drive represents a short-term or long-term persistent state that is characterized by a general lack of energy.

Loss of drive represents a short-term or long-term persistent state that is characterized by a general lack of energy. In many cases, a person suffering from listlessness has an increased need for sleep.

He still cannot motivate himself to pursue everyday demands. The environment perceives the behavior of an uninspired person as lacking initiative and lethargic. The person concerned strives to fulfill daily tasks. However, he / she cannot bring himself to carry them out.

Loss of drive is sometimes heralded by a milder form, the so-called weak drive. The opposite of lack of drive is excess drive.

Loss of drive is not a disease, it is a symptom. It can be due to different physical or mental disorders. Treatment therefore includes localizing the underlying disease as well as eliminating it.

causes

The causes of listlessness are diverse and range from brief states of exhaustion to severe clinical pictures. Causes of short-term listlessness can be an incipient infection, temporary stress and a lack of exercise.

Since listlessness usually leads to an increased need for sleep, one of the causes may be lack of sleep. This often occurs in connection with high demands in everyday life and can develop into the so-called burnout syndrome.

Malnutrition can lead to the body lacking important substances for energy conversion. A permanent deficiency in iron, vitamin B12, folic acid or iodine can lead to listlessness.

Other possible causes can be depression, schizophrenia, or stupor. The latter is understood to mean a state of rigidity with full consciousness. Stupor can occur as a result of major depression or schizophrenia. Addictions can lead to listlessness, as can the side effects of some medications.

Diseases that affect the brain are also a possible cause of listlessness. These include dementia, strokes and meningitis. Tumors or other inflammations in the body can lead to listlessness, as can heart, liver or kidney diseases and diseases of the thyroid gland.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines against tiredness and weakness

Diseases with this symptom

• Burnout syndrome
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fatigue syndrome
• schizophrenia

• depressions
• Hypothyroidism
• Drug allergy
• Diabetes mellitus

• Affective_Disorders
• Hypercalcemia
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Serotonin deficiency

Diagnosis & course

Home remedies ↵ for weakness In order to be able to diagnose a lack of drive, the doctor takes an anamnesis. For this, possible causes are taken into account and the person affected is asked about his or her economic and social situation. Medication and drug consumption as well as eating habits are also discussed. A subsequent examination provides evidence of physical disorders such as B. Tumors.

The course of listlessness can be very different: If it is caused by temporary disturbances, it usually disappears on its own after the disturbance has been eliminated. In severe cases, the listlessness can spread greatly. The affected person may then no longer be able to pursue basic physical needs, such as eating and drinking. Often, the length of the listlessness is related to the severity of the underlying disease.

Complications

Loss of drive is the leading symptom of depression and can also appear as a symptom of other mental illnesses. To a certain extent, the failure to carry out necessary activities can be viewed as a "complication" or a problem resulting from lack of drive. This leads to neglect of personal hygiene and in more extreme cases of listlessness also to neglect of food and fluid intake. Various health problems can arise from this.

There can be a loss of body weight and the affected people can become downright neglect. Of course, this does not occur in all cases of listlessness, but only when the listlessness is on the one hand the symptom of an illness and on the other hand is very pronounced. Various social problems can also arise from the pronounced lack of drive. These include, for example, the loss of a job or the loss of partnerships and friendships. This is due to the fact that the persons concerned are almost unable to carry out any activity of their own accord and thus neglect social obligations.

The problems of listlessness will worsen if the cause of the listlessness is not identified and treated. Treatment is not expected to improve the situation immediately - it will take some time. Nevertheless, therapy of the underlying disease is necessary in every case in order to enable the person affected to live his or her life independently. The ability to live a normal everyday life is gradually lost with the listlessness.

When should you go to the doctor?

A doctor does not always have to be consulted directly in the event of temporary lack of drive, exhaustion or fatigue. However, if the condition persists or recurs, it is advisable to have the symptoms clarified by a doctor. The listlessness may be due to a serious illness.

