Anhedonia: is nothing fun?

“Baby steps, nothing too big or too overwhelming, what’s one small thing you can do that might make a difference?”
Gabriela Yepez

This may sound very doom and gloom at first, but there is hope. Life can be fun, you can relax again and best of all, solve the problems that cause you so much stress in the process.

Don’t be bummed out, there are solutions out there. Take control and take action.

What is anhedonia?

David from Schitts Creek saying What is That? — *Via GIPHY*

Blah days are normal; they happen to everyone. But when you can’t feel any form of pleasure every day, that’s anhedonia.

It sounds like depression, but it’s only a symptom. Depression is a broader disorder that has other symptoms within it. You may feel OK, not depressed, yet still experience anhedonia with your hobbies.

We sat down with Queens University professor and psychiatrist, Dr. Mark Berber, to understand more about anhedonia and how it can affect post-secondary students.

Berber says a person needs five out of nine symptoms to be formally diagnosed with an illness, such as depression, but it’s possible for someone to just have the anhedonia symptom and not need a proper diagnosis.

People with anhedonia rarely feel excited. They lack the desire to do things or look forward to activities with enthusiasm. Even when they do something, they don’t enjoy it anymore.

Everything seems pointless. There’s no drive to do things just for the fun of it. People with anhedonia often drown in work because it’s the only thing that they see purpose in. It’s not healthy and impacts the ability to enjoy life.

Movies don’t evoke any emotion, playing sports is no longer exhilarating and hobbies that you once loved aren’t meaningful anymore.

People with anhedonia will often ask, “What’s the point?” The truth is, it’s not the hobby at all. Life’s issues are the problem.

Do I have it?

David from Schitts Creek asking What's Going On? while holding a coffee cup in one hand and waving his arm with the other. — *Via GIPHY*

The feeling of not finding value in a task can be normal, depending on the person and the task. For example, one person might enjoy a class while another dislikes it. However, if you can’t find any value in anything, then that’s enough to seek out some help to find out if you have anhedonia.

Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber offer mental health services for all students — for FREE. Beyond the campus, there are mental health resources available for all students to not only identify any issues but also help solve them.

Good2talk, CAMH virtual urgent mental health care clinic, Campus Mental Health and the Crisis Helpline 9-8-8 are just a few sources to start your journey to better mental health. The IGNITE Health and Dental Insurance plan also covers 80 per cent of the cost up to $1,000 of your visits to private practice therapists with a doctor’s reference.

Berber says it’s important to rule out anything deeper before concluding you only have anhedonia. See a free practitioner to rule out any physical ailments or unhealthy lifestyle habits like poor diet, lack of exercise or insufficient fresh air.

Once everything has been checked out, it’s pretty safe to say anhedonia is the only symptom.

How did I get it?

David from Schitts Creek with a confused expression on his face. — *Via GIPHY*

The doctor said anhedonia could be caused by many factors. It may be a general symptom of stress, burnout or a sudden lifestyle change, as well as how a person has managed these changes.

Berber says anhedonia stems from challenges in life that cause so much frustration that it makes someone irritable throughout the day. Everyone faces obstacles, but when it becomes too much, people bring that frustration home, letting it affect every other aspect of their life.

These challenges lead to the core of anhedonia: hopelessness. Sounds awful, but bear with me, it does get better.

“You’ve got to do your best to inspire hope.”
Dr. Mark Berber

Before this feeling of hopelessness goes away, though, it’s important to understand what challenges you’re facing.

According to the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH), 95 per cent of post-secondary students report being overwhelmed and exhausted. CICMH says four in five students experience burnout during their time in post-secondary education.

It could be the burden of an endless class load, the struggle to find companionship without success or the frustration of trying to secure a job and seeing no reward for your efforts, staring at the $0 balance in your bank account, while necessities still need to be paid for.

It may not even be work-related. The report also says that more than half of the students are experiencing loneliness.

There may be a need in your life that’s going unmet and causes major stress. Social or otherwise. Berber says understanding the issue that’s affecting you is the first step in getting rid of anhedonia.

Treatment

David from Schitts Creek looking at himself up and down in a stand up mirror then saying Alright. — *Via GIPHY*

So, what can you do about it? Quite a few things, depending on the person.

Humber’s Associate Director of Counselling and Mental Health Services, Gabriela Yepez, reminds us of the power self-compassion has when dealing with anhedonia.

“Life is hard, school is hard. We’re not always the kindest to ourselves,” she said.

Feeling overwhelmed with obligations is a cause for anhedonia on its own. Breaking tasks into smaller ones is the solution here.

Both Berber and Yepez say taking a break and having a good work-life balance is the cure. Pushing yourself to engage in activities that you find pleasurable also helps. If you’re unsure where to start, think about the last time you found something enjoyable; even if it means going back to childhood.

Find the positives in what you’re doing. Even though it may still feel mundane, progress happens 0.01 per cent at a time.

It’s important not to use this as an excuse to get things done or be productive. This isn’t meant to be a motivator to do things you dislike. On the contrary, the goal is to find happiness for yourself.

Savour activities as you’re experiencing them, use all your senses and avoid the thought that they’re a waste of time. Pat yourself on the back for any excitement you feel before or during the activity.

What about life’s issues, though? Berber says to address the problems in life head-on. Do your best to problem solve whatever it is that’s giving you frustration, anger or sadness.

Find balance

If you’ve done all within your control to soften the negative effects but still don’t notice a difference, then talk to someone who can solve the problem. It could be as simple as talking to your professor about your workload, working with an employment agency or specialist to help you network and brush up your resume or being open in your relationships to handle the issues respectfully and productively.

If the problem is that something feels missing, odds are there are needs in your life that aren’t being met. Berber says it’s essential to take a break from hobbies, just like work.

“The magic word is balance. If you have a balanced life, balanced hobbies, then you’re going to be happier,” Berber said.

He encourages people to go out and experience life. Join a club, get involved, participate in the change you want to see and seek out meaningful relationships in the process.

And don’t forget, Humber and UofGH students have access to free mental health services through the institution, and external ones can be supported by the IGNITE Health and Dental Insurance plan.

Feature image by Yuris Alhumaydy via Unsplash.

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