Identifying one’s passions and interests is crucial for addiction recovery. It requires a deep understanding of oneself and desires, and it is essential to be open-minded and patient when trying different hobbies. Hobbies can be a cornerstone of recovery, offering benefits that support emotional, social, and spiritual growth. By redefining fun, discovering new interests, building a supportive social circle, involving family, exploring the local community, and embracing change, individuals can find joy and fulfillment in their lives.
Incorporating hobbies into a sober lifestyle is crucial for personal growth, self-discovery, and maintaining a positive mindset. Engaging in hobbies can provide a sense of purpose, enjoyment, and fulfillment. Ten benefits of having hobbies while in recovery include rediscovering old loves, learning new skills, making new friends, and restoring self-worth. Activities like hiking, cycling, or yoga can help in restoring physical well-being.
To find hobbies beneficial during alcohol recovery, explore local culture and cuisine, organize sober events, join an organized sport, volunteer to help others, educate yourself, and attend classes. Hobbies like cooking, baking, gardening, journaling, or creative writing not only foster personal growth but also contribute to overcoming addiction.
Finding the right hobby can be life-changing, and individual counseling can help identify stressors and help you find the right hobby to help you overcome addiction. By embracing the benefits of hobbies, individuals can find joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose in their lives.
📹 How to have fun in SOBRIETY | Find NEW hobbies and interest after addiction
Watch this video until the end and let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Don’t forget to HIT the …
How do I find a hobby if I have none?
One may pursue the exploration of past experiences of joy or satisfaction through the examination of minor occurrences. Similarly, the investigation of one’s curiosity may be undertaken by the undertaking of diverse activities and the attendance of educational events pertaining to a variety of interests, with the objective of identifying those that elicit a profound sense of resonance.
How do you stay busy in recovery?
Exercise is a vital part of recovery, as it boosts energy, improves mood, and promotes restful sleep. Physical activities like yoga, hiking, biking, or swimming can be enjoyable and beneficial for the mind, body, and spirit. Adults need at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, as well as muscle-strengthening activities like lifting weights or doing push-ups, at least two days each week.
Developing culinary skills is also important for addiction recovery. Good nutrition provides the body with the fuel it needs to heal from past substance abuse and resist cravings. Cooking can be an enjoyable way to pass the time, as it involves working with your hands and the finished product can be immediately used.
Search for new recipes on Pinterest or check out cookbooks from your local library. If you have a friend or family member who is a whiz in the kitchen, ask them to share recipes or give a hands-on demonstration. Once comfortable with basic projects, branch out into more advanced projects like canning fresh produce, making homemade bread, or freezing healthy meals for later use. Show off your newfound talent by preparing a meal for loved ones who have supported your recovery efforts.
How do I find a hobby when nothing interests me?
One may pursue the exploration of past experiences of joy or satisfaction through the examination of minor occurrences. Similarly, the investigation of one’s curiosity may be undertaken by the undertaking of diverse activities and the attendance of educational events pertaining to a variety of interests, with the objective of identifying those that elicit a profound sense of resonance.
What are good hobbies for recovering addicts?
Engaging in hobbies that involve exercise can be beneficial for addiction recovery, as it helps maintain physical health and prevents malnutrition. Activities like painting, swimming, surfing, rock climbing, writing, journaling, book clubs, and gardening can also contribute to recovery. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet is crucial, as substance misuse can harm both the body and the mind, leading to malnutrition and increased risk of infections and long-term gastrointestinal issues. Therefore, it is essential to engage in hobbies that involve exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
How do I find a hobby I actually like?
As an adult, consider your childhood interests and hobbies, as they may have been influenced by curiosity and imagination. It’s important to find a hobby that keeps leisure time fulfilling, as it doesn’t require expertise. For example, taking an intro class or quiz can help you explore new hobbies. As an adult, your job may consume most of your week, so it’s essential to find a hobby that you enjoy and engage in, rather than focusing on social media and TV shows.
Why have I lost all interest in my hobbies?
Loss of interest in activities or people can indicate a mental health condition, such as depression, stress, substance misuse, or grief. Depression is a key symptom, while stress can lead to burnout and loss of motivation. Substance misuse can also cause interest loss and withdrawal from activities, friends, and conflict. Grief may cause temporary interest loss during grief. If you experience ongoing symptoms for more than 2 weeks, such as losing interest, feeling sad, not sleeping well, changes in appetite, weight, lack of motivation, restlessness, or difficulty concentrating, it is recommended to see a doctor.
How do I find fun again in life?
To have a more fun life, consider watching funny movies or videos, noticing the little things in life, doing something spontaneous, socializing with friends and coworkers, planning time for hobbies, and trying activities you loved as a child. These tips can help you enjoy life more and cultivate a mindset that embraces play, pleasure, and laughter in your everyday activities.
To get a healthy dose of laughter, watch funny movies, TV shows, or stand-up comedy, check out funny videos or memes posted on social media, and tell jokes when hanging out with friends or family. This will help you feel less stressed and happier, as you are likely to feel less stressed and happier when you are laughing and having fun more.
How do you get energy in recovery?
