Depression Symptoms: Anhedonia
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- NEW: You asked, I answered. Here is the new video on COPING with anhedonia: • Coping with Anhedonia,...
The second in a series of eight videos on the diagnostic symptoms of depression. This time: Anhedonia. What is it and how does it influence depression's tendency to spiral? How do we handle it in therapy?
Here are the others in the series:
Mood: • Depression Symptoms: Mood
Sleep: • Depression Symptoms: S...
Appetite: • Depression Symptoms: A...
Fatigue & Movement: • Depression Symptoms: F...
Thinking: • Depression Symptoms Th...
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#depression #anhedonia
I've struggled being trapped in this emotional limbo for years now due to my MDD. Anhedonia is being a husk person. Danger doesn't scare you. Fun things don't excite you. You don't care about maintaining relationships or making new ones, because being around people makes you feel like an alien, and frankly there is no benefit (at least that's what my brain tells me) to interacting with people other than for needs, like going to the grocery store. Sometimes I even forget what the expected response is to things, it gets hard to fake being "normal". People think I have Aspergers, anti-social personality disorder, etc. I've been told I'm cold, callous, and cynical. I never wanted to be like this. Easily the most sinister part of depression. I'd rather be sad than feel nothing.
When I see a client who describes symptoms like this, I invite them to consider what they would likely be doing if they felt better and were reacting the way they would like. Then we might work toward adopting bits of that behaviour. Although how we feel affects the way we think or behave, the reverse is also true. If we begin living at least small bits of the life we envision (even if that only means getting out of bed in the morning at first), the emotions tend to lag, then in small ways begin to reflect that life. The initial changes are usually so slight, however, that they can be missed or can seem to be only a mockery of how we want to feel. Patience and persistence, however, often result in larger improvements.
@@RandyPaterson Really appreciate your response. Im trying to indeed go through the motions and see if that helps.
Do You still struggle with MDD?
This is so well described. I could only chuckle at danger doesn’t scare me. Going down the Autobahn at 300km/h. Bleh. What am I doing here? What was that thing I had for dinner last night? Once in a long while: This could kill me in a flash, and in spectacular fashion. So what. Who cares?
How are you doing brother?
Thank you so much for this video. I thought I was on my own, didn't realise it had a name, anhedonia! I've been feeling like this for nearly a year. I have a loving husband, children and Grandchildren but it takes me all my time to get out of bed, never mind out of the house! You are a wonderful man. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. x
I am an around the clock caregiver for my elderly mother. 3 years now, trapped. I am feeling all of this.. Beyond depressed. I feel nothing but despair, hopeless and anticipatory grief. Interested in nothing. Understanding and hearing all of this gives me hope. Thank you.
How are you doing now ? Are you still looking after your mother?
I am a caregiver for my mother, also and have gotten quite depressed and burned out 😢
I was caregiver for DH for many years. He passed away last year. I’m was this way as caregiver and still this way a year after his death.
Thank you so much, sir. You have the talent to speak to people, even if their english is a foreign language. You made my day brighter! Greetings from Poland, Europe. All the best for you and all the people with anhedonia! Take care!
You are a blessing! You’re wording of the feelings of disinterest are spot on! There is a HUGE difference between pleasure and interest. I’m often “dragged” out of my shell to do things that I have no interest of doing, yet once I’m doing them I feel the pleasure. It really is two different issues.
For many people the distinction is important. The interest in doing things in the future typically lags behind the ability to enjoy things in the present. The result is that people contemplate doing things "tomorrow," feel no sense of anticipation, and put them off. Not only does enjoyment typically develop before anticipation, it usually develops only after engaging in the activity a few times without any significant emotional payoff.
It's like Fake It Till You Make It. Your video is the first time I finally felt understood. Thank you for this hope. My depression started early 50's during menopause until now 68. I don't recognize myself at all anymore. I tried every tool in my toolbox that worked before Slogans, support groups, inpt, outpt. TMS ECT Antidepressants, antianxiety and stimulants. I am a devoted Catholic and prayed, journaled retreats, meditation and diet and exercise. This season in my life my energy level almost dead. I isolated, avoided, withdrew, procrastinated, made excuses, pretended. I felt embarrassed, ashamed, a failure in all former roles, overwhelmed about everything. I was GONE. Yes there was monumental relentless trauma but now I couldn't shake it. I just came clean to my family and sent them this video. I was hiding for too long. I will certainly get your woorkbook and watch more videos of yours. So glad you avoided medications and other modalities that never worked for me. When you have a diagnosis you know what your dealing with. And meds were not the answer for me. So grateful I found you. Your one of a kind. 🌹
Thank you for the feedback. It’s a little like “fake it til you make it,” a la AA. But it’s a bit more a matter of getting “Do I feel like it?” out of the driver’s seat, and “What do my values and life goals dictate?” into it. The follow-up videos on coping with anhedonia make this more explicit. Navigating this transition can sound like giving up on enjoyment, but often paradoxically makes the bed for enjoyment to come home.
