These days are pretty normal every now and then (or even every weekend after a stressful workweek).
Fortunately, there’s a fancy, clinical term for a loss of interest in once-pleasurable activitiesit’s calledanhedonia.
Psychiatrist-approved tips like reflecting on the best moments of our lives and connecting with others can help manage anhedonia.
Verywell / Julie Bang
So, What Exactly Does Anhedonia Feel Like?
Do We Know What Causes Anhedonia?
Anhedonia may reflect deficits or dysfunction in the reward center of the brain.
And, according to Dr. Joseph, anhedonia is linked toschizophrenia,MDD, and substance use disorder.
People with bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and Parkinson’s disease may also experience anhedonia.
Fun Fact
The literal translation of the word anhedonia, in Latin, means no pleasure.
So, its basically the opposite of hedonismwhich describes a life devoted to indulging in all forms of pleasure.
Is It Anhedonia or Am I Just Having a Bad Day (Or Week)?
All of us have bad days.
Maybe were trying to slap on afake smilearound our in-laws.
But, these bad days are usually the result of some unfavorable situation that we can identify.
Think of it as the middle ground between depression and anxiousness.
It’s basically an overall feeling of ‘blah.’
in life can negatively affect both mental and physical health.
Are Anhedonia and Apathy the Same Thing?
When we feelapathetic, we feel little to no motivation to do things,let alone complete a goal.
For instance, the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is the most popular anhedonia assessment.
Dr. Judith recommends the following strategies that can help us spark some joy back in our lives.
Nothing too heavy,just stay present and in the moment.
So, lean into the knowledge that people are in your corner and accept you.
Going to church or reading religious scriptures can help you achieve this.
If youre not religious or spiritual, think about something you believe in or value.
Perhaps youre super intoastrology.
Can Medication Help to Alleviate Anhedonia?
Winer ES, Jordan DG, Collins AC.Conceptualizing anhedonias and implications for depression treatments.Psychol Res Behav Manag.
Published 2019 May 13. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S159260
Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Anhedonia.
Berridge KC, Kringelbach ML.Pleasure systems in the brain.Neuron.
2020;3(8):e2013233.