Exercise is essential for a healthy recovery, as it can energize and promote a restful night’s sleep. Small, incremental steps can make a significant difference, as demonstrated by the author who lost 50 pounds and found various ways to increase energy naturally during recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, Casa Capri Recovery offers treatment and counseling services. Olivia Pennelle, a writer, blogger, nutrition and recovery advocate, believes in a fluid and holistic approach to recovery.
Her website, Liv’s Recovery Kitchen, serves as a resource for health and wellness in recovery. Liv’s approach is featured on various websites, including The Fix, Sanford House, Winward Way, Casa Capri, Intervene, Workit Sapling, Addiction Unscripted, and Transformation is Real.
How to find your hobbies and interests?
To rekindle childhood memories, revisit activities you enjoyed as a child, such as drawing, model kit-making, or clay figure-building. These activities can easily transform into adult hobbies. Go back to school by attending classes at a local university or enrolling in a class to learn more about a potential hobby. For example, enrolling in a fiction-writing program or a genealogy class can help you develop your passions. E-courses, such as Coursera, Udemy, Open Yale Courses, and MIT Open Courseware, can also be helpful resources for learning new hobbies.
How to get interested in hobbies again?
This article provides seven actionable steps to combat a loss of interest and rediscover motivation. The first step is to reflect on your interests and hobbies, which can help you reconnect with the emotions and motivations associated with those activities. This can be done by writing down a list of enjoyable activities and hobbies and exploring why they captured your interest. Identifying the specific aspects of these activities that resonated with you, such as the sense of challenge, creativity, or social interaction, can help you find new avenues to explore.
By adopting a growth mindset and engaging in self-discovery, you can regain a sense of fulfillment and passion in your life. By following these steps, you can reignite your passion and regain a sense of fulfillment.
How can I have fun in recovery?
In order to achieve sobriety, it is essential to engage in physical activities such as parks, beaches, mountains, biking, fishing, walking, or car rides. Engaging in new hobbies can provide natural rewards and stress relief, while also allowing individuals to pursue their interests. For instance, painting, woodworking, photography, gardening, or playing a musical instrument can be beneficial for those in recovery. Technology can also be used to support others in recovery through social media, blogging, or creating video clips.
Participating in alcohol and drug rehab programs and attending sober activities, reunions, and conventions can help individuals connect with new people and learn about themselves and recovery. Cirque provides alumni with continuing programs to stay connected and has found that this has been an effective tool. Many alumni return each autumn to participate in their annual reunion, demonstrating the importance of staying sober and enjoying life.
The 12th step of the recovery process is service, which brings joy and accomplishment to helping others in need of addiction help. By serving others in need, individuals can find rewards and lessen their desire to use drugs or alcohol, ultimately preventing future relapse.
In conclusion, people are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction every day, and it is time for individuals to take action. Drug rehab programs offer education, support, therapy, and coping skills to maintain and manage addiction. It is crucial to find programs and people that can change lives and make the decision to get help today. No one deserves to suffer and ultimately meet their end to the struggles of drugs or alcohol.
📹 Anhedonia After Addiction | The Inability To Feel Pleasure After Getting Sober
Overcome it, avoid relapse, and regain your happiness. Anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, will occur in the early …
Hey man great article. My name is “POLO” alcoholic/addict, and Im almost 2 years sober. Im at the point where im battling with my mental health, im starting weekly therapy sessions w a therapist from my doctors office as of tomorrow, and im also in the middle of switching SSRI medication. Im having a rough time, just started a new job but can barely manage the new work lifestyle cuz of my depressioin/anxiety. Im thinking bout starting SMART RECOVERY meetings and working on VACI (Vital, absorbing, creative interests). Im a very creative person but i feel crippled and stagnant I NEED TO GET TO THE FLOW STATE ONCE AGAIN. THY WILL BE DONE. Thanks man all the best
Earlier this year, I quit drinking for 2 months. I wasn’t feeling the positive emotions people always talked about after quitting. I still felt numb and depressed. Part of the reason I started to drink again was because I became disheartened about it. I wish I knew it took longer, I would be beginning to feel the positive emotional aspects of it now if I had persevered. Time to start the journey once more. Please pray for me.
Hobbies, nutrition and abstinence will help re-wire the brain. Recovery is about building a new life and not looking back at your old life. Find a passion and be patient. If u pick up a drink or drug you will be right back where you were which is worse than the worst anhendonia you’re feeling rt now!
I’ve been clean and sober for over 3 years now and I’m f*cking miserable. My depression. And zest for life has become worse than when I was actively using. I’m depressed, unmotivated, and unable to feel happy. On the other hand, I’m the most successful that I’ve ever been in my life. I have a great job at a nonprofit, a roof over my head, and a great man in my life. Yet I feel empty. Antidepressants didn’t help, nor did exercise. I feel stuck and I hate it 😔
I quit 3 addictions last month. I didn’t go to a treatment center or anything. I changed my perspective and read about what to expect while recovering. I always tell myself the come down is terrible and I will become depressed again if I use and the joy will be artificial. I finally got back into some former hobbies I never thought I would do again because using made me not care about anything anymore. Thank you for explaining this is a concise and helpful way.
