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What Causes Apathy With Changes In Sleep Patterns?
Question: Many mornings I cannot get out of bed until the afternoon which results in me feeling somewhat useless or angry with myself. I am retired but I had this issue always during holidays. E-mail : YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Apathy and inactivity on holidays
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
You might be having mild depression which may be characterized by apathy and is usually associated with changes in sleep patterns.
Patients with depression may show loss of pleasure in enjoyable activities (which can be undertaken on holidays) and may exhibit diurnal variation in mood (worse in morning hours-not getting up from bed).
Since this issue of not getting out of bed in the morning and keeping in bed till afternoon occurs during holidays ,you should keep your "to do list' active on holidays ,so that you have to get out of your bed to complete the job.
As such no medicine is offered but Psychiatric counselling is needed to get back you active on holidays.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Apathy and inactivity on holidays
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
You might be having mild depression which may be characterized by apathy and is usually associated with changes in sleep patterns.
Patients with depression may show loss of pleasure in enjoyable activities (which can be undertaken on holidays) and may exhibit diurnal variation in mood (worse in morning hours-not getting up from bed).
Since this issue of not getting out of bed in the morning and keeping in bed till afternoon occurs during holidays ,you should keep your "to do list' active on holidays ,so that you have to get out of your bed to complete the job.
As such no medicine is offered but Psychiatric counselling is needed to get back you active on holidays.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
As I am now retired I have the same difficulty in getting out of bed in the mornings as I used to have when on holidays during worktimes but now to a greater extent.
Brief Answer:
Mood disorder with post-retirement escalation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
At best you are having subtle mood disorder which has only aggravated after retirement. If you sleep during the day or remain confined to bed without any physical disability,lack of meaningful activities will only result in further apathy .
Damage of the prefrontal cortex can give rise to loss of executive function and brain imaging (CT or MRI) can be undertaken ( for investigation of mood disorder in later life).
Are you living alone?
Can you answer the following Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questions as simple screening test?
“Are you basically satisfied with your life?”
“Do you often get bored?”
“Do you often feel helpless?”
“Do you prefer to stay at home rather than going out and doing
new things?”
“Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?”
Among non-pharmacological meausure,you can try pet therapy where a domestic animal gives you company and keeps you busy.
An individualized programme to improve mood can also be done by a qualified psychiatrist with first-line drugs like selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs).
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Mood disorder with post-retirement escalation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
At best you are having subtle mood disorder which has only aggravated after retirement. If you sleep during the day or remain confined to bed without any physical disability,lack of meaningful activities will only result in further apathy .
Damage of the prefrontal cortex can give rise to loss of executive function and brain imaging (CT or MRI) can be undertaken ( for investigation of mood disorder in later life).
Are you living alone?
Can you answer the following Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questions as simple screening test?
“Are you basically satisfied with your life?”
“Do you often get bored?”
“Do you often feel helpless?”
“Do you prefer to stay at home rather than going out and doing
new things?”
“Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?”
Among non-pharmacological meausure,you can try pet therapy where a domestic animal gives you company and keeps you busy.
An individualized programme to improve mood can also be done by a qualified psychiatrist with first-line drugs like selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs).
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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