Help Has anyone gotten over deep numbness/anhedonia?

[SinkingInSand]

That's the main thing I'm struggling, i feel like whatever is inside has already died, it's just my body's turn

I've tried a couple of psycheatric medications, none of helped my core problem and they all have bad side effects

Has anything helped you?

 

[everydayiloveyou]

When I had my first depressive episode the anhedonia was really bad. I'm an artist so it was even worse since drawing used to be my only joy and then I just felt nothing from it.

I wish I had better advice for you, but for me it just went away one day. I felt the urge to draw, sat down and doodled for hours and realized I felt happier after, and that it was fun. I think anhedonia has some kind of internal component that meds and therapy can't really help with, you just need to do the things you have to do and maybe someday you'll feel joy from the things you love again.

 

[Makko]

No.

 

[overcomingfear]

That's the main thing I'm struggling, i feel like whatever is inside has already died, it's just my body's turn

i resonate with that.

Has anything helped you?

exercise helps. it feels good to get tired and rest after it. makes me feel alive even though there's a void inside

 

[ven]

That's the main thing I'm struggling, i feel like whatever is inside has already died, it's just my body's turn

I resonate with this, I don't feel the spark of life anymore. There's a Benjamin Franklin quote suggesting, "Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75."

I should add, that I have not found anything to help with the issue. I drank alcohol and felt "normal" for the duration of intoxicity, but then crash hard and am left worse off than before I drank.

 

[Huntfish34]

Same here , sorry I dont really have any Good advice for you.... But I have also drank copious amounts of alcohol along with numerous substances combined.... And it Helps, but sadly only temporary with No true end to this vicious cycle we call Life...

Blessings and prayers to you, Im right there myself..... Felt like Ive already been Dead for the past 15yrs or so.

Take care of yourself if Possible,

Butch

 

[juraviel]

i have been deeply anhedonic for many years. doctors typically dont know how to treat it and people have mostly been helped by nootropics rather than prescription stuff

i recommend you joining Anhedonia - Let's feel good again group on facebook, lots of info, quite active, you can get help there :)

 

[babyinmyuniverse]

This is what's killing me. I do nothing. I just sit on my bed or sofa staring into space all day. I have no desire to do anything because I don't enjoy anything. I try and start things but give up almost instantly because my brain won't let me. I'd give anything to make this go away.

 

[UseItOrLoseIt]

Anhedonia erupted in the last 7 years or so. Or deflated. Not sure which term is more suitable.

 

[Alwaysbadtime]

I don't see myself having a disorder. I hate everything due to my shitty reality. If my reality improved I wouldn't hate everything and everyone. It can't improve though.

 

[yoyogirl]

I have tried for decades in trying cure this part of the depression, like most of you I have tried therapy, groups, mindfulness, medication, being busy, relaxing, having things towards goals, positive thinking you name I have tried it even had jobs, friends p, uni course and again the lack of joy and interest always came fighting back. I even had period I completely disengaged from every day life for a few months, didn't participate in anything. People tried and did they become persistent but at the end of day. I had to fuck them all off.

You can make me turn up to some lame ass group, but I ain't gonna budge off this sofa even if you paid me a million quid a day. I am simply too broken busted can't be fixed ready for the scrap heap. I don't care if I become some pernament agoraphobic or if I'm in and out of some mental health unit for severe depression anything is better recovery.
i personally don't think it's something we get over like having a bad case of the flu, it's more like a chronic illness where there's no hope just struggles.

 

[ChobaniFlipSmores]

Last weekend I used MDMA and Acid at the same time for an EDM show for the first time since I've been in a major depressive phase. I hadn't even talked to any of my friends the prior two months and hadn't gone out for fun for a much longer period. Holy shit, I had no idea how much I had completely forgotten what it felt like to be happy. For non drug users the feeling, at least for me, is the same feeling you got on Christmas morning as a child running to see what Santa brought, the feeling of both the anxiety and elation over your first kiss with your first love, the comfort and connection when holding hands with with your love, the connection you feel when sitting around a campfire with your friends, etc pretty much all at the same time (and sort of for no particular reason). Of course the feeling of immense happiness and complete belonging with my friends wasn't a solution in of itself, but I've been struggling so much to be motivated and care about anything it at least made me realize what I could potentially feel.

Note that doubt that I would have had the same reaction on Acid alone. Acid for me is much more of an "individual" experience. By itself, the experience might be euphoric, but generally misses any feeling of closeness or connection with others. For frame of reference, I use MDMA relatively infrequently (3 times in the last 4 years).