[boogiesmash]

Has anybody recovered from this? I want to go back to my old routines, cleaning, working out and martial arts. I miss them all so much, I just can't get myself to go. All I can do is think of them, simpler times, much loved time.

[Wander]

Anhedonia is a symptom of depression so as your depression lifts it will pass. I can totally relate as I am experiencing it now. It is awful so you have my sympathies. Hang in there, the depression will pass.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Oh I've been there. I guess I can say just to ride it out or maybe increase or add on a AD. It took me awhile but slowly I got out of it and am enjoying music again. My life revolved around music and when I had that, there was no song that didn't annoy me.

[Moose72]

That word is in my medical record. Lack of emotion. Then said it about me in the psych ER.

[Guiness187055]

I don't enjoy really anything. My last depression was so bad it killed everything that I enjoyed and I never got it back.

I've had to deal with a lack of interest or pleasure for long periods. It was horrible. The worst for me was when I was on lithium....it was such a bad, horrible drug for me. I never thought I'd get better but I did, eventually. Then worse again, then better. I wish there was a permanent way to stay out of the pits of hell. I wish I had useful advise. You have my sympathies and I hope you find passion for living again soon. (((Hugs)))

[Nammu]

I've had that and recovered. It's part of the depression.

[Sunflower123]

Same here.

[bioChE]

Yep, symptom of depression. It'll pass.

[boogiesmash]

Been a long time with this.

Ever since my doctor had me on an antidepressant and I went bipolar then off it I've been stuck in an anhedonic state. I'm not on an antidepressant, not on a mood stabilizer anymore, just an antipsychotic and I can't feel love or simple mental pleasures anymore. Its a prison sentence. I regret being weak to ask for a depression pill becauser ill never be happy again because of it. I don't feel depression, loneliness, nothing.

[Goals2017]

I'm currently going through this too I wonder if it's the lithium causing it?

[emgreen]

I'd never heard of the term "anhedonia." Sounds like a fancy way of saying that you're unmotivated because depression is kicking your butt. Muddy Waters sang a famous song called "Caledonia." We could replace "Caledonia" with "anhedonia." Sing along! It will cure your anhedonia:

[bioChE]

Originally Posted by emgreen

I'd never heard of the term "anhedonia." Sounds like a fancy way of saying that you're unmotivated because depression is kicking your butt. Muddy Waters sang a famous song called "Caledonia." We could replace "Caledonia" with "anhedonia." Sing along! It will cure your anhedonia:

Anhedonia has nothing to do with motivation. It's the inability to experience pleasure.

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by bioChE

Anhedonia has nothing to do with motivation. It's the inability to experience pleasure.

Sorry, bioChE. I've had that, too. I just wasn't familiar with the term & probably didn't read carefully enough. My bad.

[boogiesmash]

Originally Posted by emgreen

Sorry, bioChE. I've had that, too. I just wasn't familiar with the term & probably didn't read carefully enough. My bad.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Also... when I had it, I hated sex. I never wanted it ever when I was that depressed. I didn't enjoy a single thing. I was as emotionless and as useful as the walking dead.

Originally Posted by bioChE

Anhedonia has nothing to do with motivation. It's the inability to experience pleasure.

For me, it also means that I have trouble attaching any ideas with emotions. Even sad ones. Oddly enough, I can feel physical emotions like the physical depression symptoms of my stomach in knots, oh my head feeling like it's weighed down, of my face being pressed down forced to frown. When I take dopamine inhibiting drugs, whether prescribed (Wellbutrin) or something like caffeine, all I feel is alert. When it comes to sex I can physical physical pleasure down there but nothing in my head, not a hint of euphoria, not even mildly. Nor can I feel love, a book, not even music. I wrote my pdoc a letter. I plan on giving it to her soon, and we'll move forward with a treatment plan. Not many recover from negative symptoms though.

[boogiesmash]

Originally Posted by Day Tripper

For me, it also means that I have trouble attaching any ideas with emotions. Even sad ones. Oddly enough, I can feel physical emotions like the physical depression symptoms of my stomach in knots, oh my head feeling like it's weighed down, of my face being pressed down forced to frown. When I take dopamine inhibiting drugs, whether prescribed (Wellbutrin) or something like caffeine, all I feel is alert. When it comes to sex I can physical physical pleasure down there but nothing in my head, not a hint of euphoria, not even mildly. Nor can I feel love, a book, not even music. I wrote my pdoc a letter. I plan on giving it to her soon, and we'll move forward with a treatment plan. Not many recover from negative symptoms though.

It is possible. I'm hopeful recovering from negative symptoms. I've had thoughts this week that I countered with some cbt coping skills.

I understand what you mean attaching ideas with emotions. Especially ideas that you feel passionate about or no longer there. Let me know what your pdoc said.

[bukowski06]

Originally Posted by boogiesmash

It is possible. I'm hopeful recovering from negative symptoms. I've had thoughts this week that I countered with some cbt coping skills.

I understand what you mean attaching ideas with emotions. Especially ideas that you feel passionate about or no longer there. Let me know what your pdoc said.

Hello

For negative symptoms my husband's doctor is having him do transcranial magnetic stimulation, which I don't know very much about.

I saw in your signature that you are taking Wellbutrin and Pristiq along with other medications. Do you feel that these other medicines improve the functioning of these 2 meds or are you taking them for other reasons? Thank you my husband is currently taking those 2 meds as well as abilify. I hope that your symptoms will improve it sounds like you are very motivated

[boogiesmash]

Originally Posted by bukowski06

Hello

For negative symptoms my husband's doctor is having him do transcranial magnetic stimulation, which I don't know very much about.

I saw in your signature that you are taking Wellbutrin and Pristiq along with other medications. Do you feel that these other medicines improve the functioning of these 2 meds or are you taking them for other reasons? Thank you my husband is currently taking those 2 meds as well as abilify. I hope that your symptoms will improve it sounds like you are very motivated

I have been on pristiq and Wellbutrin for a while now. Say at least 6 months. I recently started an iop program and the doc their has started me on lamictal and aiming for 150-200 mg therapeutic range. I feel the constant group therapy and added lamictal have improved my mood. Before iop I was spending 12 plus hours in bed usually. With sometime entire weekends spent in bed.

[Woolly Bugger]

How long have you been with your current psychiatrist? It doesn't sound like things are working. I'm sorry you are having so much trouble, by the way.

[RedDawn]

Originally Posted by Day Tripper

Ever since my doctor had me on an antidepressant and I went bipolar then off it I've been stuck in an anhedonic state. I'm not on an antidepressant, not on a mood stabilizer anymore, just an antipsychotic and I can't feel love or simple mental pleasures anymore. Its a prison sentence. I regret being weak to ask for a depression pill becauser ill never be happy again because of it. I don't feel depression, loneliness, nothing.

Have you tried other antidepressants? There's a good chance that not all of them will do that to you.

[boogiesmash]

Slowly beating it right niw

[Tryingtobehappy5]

I feel that way all the time when I'm depressed. One thing I learned in my last ip during group therapy that really helped me before a med switch even happened was mindfulness. Our minds are so preoccupied with all these negative thoughts that we dont focus on any of the sensations that made us enjoy those things.

So when I watered the flowers there I took time to really focus on the feeling of the hot sun on my face, smelled and felt every flower and plant and let water splash on my feet to feel the sensation of the cold water hitting me. It became pleasurable even though I had only wanted to lay in bed to begin with. I enjoy gardening a lot when I am doing well but my garden usually gets abandoned for a while every year.

I hope you can enjoy things again soon