Do I Have Anhedonia?

Do you experience social withdrawal?

Do you experience reduced emotional abilities (including having less verbal or nonverbal expressions)?

Are you likely to show fake emotions (e.g., pretending you’re happy at a party)?

Do you have a lack of relationships or do you withdrawal from previous relationships?

Do you experience a loss of libido or a lack of interest in physical intimacy?

Do you have negative feelings toward yourself and others?

Do you frequently have physical problems, such as being sick often?

Do you have difficulty adjusting to social situations?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have anhedonia. People who have anhedonia have completely lost interest in activities they used to enjoy. They experience a decreased ability to feel pleasure. Anhedonia is a core feature of major depressive disorder; however, it can also be a sign of other mental health problems. Besides, there are people who experience anhedonia but don’t suffer from any mental disorder. Based on your answers, there may be no reason for concern.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs related to anhedonia. People who have anhedonia have completely lost interest in activities they used to enjoy. Anhedonia is a core feature of major depressive disorder, but not everybody who is depressed experiences anhedonia. There are some medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics, that may cause anhedonia. Treating anhedonia may be challenging. First, the underlying mental disorder that is causing the symptoms should be identified. It’s important to talk to your doctor to rule out a medical cause of your symptoms. If no medical problem can be found, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional.

Unfortunately, you are displaying various symptoms typically seen among individuals who have anhedonia. People who have anhedonia have completely lost interest in activities they used to enjoy. They experience a decreased ability to feel pleasure. It’s a challenging condition to treat. The mental health disorder that is causing the symptoms should be the focus of treatment. Treatment includes prescription medications, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS), or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). ECT is one of the most effective treatments for depression. ECT, TMS, and VNS can treat depression in people who have not responded well to other interventions.