Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSo, What Exactly Does Anhedonia Feel Like?Do We Know What Causes Anhedonia?Is It Anhedonia or Am I Just Having a Bad Day (Or Week)?Use This Test to Figure Out If You’re Experiencing AnhedoniaPsychiatrist-Approved Ways to Deal With AnhedoniaCan Medication Help to Alleviate Anhedonia?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

So, What Exactly Does Anhedonia Feel Like?

Do We Know What Causes Anhedonia?

Is It Anhedonia or Am I Just Having a Bad Day (Or Week)?

Use This Test to Figure Out If You’re Experiencing Anhedonia

Psychiatrist-Approved Ways to Deal With Anhedonia

Can Medication Help to Alleviate Anhedonia?

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Every Friday onThe Verywell Mind Podcast, host Minaa B., a licensed social worker, mental health educator, and author of “Owning Our Struggles,” interviews experts, wellness advocates, and individuals with lived experiences about community care and its impact on mental health.

We’ve all had those days where the only thing we feel like doing is lounging at home, scrolling through Instagram—bed-rotting. These days are pretty normal every now and then (or even every weekend after a stressful workweek). But what does it mean when all of thatdoomscrollingand attempts to avoid engaging in our hobbies or seeing friends and significant others reflect something more concerning?

Of course, havingalone timeto decompress is a necessary part of self-care, but if we’re losing interest in the things and people we love, our bodies might be signaling a larger problem. Fortunately, there’s a fancy, clinical term for a loss of interest in once-pleasurable activities—it’s calledanhedonia.

At a GlanceAnhedonia refers to a loss of interest in the people and activities that previously brought joy or pleasure. While not an official diagnosis, anhedonia is often a symptom of various mental health conditions—particularly major depressive disorder (MDD). Psychiatrist-approved tips like reflecting on the best moments of our lives and connecting with others can help manage anhedonia. More severe anhedonia may be a symptom of a major depressive disorder and can be treated with a combination of medication and therapy.

At a Glance

Anhedonia refers to a loss of interest in the people and activities that previously brought joy or pleasure. While not an official diagnosis, anhedonia is often a symptom of various mental health conditions—particularly major depressive disorder (MDD). Psychiatrist-approved tips like reflecting on the best moments of our lives and connecting with others can help manage anhedonia. More severe anhedonia may be a symptom of a major depressive disorder and can be treated with a combination of medication and therapy.

‘I Literally Don’t Care About Anything’—Why Do I Feel This Way?

According toJudith Joseph, MD, MBA, aka “Social Media’s Favorite Psychiatrist,” anhedonia is really about “a lack of joy.”

Dr. Joseph told hostMinaa B.on the Verywell Mind Podcastthat many of her clients describe this lack of joy as the middle ground between depression and anxiousness; some clients say they just feel “blah.”

When we feel “blah” (ormehif you prefer), we’re likely feeling a little down and unlike our usual selves.

“[The] simple things in life that make life worth living, they’re really small points of joy, and when you don’t enjoy them as much, that is a red flag that you’re likely heading down an anhedonic spiral, where, you know, if you don’t do something, it’s only a matter of time before you don’t have any joy, and that could lead to things like major depressive disorder orsubstance abuse,” says Dr. Joseph.

*FYI, just because you’re not enjoying things as much as you used to doesn’t mean that it’s definitively anhedonia, it’s simply a possibility.

Am I Anxious or Nervous?—How to Tell the Difference

Anhedonia may reflect deficits or dysfunction in the reward center of the brain.

And, according to Dr. Joseph, anhedonia is linked toschizophrenia,MDD, and substance use disorder. People with bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and Parkinson’s disease may also experience anhedonia.

Fun FactThe literal translation of the word anhedonia, in Latin, means “no pleasure.” So, it’s basically the opposite of hedonismwhich describes a life devoted to indulging in all forms of pleasure.

Fun Fact

The literal translation of the word anhedonia, in Latin, means “no pleasure.” So, it’s basically the opposite of hedonismwhich describes a life devoted to indulging in all forms of pleasure.

All of us have bad days. Maybe work is unusually stressful, or our best friend is upset with us, and we don’t know why. Maybe we’re trying to slap on afake smilearound our in-laws. But, these bad days are usually the result of some unfavorable situation that we can identify.

