What is Anhedonia?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez

Anhedonia is a common symptom of depression. It is often described as the inability to feel pleasure. This does not only refer to the pleasure we feel at the moment — such as the physical sensation after a good workout, or the sense of accomplishment and pride for a job well done — although it is certainly true that the same activities may no longer bring about a familiar sense of gratification. But, more importantly, anhedonia can affect how motivated we are to even attempt those activities. So, it can become a vicious cycle — the more depressed we feel, the less we engage in enjoyable activities; the less we engage in enjoyable activities, the more depressed we feel. A miserable merry-go-round.

Imagine a person who used to enjoy cooking. Everything about cooking was appealing — trying new recipes; getting ingredients; entertaining loved ones, etc. Then, anhedonia set in. Now, when somebody else mentions cooking, it is no longer eliciting the same enthusiasm. Consequently, he or she is less likely to initiate or follow through with any kind of planning. The chance for social engagement fizzles; the sense of isolation intensifies.

Why is it important to learn about anhedonia? Because knowing that it is a symptom can help you monitor your progress. For instance, after a few months of treatment, you may still feel unsure if you’re actually improving. You may even think about quitting treatment because your mood is still low; your sleep, poor; your memory, spotty. But, despite that, you notice your drive to engage in enjoyable activities is slowly coming back. This might not seem like a big deal, but it could mean that you are, in fact, making steady strides. Therefore, rather than quitting, you should instead keep doing whatever you have been doing so far to take care of yourself. Why? Because the resurgence of interest and motivation is a clear indication that depression is improving. Therefore, if you persevere, the subjective feeling that you are less depressed will likely follow in due course.