@@RandyPaterson Yes I understand making the bed analogy which is true. One small thing like making your bed feels good. The memory of seeing your bed unmade is symbolic of how your life has evolved into . Basically what becomes your comfort or safe place that protects you from making a decision or risking getting involved with relationships or a world that you feel inadequate because it is so demanding technologically. So many deadlines that threaten your livelihood. Elderly people have a hard time navigating application deadlines for health insurance etc. The overwhelming pressure causes inert behavior. It's paralyzing. So many losses of loved ones. Awfulizing because of past trauma becomes front and center because you have experienced what you could never have imagined. I am a retired nurse and have seen such sadness families go through. I feel extremely vulnerable. Like if I have a good time someone will pull the rug right out from under my feet. It's happened to me so often over many years without reprieve. But I have to change my thinking and inaction. Alot of times in this season of my life I fear that I will never come back from my worst fear happening which I am at high risk for really happening. I end up distracting myself from those thoughts by watching different podcasts or movies etc. Not productive. But finding adhenonia is how God broke through knowing this is how I could be reached and feel understood. I never knew the levels of depression even as a nurse. To feel nothing when your 2nd grandchild is born that you saved from being aborted was so unlike me and I hid that I felt that way. I love babies. Always have. My motto now will be JUST BEGIN. 🌹
In my case, interest is there, but pleasure is gone, which slowly kills my interest on anything. And then when I have momentary pleasure, but interest never comes up, pleasure dies down. So pleasure might come around, but finding anything interesting is like playing darts, except most of the time I don't hit anything.
There have been numerous occasions where I just freak out on what to do when I am out of work because I have nothing to do. Work keeps me busy. When I'm not, I have nothing to do. I tried to do my old hobbies but I am no longer receiving any pleasure. And I can't find any pleasurable activities at all. So most of the time, I stare at my blank computer screen doing nothing, wondering what to do over and over again.
I'm only 22 and I'm currently out of school because of my failing grades. And surprisingly, when I was doing great in school, it felt rewarding. But then eventually I felt indifferent. And when my grades dropped, I also felt indifferent. I feel like an orange that has been squeezed to the point where you can't even get a single drop anymore, and yet is still being squeezed.
I suspect that it could be from my mother's failing irreversible health problems. And even if she gets a little bit better, it will never be the same again. It is a mix of anger, hatred, sadness, disappointment, anguish, and feelings of helplessness currently in my head. The loss of interest in living while getting almost zero pleasure every single day.
Well, I've never seek help anyway. I should have no more excuses considering I will get furloughed from this virus. It felt good writing this though. At least it was something.
You might find that a good counselor could help you with this. Indeed, it sounds like you have gone through a great deal of difficulty and disappointment, particularly watching your mother's health.
A counselor might invite you to relinquish the quest for enjoyment for a time and simply imagine what a good or enjoyable life might look like - including one with elements that might seem unobtainable in the moment. I sometimes call this the "genie question." If you could have any life you wanted simply by requesting it of a genie, what would you ask for? This type of counterfactual thinking (thinking counter to the facts, separating out some of the considerations of practicality, affordability, and so on) can sometimes get through to inherent interests.
Another approach is to switch from asking yourself "What do I find fun?" to "What do I think is important, whether it's fun or not?" In other words, to switch from hedonistic pursuit to an exploration of your personal values and an attempt to live by these, whether they lead to emotional payoffs or not. This can point the way to a life that has enjoyment or fulfillment as a payoff a fair stretch down the road, when nothing seems to be bringing such reactions quickly.
This was incredibly insightful, thank you, truly. This was eye opening for me.
Hey, I've been so passioned about art and comic art making nd I started my studies in art school , but I've drowned into depression and anhedonia have stolen every piece of pleasure i get from art , after i take the pencil with every stroke i feel nothing anymore , i have no interest at all nd I gave up for a long while , art is no longer giving me any sense of pleasure , i've been diagnosed with major depression , and ive been taking fluoxetine after i tried some other ssris in vain , fluoxetine seems to be working , I have less anxiety , i have a bit of energy , i'm not sleepy all the day , i became little bit social , but anhedonia didn't improve , i'm still struggling with it , i'm still without interest nd without any sense of pleasure and reward , what should i do ?
I am not able to provide clinical advice to specific individuals without seeing them personally, unfortunately. However, there are many self-care strategies for working with depression, of which one is to push oneself to do some of the things you used to enjoy, but at a very small level and with an eye to very achievable outcomes.
Some people working on large projects find it helpful to set these aside and work on something that can be completed in an hour or two. In the case of comic art, rather than slogging away at a book project, completing a single panel. The goal must be to focus not on the Ultimate Goal but on the Immediate Goal. "Today I'm just working on this panel; maybe the book will get done and maybe not, but the goal for now is this panel."
As well, most depressions are not resolved by any one strategy. Usually it takes efforts in several areas, often including very careful attention to sleep schedule and gradual increases in exercise. The specifics likely to work for any particular individual, however, may be unique to them. For this reason, seeing a psychologist or other clinician who can evaluate the situation may be most helpful.