I went to a Mexican rehab and let me tell you that situation was the best thing that happened to me ..I was so focused on my situation I didn’t have time to worry about my withdrawals or paws..crazy cause when I detoxed at home it seemed like the worst thing in the planet…I kicked fent but felt minimal symptoms they literally took all my belongings and had me in a room with 100 different ppl detoxing most of which were mentally I’ll for the most part woke up at 6am and worked until 8 pm heavy labor and nothing but water and vegetables all day truly the best way to start recovery if you ask me..
My anhedonia has come from a lot of long-term stress. I had nothing left, no feeling, no emotions, no motivations, no fear. I was a complete zombie, dead on the inside. I have had anhedonia for 2 years, what helped me is l-tyrosine. Now it’s all coming back, just before I had anhedonia, so there is a cure.
thank you for mentioning anhedonia after quitting alcohol. This is an often overlooked aspect of recovery. if you’re experiencing anhedonia, fatigue, and other symptoms after quitting alcohol, all the strategies like setting goals and keeping busy are mostly moot. That is to not say we shouldn’t do those things, but if the underlying anhedonia isnt addressed, relapsing becomes is more inevitable.
I’ve been battling with anhedonia since childhood. I was never able to show excitement or how i was truly feeling on the inside. I look pissed off or sad all the time. Which can get rather annoying when people ask why i’m so mad? “I’m not mad, my face just rests like i that. I’ve learned to use it to my advantage tho. Speak less. Listen & read more. The more we understand. The stronger we become.
Many people turned to drugs (Opiates) to escape severe depression/anxiety disorder to find a sense of calmness and euphoria in life they could in no way obtain prior to the drugs. Now, explain to me again the happy anhedonic smiling face I am going to have in recovery so I can return to the baseline depression/anxiety dessert with the new anhedonic cherry on top? I can hardly wait…..
Ive been sober over a year and still feel no pleasure in anything. article games or playing guitar or anything. Is this normal. I dont want to start drinking again, i feel healthier and sleep better but i have no enjoyment in anything. I go to the gym and workout but idk. I didnt even know this was a thing. Never even heard of this. I just dont wanna do anything
I know this is an old article. I’ve been sober 3 years after 10 years of fighting the addiction of opiates. My question is: Is there any science behind a detox that happens every once in awhile years later after completely being clean of everything and I mean any “illegal drugs”. When i say detox i mean that really bad twitch trying to sleep sweats and more importantly lack of energy and can’t eat. It’s very weird, it’s not a panic attack. I call it my shadow man LOL. Comes around to say hello and leaves as quick as his came. Thnx
26 years old. 98 days alcohol free. I told a few people recently that this is the first time I’ve been mentally “clocked-in” in over a decade. It took 3 months sober for me to finally become present again. But I feel so blah and depressed (because the state of my life as it is IS depressing, that’s why I started using in the first place.) Living in chronic stress in childhood and escaping through dissociation or suicidal ideation, then growing older & gaining access to alcohol and other substances and escaping that way.. it means I wasn’t really here for a long time. Now I’m sober and perusal my family age and seeing life run its course as it does. It’s fucking painful. But I remind myself that in active addiction I would only be prolonging the pain. I will continue to choose sobriety instead. ❤
Rob- Here’s a question for you. In regards to the person that used to love to surf and now by experiencing PAWS, they’re not experiencing or feeling the same way they used to because of their chemical imbalance. ** However its my understanding that that person should continue to surf because eventually each time that person surfs, a tinnnnyyyy bit of dopamine is released albeit not the same as what it used to be before they entered recovery but I’ve heard that the key to getting rid of the anhedonia is to keep doing those things you used to enjoy and getting those tiny squirts of dopamine and endorphins Because eventually your brain will be firing on all cylinders. True? Accurate?
Thank you for the explanation. As someone who grew up with a chronically addicted family member, I saw the uglier aspects of drug addiction. As much as I loved that person and wanted him to be a real father-figure for us, he relapsed on multiple of occasions. It was hard for him to quit doing drugs. It has become a habit and a part of his life. I believe that addiction to anything is a mental illness that needs intervention and therapy. The addicted person usually doesn’t know they’re addicted until the symptoms start becoming apparent. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. We all make mistakes in life and no one is perfect. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with rehabilitation and therapy.
I just found this and explains so much…I always described getting sober as “neutralizing” life as I don’t feel the highs nor the lows just “blah”. Thank you for the information. I’ve relapsed so many times but making another run at it now. Wish me luck all the best to everyone who is fighting their demons.
