I guess I kind of have the opposite problem in that I've had to deal with so much external drama that I simply can't muster the energy to get into it, voluntarily or otherwise, when people around me are creating it. I'll save the sob story, but I will say that I am a terrible person to go to for sympathy because of it. I'm not apathetic, exactly, I just can't understand why people can't or won't handle their own shit.

For example, even though I am the absolute last person who wants to be involved in anything, one of my coworkers has taken to using me as his confessional. It started one night with his confession that he tried to kill himself the day before and now every time that I work with him all I hear is how he's too "old" to do anything with his life (he's younger than me ffs), he's not good at anything, he's depressed, etc etc. I find working with him extremely tiresome because I'm trying to be helpful and offer what little advice I can, only for him to shoot it down with some bullshit excuse and continue moaning about how horrible he has it. First world problems to the max, man. I want to punch him in the face. Alas, I do need my job still.

I don't think that I deal with it so much as I just don't internalize it for myself. Talking to him frustrates me so I do try to keep my distance. When I can't, I say my piece and move on. I don't tend to dwell on things which I suppose has a lot to do with what can appear to be apathy. I'm not without empathy (or sympathy, for that matter), but I have a well developed sense of emotional self-preservation.