@@RandyPaterson I don´t even seek help. Why do I have to go back to the illusion people live ? Being a fool, having fun, without knowing that in the end, we´re all gonna lose everything ? Life only would have value if we were eternal. Billions of people already lived on this earth. Their achievements were buried under the sands of time. It´s pointless. We are doomed, the question is that depressed people know that. Depressed people see the other ones illuded on crazy and futile dreams that they are big people, that they are happy, that they are "eternal". They don´t know that everything is already set, they will age, most will have a stroke, pass years on a wheelchair depending on other people´s compassion to clean the butt, suffering from Alzheimer, becoming blind and deaf, aging and aging until someday you go to a pit where billions of other people have already gone. Where are those great dreams and achievements ? These are useless. So, you may ask: Why don´t I kill myself ? It would be the greatest nonsense to kill what it´s already dead. I´m a walking dead. We´re all are walking dead, the question is that we don´t know when we go to the pit. So, there´s no point in death either. The person who commit suicide is a complete idiot. So, wake up to the big reality, or continue to deceive yourself and have earthlings fun with these little mundaine things. Welcome to the great human tragedy, man ! Some say I´m correct, but it´s bad to think this way. Well, after you wake up, it´s impossible to sleep again. There´s no point in sleep the fool´s sleep again. Sorry !
How are you doing now?
There have been so many comments here wondering how anhedonia is treated and overcome, so I've come up with another two-video series on ten strategies that can be helpful. They're not treatment, obviously - more of a video version of a self-help book. So do not use them as a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Nevertheless, these techniques are at the core of the work I do with many clients who have true anhedonia.
How long has this diagnosis been around? I have this but only learned about it yesterday. Do doctors or phychologists know about it. I'm in Wales uk....
@@jaynestagg9460 Anhedonia is really a symptom, not a diagnosis. Something like fever, as opposed to flu. It has been known for centuries, and has been a part of the diagnostic criteria for major depression for many years. As well, like many symptoms, it is possible to experience it without actually having any diagnosable disorder. During covid-based isolation, for example, many people have experienced "the blahs," in which they have little interest or enthusiasm even for the things they can still do. This is really a mild form of anhedonia.
@@RandyPaterson i have anhedonia since last week, everytime i wake up 6 am (i usually wake up at 8) in the morning i would wish i shouldn't have woken up or wanting to die, but at night i feel a little happy less than the normal life i used to have. Why is that?
Wow! This explains so much and relieves a lot of guilt. I reported this loss of interest and pleasure and for years, and just was told it takes time.
The more medications the more loss of feelings. Finally changes physicians who switched me to a reversible MAOI and regained some of me back. Even if someone would of said or labeled anhedonia, and then broke it down as you have done would of been validating the pain of depression. I did learn about this when I finally was able watch lectures by Robert Salpolsky 12 years ago.
I am currently still have anhedonia and fatigue and still seeking a way to get relief from depression instead of will power functioning as it is exhausting. So glad to have found your video. Interesting that it is also categorized as Social and Physical and your explanation resonates more with me especially as it is practical.
Is there anyway you could do a similar series for bipolar disorder and include mania, hypomania, and mixed episodes? I have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and I really love how you are able to explain the diagnostic criteria in a relatable way and if you were to make a series on bipolar topics it would be a useful tool in helping my family understand a bit more what I am going through! Thank you!
I don't have YT videos on this, but there are very cheap courses on the subject at psychologysalon.teachable.com: "What is Depression?" and "What Causes Depression?", both $20 USD. Both focus mainly on the depressive side of the spectrum, but include observations about bipolar as well.
I'm actually the complete opposite - I make myself do things that are 'good for me' (walk in the woods with friends) but feel nothing.
Thank you for this I'll start doing stuff to make that color again
This is exactly me, in every way & has been for many many months, due to depression caused by ongoing high stress caused to me by being a victim of crime. Plus more stress caused by the neglect of the police in helping me.
Thank you so much, it helps me that someone understands the issues caused in this way.
My Dr isn't able to understand, or so it seems...just put on antidepressants & told my serotonin levels were low.
7 hi 85 lllllll
I've just learned of anhedonia , since ive developed Depression from loss of my career job @ 62. My depression haa gotten worse daily. Now, I've lost all interests in things i liked b4. Doing these things , i find no pleasure in them also. This depression is a complex box of horrors. I need help.!!
Update: i tried getting help, psychologist, crisis counselors, peer support.... Nothing has helped.
I called 988, and suicide lines,... its getting pretty bad,... i don't enjoy life anymore,... i see no hope as others do. They're not me, they can't live my life.
Can tell this was made pre-COVID without looking at when it was posted. “Anhedonia” should just be defined as “day to day life in 2020.” It’s easy to get appointments with someone that’ll listen. Finding someone that actually gives enough of a shit about me to not just throw pills at me would be much better.
Covid life certainly does have its challenges. In particular, it can make it much more difficult to do the things we used to like. Keep in mind, though, that anhedonia is not a change in the activities available to us, but in our reactions to activities we have enjoyed in the past.