Thank you so much for this article guys. I’m gonna go see how many pushups I can do in 2 minutes lol. Last time I tried I only did like 20 I didn’t realize how unfit I had become. If I use anything now I will feel so much worse than I feel at the moment. Its not a very nice feeling to reach the “end of the road” where the substance doesn’t even give much reward either anymore. If I’m gonna be sad USING, and im gonna be sad NOT USING, i might as well just be sad NOT USING. Im going to go to the beach this weekend and look out at the water…something about that endless expanse of water… kinda calming for me
I am experiencing this – I stopped vaping 6 weeks ago and I am shocked at my inability to enjoy anything!! I am shocked that I was so dependent on nicotine to trigger dopamine that I feel empty and without any Joy. All of the things I thought I used to enjoy apparently I was only enjoying because they coincided with vaping? Or that’s just my brain playing tricks on me but that’s how it appears. I am struggling, but I will hold on and allow my brain to heal. 🤞 Giving in would just mean I would have to repeat all of this terrible process again one day. I will persist, but IT IS SO TOUGH.
I don’t do drugs, but I’ve been addicted to gaming for 7 years. The past few years I’ve been especially feeling the symptoms of anhedonia, the lack of feelings and gaming has become less and less exciting along with everything else. If only I could go back and change things. I’ve dug myself into a hole and I don’t have the will to bother doing anything about it.
Lunesta caused my Anhedonia. I’ve been trying to explain to Drs how I was feeling. Not depressed because my life is good and never had before. This is a feeling of void of nothing not feeling excited about ANYTHING. If I had plans to do something fun in the past I could feel it, now NOTHING. I will talk to my functional Md about this for her recommendation.
Im going through this at the moment. Being positive and I know this will pass by I need to beat it !!! I still do the things I use to enjoy I don’t wanna fall in a black hole. its been a month and a half, dude the first 5 weeks I cried and was depressed but that past and now im trying to be confident. trying my best to stick to my regular routine
Kinda the way I see it. Most people drink because yes they are depressed but more from being bored or also not knowing where to put their energy. When we take alcohol away we are extremely shocked and we are unsure what to do with our restless energy. For me understanding that I need to get excited about my hobbies and life in general will be the only thing that will keep me away from alcohol. Being depressed about not drinking is no way to live. We have to find excitement in our life again by finding people that make us happy, finding hobbies that make us happy, living healthy, and having an enjoyable enough job that covers our finances.
Look thanks for this, I have the same way most people here have it, although lately I only drink and smoke but this isn’t exactly helping me to get better with it, but I’m cutting back on booze and nicotine. It’s so shit you want to feel enjoyment again so you dribk more booze and weed and coke and that but it’s just digging a deeper whole. Still after having tried notropics and neurogenesis drugs like Lions mane or lithium, I noticed some some improvement, but nothing like it used to be, buropin or however you spell it is my next go to
I’m on a 7 day cold Turkey smoke free. and I’m moody wish is not my normal self. I Realize that I don’t know how to deal with my emotions I don’t know how to Chanel them. I used to smoke when I was happy I used to smoke when I was sad I used to smoke when I was frustrated I used to smoke for any reason. Any how I have learn and experience a lot in this short week. I have more compassion and respect for anyone trying to break free from any substance.
Due to a genetic problem, I had a lot of dental problems from childhood to young adulthood….my dentist(s) did a lot of over prescribing. I didn’t even know I was physically dependent until my last procedure when I was cut off of all meds in a single moment…..dentists don’t worry about the taper down method or anything like that….my body turned against me automatically…I couldn’t function…..at all….not sure how close I actually came…but I thought I was going to lose my life…..and in a way I actually DID…..I started going to outside means to find ANY type of relief from withdrawl…..I finally found something that toned down the affects and finally got me free from substance abuse….But Its literally YEARS later and I still have trouble finding ANY type of pleasure in the activities of daily life. No matter what I do I still deal with depression and a general lack of enthusiasm for ANYTHING and I don’t know how to fight it. I’ve tried revisiting old hobbies…..no luck. I’ve tried meditation and other sources of calm and healing as well. I still have a general lack of emotion and drive towards any and everything in life….its becoming a huge problem….For someone like me…do you have any real suggestions? You know…Other than” jumping back into the saddle?”
I’ve been off methamphetamine for almost two and a half years now, still have anhedonia, and a weak sex drive. Worse yet whenever I DO get sexually aroused, I get intense cravings to this day. This is a long post acute withdrawal period, and I don’t know how long I can handle it. It doesn’t feel like living. My life is exponentially worse since I’ve quit using. How long as people supposed to buy into the belief that this will get better? It feels like I’ve been lied to.
I’ve been stuck in Methadone treatment since 2006. There was one time in 08’ that I succeeded in tapering my dose all the way down, and the one thing that gave me a sense of joy was going to be beach, and bodysurfing. It was fun, physical, and also spiritual all at once. Unfortunately, I was back in MMT within 2 months, and I’ve self isolated, and remained trapped ever since 😞
I used ritalin with booze every weekend for years. I stopped for more than a year now but my brain feels like it’s numb. Had a date with a girl she ghosted me. I think because I was just so boring. I am not used to this and am feeling pretty depressed about it. Will this go away or is my brain just cooked forever now? I don’t feel joy like I used to so my conversations also got a bit flat and my social skills seems to have decreased comparing myself to 10 years ago when I didn’t use anything
I’m so glad to know what it’s called. If anyone sees this, I have a question. I’ve been sober over a year. About 14 months to be specific. I haven’t gotten any better yet. I also suffer from major depression disorder and have since I was a young child. I know that Anhedonia is also caused by MDD and apparently restless leg syndrome ties in with this, which I’ve also had forever. My situation has improved dramatically since I got sober. I finally have an apartment again, I’ve got money in my pocket for my needs, I have my dog here with me, and hell my kids even came down to stay with me for over a month! Things aren’t perfect, especially being in a new state where I only know a few people but it’s Florida where it’s always sunny and warm and the beach is a mile from my apartment. I don’t understand why I still feel like this. Also I’m always in pain too. Not like excruciating pain or anything. It feels like a dull pain radiating from my bones all over my body. Is this normal or does anyone have any ideas on what I should do?
