The condition known as anhedonia was originally defined as the inhibited or reduced ability to feel any kind of pleasure when doing things that would previously have been pleasurable for the sufferer.
Emotional numbness or blunting seems to occur in people with his condition, which prevents them from finding the same psychological benefits from activities or experiences that they would’ve enjoyed for large parts of their life.
The identification and separation of the two concepts ‘liking’ and ‘wanting’ here, in that both concepts can be inhibited by anhedonia, leading to an apathetic disposition and a reluctance to participate in things that a person would have previously spent a long time doing is important.
There are several common symptoms that help with the diagnosis of anhedonia and it is best to have a wider understanding of the condition so that treatment can be targeted and effective.
This is a condition that confuses sufferers, their families, as well as medical professionals, given its various causes and generally strange nature.
1. Build a support network
One of the single most important things a person with anhedonia can do is to develop a strong social support network. For some, this may mean forging and maintaining much stronger ties with friends or family.
Knowing you have someone there who you can count on can go a long way toward improving your situation when living with anhedonia. For other people with anhedonia, a condition that mirrors depression in a lot of ways, a depression support group can be key.
This may involve a community group that meets in a specific location or it might well be that you find an online support group that meets your needs. Whichever method you decide to choose to support your anhedonia, building a support network that suits you and your condition is probably the first step in conquering the challenges that you’ll inevitably face as part of the condition, so do your utmost to ensure this happens.