Anhedonia sucks. I'd rather fracture a bone rather than dwell on anhedonia. Been having this for 3 months now and I honestly don't see no end for this feeling.
iI haven't been able to feel pleasure or even emotions in general (can't even feel fear, anger, or sadness) for 12 years. I'm not even sure why. It happened randomly and I was actually a very happy person at the time.
It’s always tempting to dichotomize emotional experience: on or off, normal or none. If we zoom in on the tone moment by moment, however, we often discover that it isn’t a flat line. There are ups and downs but not as great as previously. The tiny and seemingly trivial fluctuations can be hints about what to do. By emphasizing those non-damaging activities that provide small upticks - and by releasing hopes or expectations that we will react as we used to (by accepting what we feel or don’t feel, in other words), we can sometimes begin magnifying the ups. This is tricky, because it involves embarking on a journey to feel more intense positives while giving up on expectations of success. But accepting the emotional state that comes is an important part of it.
There is another trick as well. When emotion seems to be flatlining, we can ask ourselves "If I wanted to feel WORSE rather than better, is there a way I could do it?" If you can't find the path upward, is there any path downward visible? This can do three things. First, it verifies that indeed the emotions aren't completely offline. Second, it shows that they are at least somewhat open to influence, if only (seemingly) in a negative direction. Third, the path downward often gives significant hints about the path upward. For example, if "sit at home watching youtube for hours" is a good path down, this may indicate that "close computer and get outside and move" may be a better alternative - even if it doesn't currently give the lift it once did.
@@RandyPaterson When I was a first time mother when I got down on myself I would say Stop Thinking About What You Haven't Done and Think About What You Have Done. So simple and it worked. My expectations of myself changed. Like how important is it? That which you haven't done. Prioritize. 🌹
I got depressed and left my favorite sport at the time I had been playing for almost twenty years but after getting really depressed I never had the same feeling again never wanted to play again
Is that is? I wanted to hear a happy ending haha. Sorry to hear about that happening
i used to love talking to people but now i cant help but feel it’s all a chore. and i’ve stopped participating in all my hobbies since i feel like im being disingenuous somehow? i feel guilty for even trying to pretend i still enjoy living. are there any strategies for how to overcome anhedonia ?
I'm not able to dispense advice for any particular person, but for most of the individuals with anhedonia that I see I recommend a) pursuing other strategies and interventions likely to reduce the intensity of symptoms, and b) do as much as possible to take inertia and lack of interest out of the driver's seat. I suggest that they ask themselves what they would be doing if they felt better and more enthusiastic, and then do that to at least some degree.
They might be going on 7-day backpacking trips, for example, which is beyond them at the moment - but they can go for an hour's walk. Implicitly many people use the model "Feel it, then do it." This depends on the desire to return first, then the behaviour. In my experience, this seldom works.
Doing it, without any expectation of enjoyment or enthusiasm, just because it's on the schedule - this seems to help. Never quickly, unfortunately. It usually needs to be done over and over, and the enjoyment DURING the activity usually begins SLOWLY creeping back. Despite this, enthusiasm PRIOR to the activity does not typically appear until much later. So waiting "until I feel like it" is a particularly bad idea.
Notice that this DOES mean that for a while you are doing it as a project or plan, not out of spontaneous impulse. So it can feel disingenuous. "I'm here at the beach because it was on my calendar, not because I actually feel like it." This is just fine. We are getting the behaviour in line first, then the emotions can begin to follow. My slogan for this in therapy is "Act first, feel later."
How do I make anhedonia go away. Everything like going to the gym or going out seems like a chore I have to do.
Check here: ruclips.net/video/QSYtqlPpL0M/видео.html
Drugs decide how i feel, everyday...
Yes, ive quit before...withdrawals are hellish...and after that subsides, ( 3 months) anhedonia is just another hell.
@2:05 "So what do people do?".......I drink, I drink to suppress the pain - I understand it's not the long-term answer, but it helps right now.
Drinking is not the answer. I still want a drink or five but I’m sober for 212 days today.
Subscribed... like how you explain things
Hello: I wish I had this information 20 years ago. I couldn’t push myself hard enough. I didn’t realize I had psychological trauma.
My girlfriend was what they now call a narcissist. She utilized the police as a training aid along with mental and physical abuse.
I finally got her out of my house with the help of the police.
I have lost everything including my house. Millions$$. 🤕
I live in poverty now in the desert.
I had a psychologist for a year or so but we weren’t getting any further. He did help understand early childhood trauma. I didn’t think I had childhood abuse.
Sorry Rambling.
Thanks! 😎
I have BPD and really don't have a sense of who I am, what I like etc. I have felt Anhedonia for over a year at least. I don't know what to do. I usually would do what others want to do.
One strategy that many find useful is the "Desert Island Question." If you were all alone on a desert island (presumably one with books, movies, restaurants, vacation destinations, and careers), and no one knew or cared what you chose, what would you do?
ive got this really bad. Going through divorce. Even food has no flavor really.
Did you ever get to talk with/treat someone who had anhedonia as a result of PTSD?