The irony is that I turned to heavy drinking because of anhedonia. I lost enjoyment in everything after being over medicated when I was a teenager. Alcohol was the only thing left that I got some pleasure out of. The heavy drinking also caused me to make bad choices. I am being prescribed a dopamine agonist now that helps me with the anhedonia and depression. I take Cabergoline. Without it I would either be dead or still a complete drunk right now. I still have to be careful and not hang out with drunk people because I can still fall back into drinking too much.
I really feel it is easier to get that spark back when you can put yourself on a very treacherous limb. Literally a sink or swim situation where you defy all odds. For me, it was a business I started. Fear of failure gives you the motivation to work happily around the clock when needed. The adrenalin rush will get you through the dopamine reset. The biggest enemy of staying off your preferred drug is too much free time. Just the fact you could get clean at all proves you are stronger than 90% of the population. Good luck to you all.
Successfully quit nicotine 1.5yrs ago and alcohol 31 days ago. I have zero plans to ever go back to either because nicotine is stupid and alcohol is just something I can’t picture myself ever controlling or wanting in my life (both sides of my family struggle with alcoholism and I became a regular binge drinker from ages 18-22). I thought I’d be happy and ready to take on life but now I am beginning to abuse my adhd meds. I don’t think I have adhd but I was severely depressed and unmotivated when I got prescribed and it helped me go back to school and work on my long term goals. I know I have to stop as I am now taking double my dose just to completely a few assignments and sleep all day when I don’t take it. I’m aware of the dangers of stimulants and I’m addicted at this point but I literally feel like I won’t be able to Graduate college without those little orange pills smh. If anyone has any stimulant advice or danger warnings share pls
Anhedonia isn’t something that ONLY people who are/were addicted to drugs experience. My anhedonia is due to PTSD, including sleep deprivation and extremely long periods of undue stress (physically, mentally and emotionally) in a workplace situation… oh, and an element of danger thrown in for good luck. I came here thinking that this may hold some new and meaningful information and insight into a condition that I have been entrenched in for 15 years, all for the sake of trying to keep a roof over my family’s head, put food on the table, and keep the utilities turned on. Silly me!
Not able to feel anything or anhedonia is coming from unresolved trauma from time to time that related to your feelings or emotions, specially in family. Never feel heard, never feel seen, plus a nonstop abuse, neglect, invalidating environment that always invalidating your own emotions and feelings, opinions is one of the reason why you feel this way. I have been there and it’s developed after over 25 years of neglect, abuse from toxic narcissistic parent+undiagnosed bpd. What a disaster! Felt like can’t even go out from that situation But One thing that helped me to recover from anhedonia, it is a loving caring family from other people who love unconditionally and respect me and just give me what I never earned in my own family. God sent you people that you need and never know that you desperately need. To be able to recognize a mercy of God is one of things that can lift you up from this state, a higher level of frequency or power is what you desperately need. It’s okay to not be okay God love you 🙆❤
the more I drink, the duller my sober self becomes, so I drink to feel better, which makes me feel worse when sober, which causes me to drink… people often recommend to set goals and engage in various activities. anhedonia zaps motivation but should you manage to complete all these goals, you’ll still feel “meh”.
I experienced this and fell in love with lifting and hitting the gym while in prison. I am now 3.5 months clean but this feeling is coming back even tough i still excersice 5-6 times a week and i am eating pretty healthy. (not as healthy as someone who’s on a diet but more healthy than the average person). Yet i still feel this, no matter how many achievements i get. Is this to do with ungratefulness?
What about a partner that you been with for 10 years, 3 years married and suddenly decided when he is out of rehab that he doesn’t care about being a husband and father? And when you leave him he really thinks it’s not worth fighting for? Before he was clingy and loving and spent time with his wife. Now he stays outside after work and only sees me when he goes to bed.
This is very interesting bcz im having anhedonia after stopping going to parties, meeting people, eating sugar, taking caffeine and social media. Im sure those things gave me that false pleasure feeling until i felt saturated so now im trying to heal slowly and in the first period you really gonna feel like shit.
