Anhedonia

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It's a long lasting form of depression. The depression needs to last at least 2 years before it is considered Dysthymia. The problem with that, is that people who suffer from it don't even know how long they have been depressed. Sometimes episodes of major depression can coexist with it.

In that case, I have anhedonia.

im pretty sure I have it its like a living hell and Im not sure as what to do right now im not going to school or doing anything at all I hate it might even write a bit about it...later on...still I believe this is indeed the living hell...nothing compares to not feeling...its ..I dunno...Im not sure how to explain my family that I dont feel anymore...they think im crazy already taking antidepressants n stuff...

Cerise do you go to a therapist? Long term cognitive behavorial therapy is the best thing to help for depression though it takes longer to show results.

I think that the "anhedonia" that many people here experience is more based on society's tendency to associate pleasure with socialist activities, and the very act of being physically alone as being NOT pleasurable... (come to think of it, that may be why there's such a taboo concerning jerking it...) Even other previously solitary activities such as video gaming are becoming more and more about multiplayer... Combine that fact with the fact that many overly crowded places often cause sensory overload in aspies, it may seem like aspies have anhedonia...

On the other hand, the OP may have legitimate anhedonia, so best to get that checked out...

I'm not talking about the feeling of being down or lonely or bored. That's what happens when you're not around people much. I think that's what people think I mean when I tell them about anhedonia, because they have never experienced it, they have no concept of it. The closest they may be able to relate is the feeling of being down or demotivated. I'm talking about something so fundamental that it does not have anything to do with social interaction, but basic basic activities like eating or cleaning or getting out of bed. I can assure you, that anyone who has such an extreme lack of pleasure that it cannot be described as anything other than anhedonia, this state is NOT about isolation. Although isolation CAN indeed contribute, once it's become full blown and long term anhedonia, being around people does not help.

As for me right now, the past few weeks I've finally been coming out of the anhedonia, and the past few days, out of depression.

Glad to read that things are picking up. That feeling that things may return to normal can be a morale booster.

I have only experienced anhedonia once, not that long ago... and it was all-encompassing. I was eating food for strictly logical reasons, as nothing tasted of anything.

I'd experienced depression several times in the past, and it was mostly an emotional thing. Feeling bad and sometimes uncontrollable crying. Anhedonia was entirely different... there was no pleasure to be had in anything. Its rare that such a simple description can completely describe a state of being, but thats all there was to it.

Sounds like you're going through something similar. I hope things keep on getting better for you.

For the past 2 months (or maybe even more) I've been having anhedonia. I hate it, because barely anything I try to do is enjoyable. Right now I feel so restless since I can't do anything, and it's driving me crazy.

I have it real bad too, for almost 4 years now. I thought mine was the worst case but I can still taste the sweet of ice cream even if it is a lot, lot less enoyable than it is supposed to be.

Some people with this have apathy, like they just don't care. I have what someone else mentioned, total and utter anguish, desperately wanting things, things you could get if you could just start feeling better. I wonder if it is better to have unfulfilled desires than no desires at all?

I hear people keep calling it a 'living hell.' There's nothing like anhedonia, that's for sure, but add to it a severe case of OCD, a severe case of social anxiety, soul-shaking feelings of insecurity, an eating disorder and torturous, *I-N-T-E-N-S-E* flashbacks from PTS and the phrase living hell doesn't quite seem to measure up.