It might not even make sense, but usually the anhedonia and numbness i experience are so severe, i don't even feel like i'm able to feel depressed, it may not even be a bad thing... though that's probably a hard thing to assess...
It sounds like you are talking about a generalized affective flattening or numbing, which is a common presentation of PTSD. As though the emotions that would otherwise be experienced are so powerful that they have triggered a kind of 'circuit breaker.' My videos about anhedonia are focussed mainly on the problem as it manifests within the context of clinical depression, so many of the observations may not be applicable if the problem is more directly PTSD-related. That said, depression is a common reaction to trauma - arguably a more common reaction than PTSD itself, which is a very specific set of symptoms.
This doesn’t address the absence of reward from engaging in the activities though. It’s just continuing to go through the motions and drain energy with no payoff.
This video is primarily about the nature and experience of anhedonia. The goal isn't actually to have people behave as though they were not experiencing the problem, but to resolve the problem to the greatest extent possible, so that they regain the ability to experience emotional responsivity. There is no guaranteed approach, but for some information on strategies that help many people reduce anhedonia, this video may be of some help: ruclips.net/video/QSYtqlPpL0M/видео.html
@@RandyPaterson the recommendations in that video largely say the same thing. Keep going through the motions even though there is no payoff, grind through life via discipline. It is conflating lack of motivation, or perhaps lack of activity, with lack of reward. They’re NOT the same problem.
Thanks for this video. Since Jan. 8 of this tear I have been in rough shape mentally. My wife and I were led to believe our now 7-month old likely had a life-limiting or disabling condition (turns out he has an endocrine, non-skeletal dwarfism and can likely live a healthy life). In January, February and much of March I was mentally deranged with worry, so much that my psychiatrist suggested me getting in-patient treatment. I have had a hard time coming back from this and anhedonia seems like the thing that complicates stuff. I don't feel connected to much except worries. I do find just getting out for walks or playing with my boys to help.
This sounds like a very difficult year for you. It's hard to engage with formerly-enjoyable activity when you are worried about the welfare and future of loved ones. During the period of uncertainty sometimes the best one can do is spend time with activity that's at least somewhat immersive (walking, reading, puzzles) without necessarily having the goal of enjoyment. A break is enough. As things clarify, as it sounds they have, some of the other anhedonia work I mention in the videos may prove helpful - but with challenges like this outside help (which it sounds like you have) is a very good idea.
I've suffered anhedonia most of my 60 something years. Back about 5 years ago I was prescribed Adderal in addition to my antidepressant. It has been a godsend and chances are I would never have thought of it on my own. I get by on less than 20mg daily which I was told was considered by some as near a "child" dose.
This can be an adjunct for some people, though not the majority. Glad to hear you have found a strategy that is working for you.
Antidepressants cause anhedonia
Hi thanks for sharing, may I ask the name if your antidepressant? My nephew is suffering from anhedonia… -:(
What is the name of that antidepressant
I couldn’t find the course on self-care for depression. Mind sending me the link? Thank you
Here is the link to Undoing Depression at psychologysalon.teachable.com:
psychologysalon.teachable.com/p/undoing-depression
And here is the link to the Antidepressant Skills Workbook, available for free download:
psychhealthandsafety.org/asw/
Hi Sir,my mind says that I cannot do well in the area where I am interested,passionate and talented..but actually I can do.
I am good at speaking English but my mind tells me that I can't speak english.
I am interested,passionate and capable to study well and succeed in IT field by studying MCA but my mind tells me that I can't study mca,don't have ability and many other negative thought regarding this.. and many more places were I am capable and good at but my mind tells I can't
So is this the symptom of depression or my personality??please reply sir I'm worried about this😢
When i watch a movie i can tell weather or not it is good but this is just an intellectual assessment. There is no emotional component.
Yes, many individuals find that during anhedonia purely receptive experiences (watching media, etc) have little emotional impact. Pushing oneself to take part anyway (for example, watching with friends/family) may help, but the "emotional hooking" effect I describe in my "Coping With Anhedonia" videos seems to be slow to occur with receptive experiences like this - if it happens at all. It seems to work better with active-engaged forms of activity - doing rather than watching, creating rather than consuming. Walking, volunteering, participating types of activities likewise tend to have little emotional impact at first, but the engagement of emotions seems to happen somewhat faster with repetition than it does for passive experience.
im more than a year...most of my day on lows..im watching any other video more to BPD..im so out of control on my emotions a dsy goes so many emotions and scared of abandonment its triggers one sec from happy to sad a day multiple times..and I've lost interest of what im enjoying before..im too scared to see professional..for me better i dont know what im dealing on official..is that fine?
People are very accustomed to seeing their behavior as a consequence of their emotional state. There is often more to be gained by seeing their emotional state as a consequence of their behavior.
I didn't understand until today that i have this. Lol, i was thinking this was just because i'm growing and i didn't like the same stuff anymore. But, i don't even know why i'm with depression.
