Forgotten what joy/enjoyment is it’s been so long

[Sk1n1M1n]

It's been so long that I have forgotten what enjoyment is or joy and and all the other positive emotions of life, that I have found myself actually googling what these words mean and even adding them to my note books, it's been such a long time have I felt any pleasure.
i know what anxiety feels like, I know what frustration, stress, sadness all feel like, but I have literally forgotten how to feel joy and pleasure, how to smile, how to laugh or getting excited feelings.
im starting Uni next week for the second year and usually I would be really excited and get the butterflies, sleepless nights of anticipation and excitement, like I used to do as a kid or starting a new job, new iPhone etc.

 

[schopenh]

This is super sad. I'm sorry to hear. What are you studying in university?
I'm also just wondering if you have any diagnosis or are taking any medications (for my own curiosity, I won't comment on it)?.

 

[Wisdom3_1-9]

It sounds like you may be experiencing anhedonia. I'm not an expert on it myself, but I know there are others on the forum with similar situations. Perhaps they can offer some advise or coping mechanisms.

I too am interested in what you're studying at university. I know you don't feel particularly excited about it, but I hope that when your classes start you feel drawn in and engaged. Wishing you the best.

 

[Sk1n1M1n]

I am studying a degree in social work with a vision to qualify sometime in 2022 and my plan is become qualified and work with people with mental health conditionsm either working with adolescents or adults.
thankyou much for ideas and suggestions, Ive already been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bpd and seen my GP, I have been under the care of my psychiatrist since 2012 and have been given medication for the conditions.

 

[Meditation guide]

I want my old life back. I could walk a couple of miles, did not have pain. Had no limitations on what I could do physically, could exercise. Looked fairly good. Went out and did things. I have changed into someone I don't recognize at all.

 

[Wisdom3_1-9]

FWIW, I think you'd make an outstanding social worker, and your real life experiences with those challenges will provide you with a unique perspective.

 

[Sk1n1M1n]

It's very common for people who've experienced these conditions to become social workers, psychiatric nurses

 

[Vault of Memories]

The second half of my life has just been being sleep deprived, depressed, and anxious. Don't really remember what it feels like to enjoy life either.

 

[Ghost2211]

You could try noting what things you do, see, or eat that at least decrease your sadness or apathy. Even when it's too hard to feel happy it can help to decrease the sorrow with bandaids. If you're not able to think of what you like you can just write it down each time something relieves some stress, and you may be able to work out a pattern of what can bring some degree of pleasure back to your life. Whether we suicide or not it's awful to be so sad all the time. Many hugs to you friend I hope you feel better soon.

 

[YellowSneakers]

Joy seems like a distant, alien concept at this point. I have constant pain from a neurological condition & the torture is relentless.
I've replaced joy with brief periods of decreased pain.

 

[TheSkyIsBlue]

Same here. I haven't felt enjoyment in a long time.

I am studying a degree in social work with a vision to qualify sometime in 2022 and my plan is become qualified and work with people with mental health conditionsm either working with adolescents or adults.
thankyou much for ideas and suggestions, Ive already been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bpd and seen my GP, I have been under the care of my psychiatrist since 2012 and have been given medication for the conditions.

Good luck with this.

 

[Sk1n1M1n]

yellowsneakers : yeah joyfeels like an alien concept as well, so I know how you feel.

 

[Meditation guide]

If only I could just go out and have fun once in a while. But no way to do that. Every day. For five years now. Each day is a minute by minute battle with trying not to scream out, twisting and turning trying without luck to find a position that doesn't hurt as much. Taking over the counter painkillers that give me stomach pain.

 

[whenlavaflows]

I'm so sorry. I am going through the same thing right now and it's awful.
Trying to find a joy in life is so hard when you're dealing with so much.

 

[Sk1n1M1n]

I remembered one time when I felt enjoyment that was when I got pissed and high one night with a friend, but sadly she passed and I haven't been able to experience enjoyment since, positive words are like alien concept to me. I know what all of the negative feelings are like, I've experienced them for a long time, but if you were ask what happy i was I would look at you like you've just arrived here from Mars .

but ultimately I don't remember feeling joy, for a long time over 13 years to be exact, in that period, ive had had jobs, been at colleges and universities, had friends, had lots of positive events and negative events.

So I get very pissed off, when people say "have you considered getting a job/going back to uni, making new friends? knowing that these things do not move my depression along or help me "recover"