Recently one of my patients came in and announced that "I don't care and I don't care that I don't care." She said that she realized this just the day before. She reflected on this and indicated that it was a relief not to care. She feels less stressed and yet still feels responsible for others and realizes that she takes care of others better than she takes care of herself. She believes that "not caring" is helping her to feel less stress and take better care of herself.
So, what is this "not caring?" I am treating this person for severe PTSD symptoms that include paranoid thinking, frequent flashbacks and dissociative symptoms. One of the treatment goals has been to not feel a need to react to the past and also to no longer fear past traumatic experiences, recognizing that they have no power anymore. The growing success not reacting to the past seems to have led to being able to "not care" about things from the past, and "not care" about things that are happening now or that might happen in the future. It is like a weight has been lifted as worries about the past and fears about the future have lessoned. There is a calm more of the time now and it is easier to be around people. A feeling of responsibility for others is still a problem but is also more contained than before. It is also easier to focus on self care.
My wish for the universe is that all living things can learn to "not care" what happens, so that they can experience the joys of living, without being distracted by "caring."
Confusing? Imagine that you don't care and don't care that you don't care, and see what happens.