We lose interest in things for many reasons, of which anhedonia is just one. As we get older, some of the things that used to interest us really don't any more. They get replaced by other things. We might find watching Dora the Explorer, or playing tag, or going to nightclubs just doesn't give us the kick it once did. This isn't necessarily anhedonia; it might just be maturation. New interests take their place. No need for treatment; the need is for an expanded and altered life.
We might also lose interest in things because there is an imbalance in our life. In a busy day, flopping onto the couch and watching an episode of Succession might be a welcome change. But if there's not a lot going on in our life and all we do is sit and watch television, Succession may quickly lose its appeal. Many busy executives fantasize of a retirement playing golf, but within weeks of moving to a "golf community" they are bored with the game. Again, not necessarily anhedonia - more of an imbalance.
Anhedonia is more about a decline of interest across the board, usually associated with other symptoms of low mood. And an inability to enjoy things while they are happening - things that genuinely match who we are now, not who we were ten years ago.
So I have major depression accompanied by anhedonia. I am itchy a lot but there is no rash. The itches are all over my body from an unknown cause. It seems to be related to my depression. No one has been able to diagnose the itching. Could you speak to this or do a video on how depression causes itching?
Please discuss this with a dermatologist. Itching is not a standard symptom of depression, though some with depression experience psychogenic itch (essentially, itching with no clear physical cause), and others with a diagnosable skin condition can find that chronic itching produces effects on mood. You will get more from a dermatologist than from anything on RUclips.
@@RandyPaterson I understand. I did discuss with a dermatologist several months back. She said she could not diagnose and had no idea what it was because there was no rash or redness. She told me to use heavy creams, which I already was. The itch which I believe to be psychogenic comes and goes now at least
Wow, thats an eye opener. I also have major depression and anhedonia. I to am itchy a lot and it's much worse when I have a stressful moment. I never connected the itching to depression though, but it's something to think about. Thank you.
@@saritameow4092 lyme disease?
Finding a good dermatologist in England , never ! And the waiting time is ludicrous
♥️ thank you.
You're welcome. There's a lot of misunderstanding about anhedonia, so I hope this proves helpful to people.
The first cause of anhedonia are PSYCH MEDS!
Is there any way I can see you professionally?
My clinical practice at the moment is not accepting new clients, as I am working on multiple other projects. In any case, psychologists are only able to see individuals living in the jurisdiction in which they are registered. Best wishes.
@@RandyPaterson My wife found a good doctor who does not accept insurance and has a good reputation, so we'll go that route. I was kidding a bit because I am aware of the jurisdiction thing, just wanted to speak with you, hahaha. Thanks for entertaining my idea anyway. :)
Thank you doc! I suffer from abuse, family history and a broken family. Once I ended up doing OD on depression medicine and it backfired also I couldnty take things anymore and I had to ahut my emotions. Now that I have locked my emotions but I don’t know how to unlock them. Even after all this, I thought I should keep going , I workout, I travel, I eat good food, even if it is .5% I do feel good, it’s almost negligible
So basically you are saying that I should do things i used to like without any expectations of them being fun and then it should comeback somewhere in a future?
I'm not able to provide recommendations for any particular person. But in general, this is the approach for overcoming anhedonia. If we do something we used to enjoy (riding a bike, let's say) we will automatically compare the experience with how it USED to feel. In the early stages of recovery, it won't feel very good, so it will seem like a failure. The trick is not only to DO the thing, but also to LET GO as completely as possible of any expectation. Or, perhaps better, to accept whatever emotional reaction we have, including boredom, sadness, anxiety, and so on. The fact that we once enjoyed the activity is a good hint that we will again - but not initially. We need to make those first attempts not seem like failures. Failure is the difference between expected outcome and actual outcome. If you expect enjoyment and don't get it, then the experience will seem a failure. If you can reduce your expectation to "I may not like it, but I'll live," you may exceed your expectations ("I lived, plus it wasn't horrific") and this tends to increase motivation.
*I heard a physician tell a great truth about depression: "Depressed people see life as it is. Normal people romanticize life". I have MDD. I feel exactly like that. I feel that everybody is living an illusion, life is an illusion where some take roles, some want to be engineers, some want to make great buildings, personal achievements, etc...This is pure vanity ! well, I discovered the "great truth": No matter what you do, life is a dead end. We´re trapped here. It´s like I have taken the red pill from the movie "matrix", now I can see everybody is sleeping and having fun, but they don´t know. They are illuding themselves for fear to face the hard reality. Some go to alcohol, some go to drugs, some go to religion, these are all artifacts to keep them away from the hard reality they don´t want to see. The ultimate reality is that life is a brief passage of time which goes to death. No matter what you do, your "big achievements", that´s nonsense, everything will be forgotten, everything will pass, we are doomed to oblivion, so life is pointless, working is pointless, even art is pointless, fun is pointless. Even if the "gods" could give me the whole universe, what would I do with a bunch of rocks, stars and planets ? These things have no value, universe has no value at all. We are flash and bones creatures condemned in this 3D space for a brief period of time. So, a person asks: "Why don´t you enjoy this little time ?" And I reply: What for ? What´s the utility ? Everything is just vanity, humans live in a kind of dream that life is beautiful, that we are on a kind of disneyland. No, this is a run to cemitery. Imagine those billions of people that lived before us, what we remember about them ? Nothing. They were like ants, we´re like ants, powerless, without hope, without any universal justice, without any value, on a small planet among billions of other planets. This life is totally meaningless. Sorry to tell you the real truth most people can´t see by themselves.*
An artist I once knew created a lithograph series of an early primate face with widened eyes. She called it "Awareness of Death," and said she was trying to portray the moment when we might have evolved enough to realize that our own existence was finite. Since that time, all humans have been aware that life is ephemeral. Some cope with distraction, some with a focus on ideas of continuation beyond death, some with resignation, and some with a sense of the preciousness of life: the idea that it is valuable precisely because it is short. (Diamonds are valuable only because they are rare; if riverbeds were filled with them they would attract no notice.) From this we can gain compassion for our fellow humans, including those whose behaviour seems irritating or confusing.
