Why Have I Lost All Interests . . .

I have lost all interests in everything I once enjoyed. Perhaps this is due to my depression, or I am just Unhappy with my life. Whatever it is, it is causing me severe anxiety and stress and I don't know what to do to reverse it. How do I motivate myself and get re-interested in things I once enjoyed ?

I'll be watching this thread for suggestions. I'm in the same spot you are in, and I'm sure it is due to the depression. Reversing time is the only thing I can think about lately, and it contributes to the depression...When I was gainfully employed, there was no depression, hence why I think to the past and long for it. I hope that things get better for all of us on these boards/threads.

This is one of the hardest symptoms of depression I think. Sorry to hear that it's got you wrapped up without any idea of what to do.

If I were you I would search out new experiences, preferably something interactive and with new people. That might take you out of your element, help you form new perspectives, and maybe it'll help you reset your neural pathways.

Finding the motivation to do that is another battle, I can't say I've figured that one out.

One way or another life will happen to you and I'm sure you'll find yourself on your way to recovering from this, hang in there.

Same here. When I first picked up my guitar, I didn't put it down for two years. Then one day I just quit. Now whenever I play, especially when I try to learn a new song, I spend most of the time berating myself for not being any better or not enjoying it more.

The worst part is, whenever I'm doing something I know I enjoy, I'll immediately start thinking about how fleeting this moment will be and the interest goes away. I believe that's the worst part about depression for me, the disinterest.

I have a feeling there's no quick fix. Maybe trying to get interested in new experiences would do the trick, I don't know. Nothing I've tried has worked so far.

Certainly is a major symptom of depression. I to have no interest in the things I would normally enjoy. I am started to read books again but I can only read a few pages at a time. I either can't concentrate or I just don't have the interest.

Yes I agree it is the major symptom of depression along with the feeling of hopelessness. When you find out the secret let us know. I don't think there is a quick fix solution to this problem. I am a completely different person with depression than I use to be without it.

I think arachnophobia.kid is right. A lot of the time, to move forward you have to take a step back and see if from a different angle. Try new things. Adventure and do stuff that you normally wouldn't do. Depression is a fun sucker. It steals the joy that you feel and hides it and usually we wander around just super frustrated and wonder where it has all gone. But a lot of things are found when you aren't looking so the best thing for me is taking the time to try other stuff. I've started creeping through university buildings looking for secret passages and doors left unlocked and just exploring. Maybe set up an elaborate over the top prank at your workplace. Or start a project that the past you would have enjoyed and see how it goes. Play a video game you know is terrible just to see how it turns out. Watch a movie that's genre you usually avoid like the plague. Busy yourself and add new experiences to your belt and eventually you'll find that joy again.

Ditto to all the suggestions. Try something new or explore a new environment. Maybe you'll find only one thing you enjoy, BUT that's okay; it'll help a great deal. Huge gardens, taking pictures of huge gardens and writing stories have been my guaranteed sources of enjoyment. I don't always want to do these things, but if I push myself to do one on a very low day, I usually end up happy that I did.

Feeling the exact same thing. I stay in bed because I just foresee being bored or uninspired by trying. My therapist always says to go for a walk and sit in a park or something and just look at nature. It seems impossible. People have been giving me other ideas and sometimes I think that it is possible and try to promise to do it the next day. Then the next day comes and I can't push myself to just try it. I know when the warmer weather comes there will be less of an excuse to stay indoors which will make me feel guilty that I am not out enjoying the world when depression keeps me from leaving my bed.

Thanks for all your replies. There are some good suggestions, and I thank you.
My concern is that I shouldn't feel this way while on Medication. Right ? I mean, I'm on medication. So, why do these depressive symptoms still exist and cause so many problems for me ? I should be feeling better, be more motivated, have more interests in things and life in general. I'm starting to think that medications don't really help with anything.

What meds are you taking and how long have you been on them?
Meds have never stopped me from having depressions. I think overall they have helped me.
But I sometimes question if they are doing anything or why I am even on them. In the last twenty years I have been on them all. Usually what has happened it that I take one for a year and it quits helping at all and I switch to another one. Then they started using combinations. I recently switched two of them yet again. I have very treatment resistant depression.

I am on Cymbalta. I was on Abilify, but had to discontinue that due to the severe anxiety side effect of that drug. So right now I am only one one medication. I also take Xanax for my severe anxiety attacks. I am only on 30mg of Cymbalta. I think I need to be on 60mg of Cymbalta, which appears to be the therapeutic dose for depression.

I was on 30 of Cymbalta for about a year and that was a therapeutic dose for me. When I went off of it (cold turkey - not recommended) it was miserable. I stopped because I was doing better. Best wishes to you with your struggles. BTW, after Cymbalta and being off all meds for a year, I was hospitalized, then went through mirtazapine, lexapro, and now I'm on effexor. Not sure if it's working, but others tell me "you look better"...I hope that you're feeling better today.

I seem to have a bigger problem with anxiety and anxiety attacks, many were brought on by caffeine, which I just realized. I think its best that I eliminate caffeine from my diet. The Xanax does help to get the attacks under control. I feel better on 30mg of Cymbalta than I did on 20mg of Cymbalta. I still think I should be on 60mg of Cymbalta and will recommend that to my doc.

My doc took me off of abilify and put me on Lamictal instead. It is a mood stabilizer for bi-polar but is now being used for depression. I did notice a big elevation in my mood since being on it and no side effects. Right now I am switching from effexor to fetzima.

Yeah they will probably want to increase your dose first before switching or maybe increase dose and add something else.

i thought i couldnt live without medication, but Im actually doing better now without them. I dont know if there is a correlation or not...

I decided to do some acquasize classes and it made feel good finally about myself this week.

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I just saw my pdoc and he increased my Cymbalta to 60mg per day.
I'm hoping I begin to feel better. Today I'm not having any anxiety attacks, but
still spend to much time worrying over things, the future, and why I don't have
any interest or motivation to do anything. I'm really hoping that I begin to feel
better soon.