Anhedonia, on the other hand, is an overall absence of joy and pleasure regardless of our current life situation.

Think of it as the middle ground between depression and anxiousness. It’s basically an overall feeling of ‘blah.’

Some general symptoms of anhedonia according to Dr. Joseph include:

We all know what a bad day feels like, and on those days we might feel:

The biggest difference between anhedonia and a bad day is that the diminished interest in anhedonia persists most of the day, nearly every day for an extended period, and is often a sign of major depressive disorder.

Because the ability to experience pleasure plays a critical role in our well-being,a reduced ability to enjoy the big and little things (pumpkin spice lattes, anyone?) in life can negatively affect both mental and physical health.

Are Anhedonia and Apathy the Same Thing?

Nope! When we feelapathetic, we feel little to no motivation to do things,let alone complete a goal. When we’re experiencing anhedonia, we’re experiencing a lack of joy or pleasure, meaning the things we used to enjoy in life no longer make us feel much of anything.

Psychologists and psychiatrists can measure the severity of someone’s anhedonia with assessments or scales.

For instance, the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is the most popular anhedonia assessment.

This assessment, which you can takehere, lists 14 statements that describe everyday interactions and activities. After reading each statement, participants are asked to rate how much pleasure or joy that activity may bring them.

While anhedonia can feelisolatingand burdensome, there are ways for us to cope and successfully move through the moments when we’re just not finding any enjoyment in life.

Judith Joseph, MD, MBA[The] simple things in life that make life worth living, they’re really small points of joy, and when you don’t enjoy them as much, that is a red flag that you’re likely heading down an anhedonic spiral, where if you don’t do something, it’s only a matter of time before you don’t have any joy, and that could lead to things like major depressive disorder or substance abuse.

Judith Joseph, MD, MBA

[The] simple things in life that make life worth living, they’re really small points of joy, and when you don’t enjoy them as much, that is a red flag that you’re likely heading down an anhedonic spiral, where if you don’t do something, it’s only a matter of time before you don’t have any joy, and that could lead to things like major depressive disorder or substance abuse.

Dr. Judith recommends the following strategies that can help us spark some joy back in our lives.

Sit With a Loved One or a Close Friend (You Don’t Even Have to Speak If You Aren’t Ready To)

Because social interaction is so important for us, try pushing yourself to be in the presence of loved ones. You’ll reap the benefits of socialization even if you’re not talking because simply being in the same physical space as another person can be an instant mood-lifter.

Then, when you’re feeling up to it, you can start engaging in some low-stakes conversations. Nothing too heavy,just stay present and in the moment.

Give these no-pressure conversation topics a try and see how it feels:

There’s potential for these conversations to go further when it feels right—just go with the flow.

Quick TipBy the way, Dr. Judith says that DM’ing friends and family members does not count as social interaction, so be sure to get some real face time with them!

Quick Tip

By the way, Dr. Judith says that DM’ing friends and family members does not count as social interaction, so be sure to get some real face time with them!

Look Back on Happy Memories

If you’re a fan of social media or have thousands of photos in your camera roll, Dr. Judith suggests scrolling through some happy moments that you’ve shared with others.

She notes that many people who experience anhedonia may also feel as though they’re a burden to others, so she asks her clients to look at old photos and ask themselves—Was I really a burden back then?Most often, this helps her clients recognize that their loved ones were happy to be creating those memories with them. So, lean into the knowledge that people are in your corner and accept you.

Tap Into Faith and Spirituality

For those who follow any religion orspiritualteachings, try to deepen your connection to it. Going to church or reading religious scriptures can help you achieve this.

If you’re not religious or spiritual, think about something you believe in or value. Maybe self-reflection is important to you, or maybe you believe in helping others in any way you can (volunteeringfor an important cause can help fulfill this desire).

Perhaps you’re super intoastrology. If so, you can read more about your zodiac sign, look up your birth chart, or draw some Tarot cards to see what resonates with you.

Can Mercury Retrograde Actually Affect My Mental Health?

While milder symptoms of anhedonia can be managed with some intentional self-care practices, people with severe anhedonia that reflects a depressive or other mental health disorder may benefit from taking medication or speaking to a therapist (or both).