During depression, one of the facets of this truth, a sense of pointless futility, can come to dominate our minds, and we can develop impatience for others who are not dwelling on the facet we are emphasizing. As depression lifts, most retain this sense of the brevity of existence while developing an ability to see other facets as well.
Rather than denying the reality of impermanence, they might see that it extends even more broadly. Every meal we eat will end, leaving only an empty plate. Every movie, concert, party, vacation, and career will have an end. Every person we love will prove to be as mortal as we are. We can use this as a defence against experience: Why bother with that holiday, when we'll only have to come back home again? Why see that play if it's only 2 hours long? Why feed or care for that child, when she will only one day sicken and die like the rest of us?
Alternatively, we might think: Why dwell exclusively on finality, when there is a plate here before us? If we will prove ephemeral regardless of what we do, then let's spend it well. We are granted an unknown period of time. Eighty or ninety years if we're lucky. What would we do if it was longer? Maybe we can do some of that in the time we have.
Please accept my best wishes on your journey with this. MDD is not an easy thing to overcome. I hope that you have found help along the way.
@@RandyPaterson @How to be Miserable Excellent comment, and an excellent points. I loved when you recognized all the points I didn´t covered on my comment. You´re right. Since the first primate gained sufficient intelligence and perception that his life was finite, many things derived from that, for example, all religions are based on the perception that this life is very short, and they offer an eternal life beyond death IF someone do some things here. We buy here to receive on a promised afterlife. All religions are based on that. I stayed in awe when I looked at mankind and noticed that almost all things are related to death: Marriage->sons - > offspring. People do many things unconsciously preparing for their death. The own idea of drugs and alcohol, or any form of escapism is to avoid the "hard" reality. It´s a form of denying the underlined reality. In your comment, you proposed several healthy forms to deal with the reality, despite knowing it. I agree that it´s better to be aware of death and deal with it, than escape through any other method, It´s better to be aware and accept, because, like some eastern philosophies state: "If you are aware and accept death, you will only die once; If you are aware but you don´t accept it, you will die everyday." I know it´s difficult to have fun on a holyday knowing that at home again, you´ll die, but so is this life, like a long weekend, a holyday where we die at the end. Ignorance is a bliss for those who believe in a god that will make their lives eternal after death. All the best. Pardon my poor english. I´m not from a native english speaking Country.
The narcissist romanticizes his life. The empath doesn't.
Im lost interest in all of my activities that i used to loved before.. And now i think lost interest even to take my next breath.. May i die sooner.. Its a pain with no bleeding im in pain by doing nothing.. Its hurts
Doing very little and being disengaged from life often seems appealing. "I'll recharge and get my energy back." In fact, this way of living tends to deplete energy and interest. Waiting for interest to return usually turns out to be the wrong move.
Over the past months I have done extensive research on this and all the medicines you can try to treat this. These anti depressants and shit you get from your doctor are trash. Now I'm starting to look at my testosterone levels and seeing that mine is low when only being 28 that's a problem. Further more I have not yet tested the testosterone so I'm not sure if it will help but the symptoms are nearly identical to those of depression and anedonia.
Hmmm....makes so much sense as to why I feel so blaaahhh during recovery.
Yes, people often feel quite flat during the initial stages of recovery. BTW, Hendrix Fan, I practice a few km from Vancouver's Jimi Hendrix shrine that you can visit when you see the city someday. His grandmother lived in Vancouver's Hogan's Alley district and he would come to Canada to visit her when he was young.
I have anhedonia and emotional flatness. I can't feel sad, angry, happy or pleasure. I can't even laugh or cry. I think the antipsychotics I'm on caused the anhedonia
If one suspects that a medication is influencing the ability to feel certain emotions, it's best to raise this with the prescribing physician.
I got it from risperidone, and it hasn't gone away yet, even after I stopped the meds. I am taking L-tyrosine because I've heard it helps. I don't even really get out of bed in the morning or do anything.
@@gilgameshduchiha9529 I hear L-Tyrosine works for anhedonia, has it been doing anything for you?
@@kaylafreebird not yet. it's been almost a week now of taking it. I will keep going.
