Anhedonia is the inability to experience joy or pleasure.

You may feel numb or less interested in things that you once enjoyed. It’s a common symptom of many mental health conditions like depression. Treatment is available to help you regain interest in life’s activities, like being around loved ones or listening to music.

What is Anhedonia?

Anhedonia is the lack of interest, enjoyment or pleasure from life’s experiences. You may not want to spend time with others or do activities that previously made you happy. While it is normal when your interests change throughout your life, you get much less pleasure or joy doing things you like to do. It is a core symptom of a major depressive disorder.

Social anhedonia occurs when you do not enjoy being around people, prefer isolation, tend to refrain from stepping out of the house & interacting with people.

Physical anhedonia occurs when physical touch, smells, sounds or music does not bring you joy (like it used to earlier).

How does anhedonia feel?

You may feel emptiness. Those who experience it usually use the word “emptiness” or “numbness”. Individual may seem to be excessively bored and nurture negative feelings (unlike their usual personality). Some may excessively sleep, and some may find it hard to sleep and completing daily routine chores around the house may feel daunting. Individuals may feel they have nothing to offer or contribute even in a conversation.

Biologically, it is the dysfunction of the brain’s reward-processing system.

Possible causes

While Vitamin D deficiency & Hypothyroidism can be causes, physicians will evaluate for other conditions through physical exams, blood tests and medical history.

Physician care

Anhedonia can affect your mental and physical health. A healthcare provider and/or a mental health professional can help you reduce this symptom so you can feel better sooner. Reach out to a physician if you or anyone you know are feeling emotionally numb, or have lost interest for a longer period of time. Look out for those around you who may be reaching out for help!

Self help & Home remedies

One of the most effective ways is to start a walking routine regularly, be it for 30 minutes or 45 minutes of brisk walking.

Check on your Vitamin D levels. During fall & winter, our Vitamin D levels tend to be lower. Replenish with supplements as needed.

Do not miss your Annual health check ups to check on your thyroid levels and if you have issues with your thyroid, do not skip your medication.

Do activities that make you happy and trigger your dopamine levels. Dopamine is particularly important in reward motivation, anticipation, and reinforcement.

Watch a comic series, laugh, meet up with friends online, volunteer, do any activity that has a physical activity and ability to experience joy.

While what works for you may not work for someone else, make an effort to do what is missing in your daily routine.

Anhedonia is a marked reduction or loss of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding activities and is a cardinal symptom of major depressive disorder.

Reach out to a physician if you or anyone you know are feeling emotionally numb, or have lost interest for a longer period of time. Look out for those around you who may be reaching out for help!