All too often, we talk about depression as though it is a deep and intense sadness. Certainly, sometimes it is. But if we only think of depression as a sadness, then we forget that it also has other symptoms that can dramatically affect our lives. It can make us tired. It can prevent us from sleeping. It can make it harder to concentrate.
One symptom that many without depression often struggle to understand – and a symptom that some people with it do not realize is depression – is known as “anhedonia,” or the absence of pleasure. It is an especially unique symptom, because it can occur by itself, without the feeling of being “down” that we associate with depression.
An Absence of Pleasure and Nothing Else
When a person loses the ability to experience pleasure, they are unable to feel any feelings of happiness, positivity, and joy. They can still experience other emotions, or they can experience no real strong emotions in any direction, but they cannot experience the feeling itself of pleasure.
Most of the time, anhedonia does occur when you have other symptoms typical of depression, like the feeling of being especially down, sad, or empty. But anhedonia can occur without those as well. Some people simply experience anhedonia and otherwise feel normal, but they will struggle to:
- Laugh at jokes.
- Enjoy activities you once enjoyed.
- Feel happy feelings while out with friends or watching a great movie.
Again, you may not feel sad, or down, or what we traditionally envision as “depressed.” A person with anhedonia can feel, even to themselves, fine. But when a person can no longer experience pleasure, then they begin to lose interest in things, and eventually, struggle to see joy in the world at all.
Monitoring for Anhedonia and Getting Help
We all deserve to feel a full range of emotions, including joy, happiness, and pleasure. If at any point we are struggling to feel those things – regardless of whether or not we think we have depression – then we also deserve to get the help we need. At Right Path Counseling, we provide therapy for depression, sadness, emptiness, and whatever else you may be feeling with the goal of making sure you have a brighter and more pleasure filled future. Find out more by contacting Right Path Counseling, today.