My anhedonia is really bad though. I got it from risperidone (risperdal). I don't even see reason to get out of bed or eat or do anything. Can't engage in most activities. I hope you get better. I am going to try ketamine infusions soon hopefully I just have to convince my Mom. She is extremely against ketamine infusions.
@@gilgameshduchiha9529 Anthipsychotics are more dangerous than ketamine.
I know many people that suffer from permanent med induced anhedonia/emotional numbness!
Those pills are poisons!
You really can be so bored you could die
As the followup videos on Coping With Anhedonia point out, a part of anhedonia is the lack of appeal for activities in the future: we do not look forward to anything and are not drawn to anything. If we base our behaviour on our desires, we will do little, and boredom will often take over. Many people feel their boredom is a sign of their illness, or their abnormality. But when one looks closely at how they spend their days it becomes apparent that anyone would be bored living a similar life. Their boredom can, at times, be the most normal emotional response they have.
Part of overcoming anhedonia is to replace desire with values as the driver of action: I do this not because I look forward to it, but because it is an expression of who I am. In my life I have valued connection, therefore I will spend time with friends regardless of how it may feel now. I have the great gift of a body that more or less works, therefore I will treat it well and exercise though I have no desire at the thought of doing so.
Being bored, to me, is a sign on improvement. Spent a lot of time in the last 4 years lying around doing nothing. Now I get bored sometimes.
What if you don’t like doing anything. What have you can’t function. What if your depression never stops
This is the kind of situation where in-person professional assistance is necessary. RUclips is unlikely to be very helpful when a person is in this state.
most of my day layin in bed without doing nothing and play some vid on RUclips but not really knowing what my point towards vid..my eyes on my phone my mind ..hmm.. didn't know exactly where my thoughts been
I encourage you to notice days when you do this. Look back over the day and ask whether you are satisfied with the day and how it was spent. Not whether it's something to be proud of, or whether others would approve, or whether it's what you SHOULD be doing. Are you content that the day was well spent, and do you feel better for having spent the day that way? We can treat every day as a kind of naturalistic experiment - but one that we will benefit from only if we collect the data. Live a day on RUclips, then COLLECT THE DATA: What impact did that have on you. If there are days when you are more active - outside, in nature, getting chores done, or working bit by bit on personal goals - then collect the data for these as well. Then compare the two, with the intention of using what you learn to guide decision making in the future.
I have no emotions from 1 year like my heart is dead every thing that give me motivation pleasure no longer feel me anything no desires to do things no sex desires kind of numb
so, solution?
Like most complex issues, this involves a lot of detail - more than I can cover in just one video. However, consult the section from 8:15 onward and you'll hear some of the idea.
@@RandyPaterson I need to force my self "to do" things
There is no solution
@@danashannon8234 I would say that there is no simple solution. But major depressive episodes come to an end for the vast majority of people who experience them. When I see clients I often tell them that it isn't our mission to make this end. It will end anyway. Our mission, in our work together, is just to speed up the process. And then, hopefully, reduce the likelihood of recurrences.
I don’t see why this is a problem
The emotions constitute one of two guidance systems for behaviour (the other being a person's values). If it is offline, or if only the uncomfortable emotions are present, it can be extremely difficult for a person to engage in positive action. Much of the goal is to help the person switch from "what do I feel like doing" to "what would a well version of me be doing" or "what do I value" in order to overcome inertia, which tends to feed the anhedonia. Eventually the reward aspects of emotion typically return, though not nearly as quickly as most people would like.
My girlfriend is depressed right now, has been for 3 weeks and has told me how she feels we are distant and she thinks I love her more than she loves me. Has no pleasure in anything right now so I'm sure she has Anhedonia. Her mother and I have no idea what to do. She won't take her meds, she won't call a crisis helpline. Does anyone have any help or advice? I feel like I'm losing her.
You seem to be pushing her away and trying to get back how she used to be. It seems she don't want to be that person anymore. Instead you need to show her how she became the person she is today without any judgement, be a friend not a lover.
Show me any successful story who got healed ?
The majority of major depressive episodes are time-limited. When they pass, anhedonia generally tends to lift. I often tell depressed clients that our work together is not designed to end the episode, just to end it SOONER than it would otherwise. That said, of course there are people who have longer episodes, depression that does not abate, and anhedonia that does not fade. It isn't the usual experience, however.
One factor that slows depression recovery is that the person, lacking interest and enthusiasm, gives up on the activities that they formerly enjoyed, and adopts a lifestyle that both reflects and prolongs the episode. Much of treatment (though clearly not all) is about re-engagement in advance of drive. In effect, this means listening to the siren song of depression (which often says "stay home, close the curtains, go back to bed") a little less, and engaging in activities that formerly lifted them. Initially, as described in other videos on this page (ruclips.net/video/QSYtqlPpL0M/видео.html), this means tolerating these activities without enjoyment. Over time (and never as fast as anyone might like), enjoyment tends to return.
@@RandyPaterson Thank you so much for replying.
7 people didn't like a vid about anhedonia....... predictable
I feel this way about sex and women.....