Anhedonia: the inability to experience joy
It's hitting me right now pretty hard. Normally I love to do arts 'n crafts and exercise, but nothing seems fun anymore. My biggest hobby and coping mechanism, boxing, has no reward lately, and that's devastating. I feel like no one at the gym wants me around, that I'm just not athletic enough, and I'm wasting my coach's time. On some level I know that isn't true, but it's still difficult to convince myself. Is anyone else experiencing this/has gone through this before? What are some things that you normally like to do but can't when you're depressed?
When I was in middle school I used to draw and listen to music and that always helped with depression, but around the end of 8th grade that stopped working for me. I'm in 10th grade now and depression has been hitting me hard lately and nothing seems to really help anymore. I guess I can relate to you in someways
But you just said it .. Reward. All hobbies and special interests have a reward. Depression is just a title .. Just some reverse psychology crap they use and give you meds for. So don't beat yourself up being negative and critical and hopeless. You like boxing? That's awesome. I like wrestling! I don't know much about boxing, but that's still very cool. I love cars. I fix them all day and I like doing that. I love animals. I have a macaw parrot named Snoopy who speaks Spanish and English. I mean, my point is, look at the good qualities of yourself and your life and what you like and what you can do and what you have. Not everyone is that fortunate or happy. :)
Snoopy sounds like a wonderful pet. Wrestling is fun. I've tried a bit of it for MMA. Working on cars is something I'd like to get into; I love my car and I want to keep it in good shape for a long, long time. That said, I find the rest of your comment belittling and dismissive.
Maybe that was harsh, so I'll explain myself. Depression is a very real illness that damages the quality of life of those who have it. Misconceptions like depression being "just a label" or "some reverse psychology crap" are harmful because they perpetuate stigma and stop a lot of people from getting treatment that can make them well.
I wasn't trying to be in any way rude. A few people in my family have depression/anxiety issues, but dwelling on it makes me sick! My aunt overexaggerrates like she wants attention and sympathy for being depressed. My mother has anxiety/depression issues and is always whining about her life .. people are worse off. I have been through a lot of shit in my 30 years, but I am not going to whine and cry to other people for sympathy. A person makes their own choices. I screwed up and did stupid things. It's my own fault. But I'm not going to sit and think about it everyday and get depressed! I'm grateful to be alive and have the things I have and live where I live. I was almost homeless once. Drugs, prostitution, and abuse were some aspects of my life. But I'm not going to be a depressed old lady my whole life! That was my point altogether ..
That's because, unless I'm very much mistaken, you don't have a mood disorder. You have the ability to pull up your bootstraps. Not everyone does. I don't mean to argue. It's simply very important to me that anyone who comes to website like 7 Cups understands what mental illness is. People who have mental illnesses need professional help, and many people don't seek it because of they or their friends and family have attitudes about it like yours. Would you tell someone who has diabetes to stop "dwelling" on their blood sugar? Because depression and anxiety are every bit as physiological. They come from chemical imbalances in the brain.
For what it's worth, I don't want to be a depressed old lady my whole life either, which is why I'm here, seeking support.
I guess .. Well I hope you feel better. I don't understand the illness entirely then. I'm sorry.
Yeah, the anhedonia sucks big time. I really hate how I struggle doing things I used to enjoy, but at least for me, it's a good warning sign that I'm sliding into a depression, because it is ahard to ignoresymptom. This time around, I tried to focus on activities that I used to enjoy that act as a distraction so that I'm not thinking too much, so sometimes walking alone by the water is bad, as all I do is think, so instead I'll watch a favorite movie, which I might not enjoy as much, but at least it interrupts the negative thoughts. Or doing things that focus my other senses, like a bath with scented soaps and favorite music. I used to feel horribly guilty for using distraction as a coping strategy, but now from time to time it gives a much needed break. Don't be too hard on yourself, you are coping with one of life's most challenging illnesses, and you are doing AWESOME - you are getting up every day to face the world, no matter how tough it is.
Thanks. I needed that. And I know what you mean about needing distraction and feeling guilty about it. For instance, yesterday I opted to read a book instead of going to boxing practice. I felt like I made the "lazy" choice, but the truth is, lately when I work on the heavy bag I just get self conscious and I get stuck in an introspective downward spiral. Normally boxing, running, etc. are like moving meditation for me and I can just clear my head and focus on the physical task I'm doing. But when I'm depressed it's like my negative thoughts have no off switch :/
Yes, it's tough but we need to be gentle and kind with ourselves right now, and if we make choices that ultimately serve our healing process, no matter how "lazy", then we are doing what we need to do right now. You will get back to boxing on a day when it feels right, but if reading helps in the moment, go for it!
@ charmingZebra76 Glad you are experiencing at least some relief.
I can relate as I have been expereiencing severe anhedonia with no breaks for about 6 months now. It is hell on earth.
Anhedonia... it's almost a way of life. I play hockey and during games I can focus on what's going on, but a weird "pleasure" of hockey for me is blocking shots, which usually hurts (pucks naturally find all the gaps and thin spots in your pads!). It's at least feeling *something* even if it's some pain, and in that setting it's also something positive. I wonder whether boxing worked in a similar way...
I remember well one day about 12 years ago when I was walking down the street in the town I was moving to, and noticed that there were colors and breezes and smells. Most of the time life is not like that for me - flat. tasteless. cardboard. But my point is... it can get better.
I understand you. I have suffered from anhedonia for 2 years. And i can definetely say that like major depression, it is very difficult to treat anhedonia on your own and often it is impossible to do. Since in most cases anhedonia is a symptom of some other disease, and it is necessary to treat the disease itself. [url=https://undepress.net/anhedonia-definition-signs-and-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment/]Anhedonia[/url] will disappear throughout the treatment.
However, there are a number of tips dealing with anhedonia whicn helped me:
The correct day regime – good nights sleep, regular meals, and physical exercises;
The diet should consist of several sources of serotonin – chocolate, fresh fruit;
Focus on pleasant and positive moments, try to do everything on your own in order to make a moment positive and pleasant;
Psychotherapeutic correction such as Gestalt therapy, behavioral techniques, psychoanalysis;
Pharmacological correction – doctors may prescribe antidepressants.
Like major depression, it is very difficult to treat anhedonia on your own and often it is impossible to do. Since in most cases anhedonia is a symptom of some other disease, and it is necessary to treat the disease itself. Anhedonia will disappear throughout the treatment.
However, there are a number of tips dealing with anhedonia:
The correct day regime – good nights sleep, regular meals, and physical exercises;
The diet should consist of several sources of serotonin – chocolate, fresh fruit;
Focus on pleasant and positive moments, try to do everything on your own in order to make a moment positive and pleasant;
Psychotherapeutic correction such as Gestalt therapy, behavioral techniques, psychoanalysis;
Pharmacological correction – doctors may prescribe antidepressants.
https://undepress.net/anhedonia-definition-signs-and-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment/
There's nothing I do that makes me truly happy any more. It's all a momentary thing with no consistency. Trying to find ways to distract myself is all short term and frustrating and hopeless and pointless.
I've had anhedonia both social and physical for 8. Years now.. idk how im gg to go thru this for another 40-50 years...