I’m experiencing some intense anhedonia and I’m honestly worried I’m not going to survive feeling like this for an extended period of time. I’m oddly not as tempted to use as I expected and experienced all the other times I got sober curious. But I feel so depressed… even using or drinking sounds very “meh” to me. I’m worried. I don’t know what to do. I used to support myself with my Etsy shop but suddenly since January 2023, sales are halved every month. It’s now mid April and I have had zero sales this month. I used a lot while I was doing SW. I can’t go back. But if I can’t afford life, then I have to go back to SW. I definitely can’t afford a treatment center. I’m struggling with motivation for everything. I’m really proud of myself for showering today even though my water heater is broken at the moment (can’t afford to fix it yet). I have never been financially unstable like this. Fortunately I have no debt and just have to worry about basic bills… but my savings that I was so proud of is what I’m living on. That was supposed to be for my retirement. It’s not going to last forever either.
It’s been three years off speed and my life is miserable. Never been arrested never stole to get it. I’d rather be happy with life and moderate it than live clean and miserable. I always moderated to the fullest anyways. I didn’t smoke it and didn’t shoot it. I made three grams last three months. I’m getting fat. I gotta get busy living or I feel I may croak.
Never had an addiction, or have an addictive personality, but I do have ADHD that seems to be worsening with age, and I do get bouts of this, and it’s extremely frustrating. My question is to those that experience this, (although it might not help in my case as I feel it’s a biological/potentially hormonal issue/issues, and definitely psychological in regards to giving extensive extreme efforts to various aspects of life, only to fail miserably….so probably relatable psychologicaly….not trying to be rude or condescending in saying that, just trying to mentally put myself in another person’s “shies”),…..how do you do you guys deal with the extreme mental and physical fatigue. I’ll sleep 14-16 hours, several days in a row and still feel exhausted, then carcadium rythm becomes backwards, and time blindness goes into warp speed, especially if I end up doom scrolling,…which sometimes I’ll use as a mental cope since I can’t do anything physical and my mental working capacity becomes shot.
This article is so informative! I have MDD and I take antidepressants and they do the most they can do for me. But I did have a habit (🍃💨) that felt like it combined with antidepressants helped. I felt great. I’ve recently stopped that habit. I’m a week away from a month clean. Yet I feel more depressed than I ever have. I don’t enjoy any of the things I use to. Looking for ways to cope led me to finding out what anhedonia. Reading about it I realized that’s what is wrong with me. Hence how I stumbled on this article.
I’m 3 weeks sober and I feel like the best of life is behind me. I don’t want to relapse, nor do I plan to, but I just want to stop getting out of bed. I just don’t see how it gets better and I know that using will just reset the clock. I’m basically just going through the motions and waiting for my time to die. I feel no joy from my relationship to my wife or son, and outside of that I have done my best to isolate myself socially. I’ve lost my job. I have no motivation to live. Please tell me that this goes away someday.
This is one of the worst articles I’ve seen, in describing the meaning of anhedonia. Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure, and/or happiness. This is a core symptom of major depressive disorder. It is true that many people who abuse drugs and are now in treatment, will experience a period in a depressive state accompanied by anhedonia. But this has absolutely nothing to do with the thrill of stealing, and running from the cops, or lying or being dishonest. It has absolutely zero to do with the thought of “well before when I was taking drugs I was excited all the time by being dishonest and stealing, and now that I have a schedule it’s kind of blah to me”. No no no no. First off, most people take drugs simply to avoid the absolutely awful withdrawal symptoms, not to get high. The vast majority of opiate abusers were put on drugs legally by their primary care physician, and then became addicted and then after the doctor stopped prescribing it, The patient had to get it elsewhere such as family and friends and off the street. But you don’t understand that when you’re at that point, you no longer get high off of the medication. It simply makes you feel normal again. If you don’t take it, your life becomes a living hell due to the acute withdrawal symptoms. Anyway, I digress. You touched a little bit on dopamine, it you didn’t follow through. This is all about dopamine. As you said, when you take drugs of any kind, your brain is flooded with the feel-good chemical called dopamine, and after a while your body will adjust and actually re-wire, and stop producing natural dopamine because your brain is already flooded with it.
I am wondering why I feel like I’m being judged and degraded often after being clean for almost 3 years. I feel like I have to apologize for absolutely no reason when I’m doing the best I can and exactly what is asked of me when something agitates/concerns my bosses/co-workers. What can I do? It keeps me up at night and makes me hate myself, is there ANYTHING I can do to help this?
Totally relate – I heard going on a binge with coke or meth is like going on a spending spree with an overdrawn checking account – you eventually have to pay. I’ve been sober many, many years and even though I enjoy the rewards of sobriety, I’m certain still I feel a lower level of pleasure with everyday joys than I felt before I started using – jacking up the brain constantly with pleasurable drugs definitely dulls the pleasure centers of your brain – I have no doubt.