Indications of this can be symptoms such as night sweats, blood in the stool, irritated mucous membranes or problems with bowel movements, which accompany general exhaustion. A visit to the doctor is also advisable if the symptoms cannot be treated by typical countermeasures such as sleep, changes in diet or exercise, or if tiredness is particularly intense.

Those affected who feel restricted by the listlessness in everyday life and at work or who experience accompanying depressive moods should consult a specialist. The same applies to inexplicable fatigue attacks or exhaustion after less strenuous activities. There may be a psychological problem that cannot be fought without outside help.

If the listlessness occurs after taking medication or after using drugs, a doctor can determine the cause and usually treat the problems quickly. In general, listlessness is a reason for a doctor's visit if it occurs in children or otherwise apparently healthy people or if it develops slowly. A chronic development of the symptoms can usually be prevented by taking early measures.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

Depending on which disease is underlying the listlessness, the treatment is also very different.

Temporary forms can possibly be cured with relaxation techniques and regular exercise in the fresh air. In some cases, this can be extended to transform the whole way of life. The aim is to provide the body with more energy and replenish its reserves.

If there is a deficiency in iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 or iodine, a corresponding preparation is administered in high doses. In addition, a doctor or nutritionist can work with the person concerned to develop a nutrition plan that supports a balanced diet. Mental illnesses are usually treated with antidepressants, antipsychotics, and / or psychotherapy.

As part of psychotherapy, a therapist tries to work out the causes of the listlessness in cooperation with the person concerned and to cure them.

In the case of physical illnesses, the respective clinical picture is usually treated with medication. In the case of tumor diseases, radiation and chemotherapy can be carried out, as well as operations to remove the tumor tissue.

Outlook & forecast

Lethargy has various physical and psychological causes. However, their effects are largely psychosocial in nature. Those who suffer from listlessness no longer have the energy to cope with everyday tasks, which can lead to a number of problems in their professional and private life. Even if the professional tasks are mastered and the economic security is given as a result, impotent people like to neglect their private life and ultimately suffer from it. They lose friendships and relationships with family members and run the risk of becoming lonely or developing problems like depression.

In addition, lack of drive usually leads to a sedentary lifestyle, which ends up in obesity if the diet is incorrect or unhealthy. Since this in turn influences the hormonal balance of the person affected, in many cases this aggravates the already existing listlessness and it becomes very unlikely that the patient can still cope with his health problems without outside help.

While lack of drive can have consequences, that doesn't mean that every occurrence of it is dangerous. In healthy people there are occasional phases of listlessness, for example due to failures or a general rethinking of previous decisions and actions. These are normal and are part of a psychological process that people go through before they recognize problems and act accordingly. The resulting lack of drive must just not become a permanent condition.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines against tiredness and weakness

prevention

To prevent listlessness, it helps to strike a balance between exercise, rest and fresh air, as well as a varied diet. A balanced diet should include enough iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 and iodine. Iodine is responsible for the optimal functioning of the thyroid gland, so an iodine-rich diet can prevent an underactive thyroid.

Sport and exercise in the fresh air as well as plenty of daylight help prevent depression, which is a cause of listlessness. If you are physically ill, you should regularly consult a doctor.

You can do that yourself

Loss of drive can be very stressful in everyday life. However, those affected have a few possibilities to get their listlessness under control through targeted planning of everyday life. On the one hand, structured planning of everyday life is a good way to start the day with organized thoughts.

Many impotent people find it difficult to cope with their everyday life when they are faced with many points with unfinished business. They don't know where to start and that adds to the problem of listlessness. It makes sense to give the day a structure with clear timelines and fixed plans. On the other hand, those affected should make sure to set small goals in everyday life. Nothing makes you more impulsive than constantly thinking that you are faced with a mountain of unsolvable tasks. Small, achievable goals such as a firmly scheduled half hour for clearly defined household tasks give security.

If the point is reached, the motivation increases to get through the day well.Loss of drive can often be reduced in everyday life by spending time in the fresh air. Body and soul benefit from exercise and oxygen. Even a short walk often helps over a period of listlessness.