I’m experiencing a lack of pleasure. Help?
I’m new here with schizoaffective disorder. I don’t enjoy anything anymore . Does anyone have any suggestions?
you have to find hope. If you are a real golfer, maybe playing golf will help? You didn’t really give much information enough to talk more on this?
I agree with jukebox.
You may find pleasure in simple things and actions. There is a mass of stuff to find pleasure in online such as learning or finding humor in folks, unless something is keeping you from experiencing pleasure when you try.
Try not to isolate yourself. I realize there are good moments to being alone. But not always and too much isolation is harmful. Interacting with folks is a Big Challenge for me but I do it. I make myself do it.
Do resources keep you from enjoying things?
What challenge did you last face that you valued?
what gave you pleasure before you got sick I find if you do someof those things you can relearn what you enjoy.
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Depression, or bad meds can cause lack of pleasure.
When I was a homeless teenager living without pleasure in a dark depression, I observed others around me. I sometimes socialized with other homeless teens and folks. One time, in the city as the sunlight was fading and the city lights were fresh, I remember how a young woman with summertime hair rode her bicycle on the city streets, looking alive.
It took more than a decade to reach my goal to do the same thing she did. But I did it. Even though I was in an awful isolated place when I wanted to feel alive. I kept that memory. That stranger was a distant mentor to me.
Maybe you can work on something you enjoy when there is a break from whatever keeps you from pleasure.
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I may not enjoy every experience I have but I think it’s important to have as many experiences as you can. Whether it’s socializing, traveling, sports, taking walks, or doing something entertaining, I’ll tell you, I can go to a comedy club (I haven’t done it in awhile) and sit there and not laugh once but I am still having a good time and I’m enjoying the humor. But whoever I am with will always ask me, ’ Aren’t you having a good time? How come you’re not laughing"? Nothing makes me ecstatically happy but eating out in a restaurant is always a good experience. Or seeing a movie. When I unloaded trucks for 4 years people used to ask me, “How come you never smile”?
I don’t know. I just don’t.
do you know if it is a lack of pleasure, or is it a lack of desire to pursue a pleasurable activity?
for me I still enjoy activities but getting myself to actually begin the activity is very difficult.
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I suffer from anhedonia too. Still I try to do stuff I used to like before I got ill. Sometimes I get a small “reward” for playing on the xbox360. But mostly not. But don’t give up.
Maybe try something new like if you don’t excersise normally I could help physicaly and the self esteem
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