Dr. Judith says thatantidepressantssuch as SSRIs, SNRIs, and other treatments such asketamineandelectroconvulsive therapy (ECT)can be effective treatments for depressive disorders.

What This Means For YouLife can be tough, but we all deserve to experience joy, just remember—any progress you make in your mental health journey is a win.To dive deeper into the topic of anhedonia, tap the play button above, and don’t forget to follow and share!

What This Means For You

Life can be tough, but we all deserve to experience joy, just remember—any progress you make in your mental health journey is a win.To dive deeper into the topic of anhedonia, tap the play button above, and don’t forget to follow and share!

Life can be tough, but we all deserve to experience joy, just remember—any progress you make in your mental health journey is a win.

To dive deeper into the topic of anhedonia, tap the play button above, and don’t forget to follow and share!

How to Identify Your Emotions When You’re Depressed

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Winer ES, Jordan DG, Collins AC.Conceptualizing anhedonias and implications for depression treatments.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:325-335. Published 2019 May 13. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S159260Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Anhedonia.Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Hedonism.Watson R, Harvey K, McCabe C, et al.Understanding anhedonia: a qualitative study exploring loss of interest and pleasure in adolescent depression.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry.2020.Berridge KC, Kringelbach ML.Pleasure systems in the brain.Neuron. 2015;86(3):646-664. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.018Sipos-Lascu D, Vesa ȘC, Perju-Dumbravă L.Apathy, and Anhedonia: Clinical and Neurophysiological Assessment of a Romanian Cohort.Brain Sci.2021;11(6):729. doi:10.3390/brainsci11060729Trøstheim M, Eikemo M, Meir R, et al.Assessment of Anhedonia in Adults With and Without Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2013233. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13233

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Winer ES, Jordan DG, Collins AC.Conceptualizing anhedonias and implications for depression treatments.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:325-335. Published 2019 May 13. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S159260Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Anhedonia.Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Hedonism.Watson R, Harvey K, McCabe C, et al.Understanding anhedonia: a qualitative study exploring loss of interest and pleasure in adolescent depression.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry.2020.Berridge KC, Kringelbach ML.Pleasure systems in the brain.Neuron. 2015;86(3):646-664. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.018Sipos-Lascu D, Vesa ȘC, Perju-Dumbravă L.Apathy, and Anhedonia: Clinical and Neurophysiological Assessment of a Romanian Cohort.Brain Sci.2021;11(6):729. doi:10.3390/brainsci11060729Trøstheim M, Eikemo M, Meir R, et al.Assessment of Anhedonia in Adults With and Without Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2013233. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13233

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Winer ES, Jordan DG, Collins AC.Conceptualizing anhedonias and implications for depression treatments.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:325-335. Published 2019 May 13. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S159260Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Anhedonia.Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Hedonism.Watson R, Harvey K, McCabe C, et al.Understanding anhedonia: a qualitative study exploring loss of interest and pleasure in adolescent depression.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry.2020.Berridge KC, Kringelbach ML.Pleasure systems in the brain.Neuron. 2015;86(3):646-664. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.018Sipos-Lascu D, Vesa ȘC, Perju-Dumbravă L.Apathy, and Anhedonia: Clinical and Neurophysiological Assessment of a Romanian Cohort.Brain Sci.2021;11(6):729. doi:10.3390/brainsci11060729Trøstheim M, Eikemo M, Meir R, et al.Assessment of Anhedonia in Adults With and Without Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2013233. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13233

Winer ES, Jordan DG, Collins AC.Conceptualizing anhedonias and implications for depression treatments.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:325-335. Published 2019 May 13. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S159260

Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Anhedonia.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Hedonism.

Watson R, Harvey K, McCabe C, et al.Understanding anhedonia: a qualitative study exploring loss of interest and pleasure in adolescent depression.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry.2020.

Berridge KC, Kringelbach ML.Pleasure systems in the brain.Neuron. 2015;86(3):646-664. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.018

Sipos-Lascu D, Vesa ȘC, Perju-Dumbravă L.Apathy, and Anhedonia: Clinical and Neurophysiological Assessment of a Romanian Cohort.Brain Sci.2021;11(6):729. doi:10.3390/brainsci11060729

Trøstheim M, Eikemo M, Meir R, et al.Assessment of Anhedonia in Adults With and Without Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2013233. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13233

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