Nicely explained I think there is another issue with stigmatisation on some drug use, its not always bad. The main problem is when it controls your life not when you control the drug, once a week or fortnight can be fun. But when its everyday thats when ya life is gona end up in a bad way or even fatal. I think most people dont know other ways to live there life. Or might live in an area where theres not much else to do. Or not everyone wants to walk a dog. play sports, go to the cinema, I think the biggest hurdle is finding what excites people and having variety in life, its not so much the drug thats the problem. Its the addiction. When you compleatly take it away and suppress it, you then miss it. Thats a major part of why they relapse. And most drugs are full of poisons and synthetic fake drugs that makes certain drugs look bad. IMO it’s about giving the mindset skills on how to control an addiction. I liked your article, I think people understand this converse more than a scientific approach. Keep up the good work 😊
Interesting.. I can relate.. but, for me, getting older, and having friends/family suffer with diseases and disorders.. my research has taken me to see how much our body is functioning with the environment… and realize that a person’s health is dependent upon the environment.. you can only be as healthy as it is… In that I also have come to the conclusion that the monetary system is dependent upon exploitation of life itself.. this has caused me to remove processed foods, and become a vegetarian… this self discipline, has been a gradual process… and now to remove an unhealthy addiction isn’t difficult.. perusal motivational, LOA, and manifestation vid’s, there is this term “bliss”.. this term in the manifestation vid’s isn’t quite accurate… this term was from Hindu perspective of enlightenment… and the accurate term is closer to the feeling of serenity.. This is a condition, where you’re mind is present; and can be the observer of oneself and the world, without the emotional(dopamine) state.. no high emotions or low… this is the mind of greater awareness, which is a place that self ‘inner’ transformation occur’s which is reflected in the outer world…. Society is out of control, do you want to support this ‘way of life’?
You say one part of anhedonia is biological, by which you must mean, more specifically, neurological or neurochemical, and another part is psychological. Are these two different realms of actuality, or two ways of conceiving the same actuality? I say ‘conceiving’, as in concepts. You speak in concepts: you offer a theory, but you present it as actuality, as fact. It’s not fact, sir. The facts of anhedonia are the subjective facts, not the objective facts. The ‘objective facts’ are actually your conceptual measurements, your theoretical propositions. We need to solve the fact of anhedonia which again, can only be the subjective facts because even if you did invented a pill for it, you’d be replacing a transient subjective problem that one can do something about with an ongoing new dependence, surely, one that will leave the same problem if discontinued, only made worse through neuroadaptation, as is the case with every class of psychiatric medication, hence the appalling long term outcomes (of every single class). But we never teach the addict that they must learn about and find their own way through their anhedonia through self-observation, self-insight. Therefore, they go to people like you who offer them nothing but theories.
I find pleasure in nothing. I got enough money in the bank to go buy anything I want yet I don’t. Nothing excites me. All I wanna do is play on my phone and chain smoke. If I don’t find some happiness im going to die. Alone and self isolating for several years now. I’ve just given up like I’m just waiting to die
I’ve been clean for 43 months after using meth and pills for 10 years. I STILL to this day have anhedonia. I didn’t even know that it was called something til just now when I found this article after searching about this condition. I hope this isnt a forever thing lol. I go to the gym about 4 days a week and this is the most pleasure and happiness I feel these days. Every day life is just bland and I don’t get excited or happy or interested in anything for the most part
When I quit I immediately starting eating the best I could, added Vitamin B you might be deficient as a result of drinking, and started a hobby of working on old bikes and going on pleasure rides. You can’t just stop drinking and sit at home. Also started volunteering since I’m retired so I was around a nice group of people. Sixteen months later I feel so much healthier but the first couple months old habits were tempting. For me it was time to put it in the rear view mirror.
I made myself go on a long walk through the woods today to try and deal with this. It worked ok but just hoping this thing will wear off soon. By Sunday 7 weeks without a drop of alcohol and just want this spell to pass now of crazy anxiety and just this anhedonia whatever its called. Definitely end of booze for me that’s all I have to say. Didn’t know how bad it really was, my goodness 😢.
I just stumbled on this and I have no idea how… I’ve never done drugs, I’m not alcoholic but I have been feeling numb ever since CODA and possibly SLAA Anorexia meetings. I hadn’t had an explanation until till now and I just hope you’re right in my case, cos it does make a lot of sense. it also makes sense of why I want to finally buy that kayak I keep talking about and why i want to volunteer with animals. I want to start feeling some kickback from life again, cos it’s been a while.
I’ve been clean from opiates for several years now and I still lack the ability to feel happiness, drive or interest in anything. I don’t look forward to anything, i don’t experience that butterfly charge of excitement when you hear exciting news. I feel almost nothing but depression and unending unhappiness. It’s miserable and my brain is broken.
Great article – I know someone in Rehab and your article was very helpful in helping focus on what to say and not to say when they get out. I have never dealt with anything like this before and I have a life where stimulation and gratification all come from the happiness in my work. People say I’m lucky but I have always set my mind on “the harder you work, the luckier you get!” but that isn’t really it as I have faced failure and disappointment too. Your comments about feeling guilty if not “over stimulating” are BANG ON THE MONEY. Even when i am trying to watch one of my passions on the TV (which i pay for and love) I am finding myself wandering, working while listening, and especially when I watch the whole event – 4 Hours worth – I feel the guilt of not doing something on my list, or just not multitasking to be productive. Mindfulness, but more especially listening – or trying to as I struggle with that if not stimulated – has been a focus lately and NOW, especially. Wanting to be with someone is a big focus atm and it’s been difficult – I am a Helper/fixer – I am a man – that’s what we do – or try to – trying to think what will help and what can be a focus for the person coming out of Rehab. Having the mindset to listen and help if possible is very difficult for someone who is used to finding solutions every day for what people say cannot be done – I don’t have a box so the random nature of my thinking has not helped my thought process – UNTIL NOW Thank you for the advice – I will focus on putting that to use in my own life before trying to fix someone else’s.
15 years since the age of 13 I had an opiate in my body 99.9% of those days. I would got off and everyone around me in treatment got happy again after a few months at most. I literally had the darkest rain clouds around me. Nothing was fun except for poker. Even when I got on subs because I couldn’t take it anymore, after a couple months I was still very very blah. Finally I coupled Suboxone with Modafinil and omg. I don’t skip social events because of the sheer terror of being judged, I feel happy. The upper that Modafinil gives me pleasure. Sorry I’m not “clean” but I suffered through years of sobriety and was even sponsoring ppl. Something is wrong inside me. The blah feeling is hardwired. It never goes away. 5 years off heroin and meth. 6 figure income. And I’m an outside sales person. Literally terrified of ppl without the meds I’m on. With them, I could care less.
The positive is u have anhedonia because u are sober & on your way to recovery. If we stay the course our brain will normalize eventually. This is the torture that comes from not using anymore. Your body & your brain is searching for a replacement. you need some enjoyment now that we don’t do that other thing anymore. We may feel crappy but it’s worth it
I got a lot of nice equipment but I have no desire to use them, when I was a kid I just did stuff I enjoyed n didn’t really think of it, now everything seems like a bad option to me & any activity is uncomfortable & filled with anxiety & I haven’t solved all my issues but I have been focusing on having a positive mindset & not focus so much on negativity, but that doesn’t cure anything I’ve been sober 2 years & it sucks everyday but I also don’t want to die so I’m stuck in this situation with no solution, the problem is that I broke the matrix & I was supposed to die 2 years ago but I didn’t; so I guess I’m trying to find a new meaning because my old meaning isn’t who I am today
5yrs sobriety after 28yrs being drunk and cocaine addict, nobody’s interested in talking to me, my son 27yrs old he has 4 kids I seen in article his mother did all his life dangling grandchildren I had say my names nobody man, I work and go home I’m afraid after yrs of jail time and things that I did and seen it seems nobody understands around me, I don’t deserve shund by my family and only child I don’t understand why I’m sober again I don’t know what to do nobody seems care if I make it or not
Will power is a complete and total red herring. The problem of alcoholism is “indecision” caused by growing schizophrenic tenancys we develop when we drink. Not a failure of willpower. The problem with alcoholism is entirely mental. Put it this way, do you need willpower to not get on the number 9 bus, if you have NO DESIRE to get on the number 9 bus?.
I’m a drinker and when I go a few weeks w out drinking everything annoys me How my friends raise their kids The prices of housing Which cabinet my husband put the sugar in It’s annoying and I annoy myself ruminating on everything My head feels dizzy It gets so heavy I do eat well I abstain from caffeine and sugars most of the time I sleep 8 hours a night And have hobbies And a therapist I’m doing everything right But man life is sooooo annoying I understand that booze is a way to avoid this so I do try to avoid the booze I was looking for ideas on how to be less annoyed so easy even if I cut everyone off and take a week to myself I stress out about silly things Like why is my friend not making her kids help her with housework? She’s tired and they are big enough to help.. And that type of thought process makes me angry Is intrusive thinking an issue w this??? I’m definitely taking this to my therapist
I need that initial help. I got sober for a almost two years. I was happy. Went fishing one day. Thought I beat it. I didn’t. My whole life was drinking a getting high. None of it compares to the peace of mind I had sober. Nothing was insurmountable. I could do anything. Now I’m fucked again. I’m praying. I just want some help. I have no family left. I feel so alone…
I flew to Las Vegas to go drive out to Zion national park and I’m coming off subs and 16 years of opiate use and all you said nailed it. I’m sitting in my hotel right now alone doing nothing my entire time here because I just feel dead inside. I don’t want to see or do or talk or laugh or cry. I feel like my soul died and left a corpse a ” living dead girl” walking. I haven’t even eaten anything for a week…. Can’t enjoy food at all… seems like work to eat. Nothing helps this pain … I could be on a roller coaster and yawn. I came here to go whitewater rafting also and now I just won’t bother wasting my money or the effort
is anadonia … could it keep you blah after 4 years of sobriety? im not interested in anything anymore. i use to fish hunt teach myself how to build a gas power scooter.. and i just cant get into anything anymore. i work and come home i feel like i may be to boreing for my husband sexually as well. i’d really like to learn how to get thaat dopamine back without relapsing into a substance.
What If those doesn’t have to do anything with drugs tho? I have used drugs and no longer do Its been about a year or longer now just because I started to feels this way. However I just felt as if by now if it was from drugs use that it would be altered by now. Never been a super hard drugs user also I’ve tried quite a but but would only find my self consistently doing it here and there not all the time.
I’m barely alive, but I’m trying. I’m at a week or so sober, and everything is BLAHHHH. I can barely string a sentence together. My body is destroyed. I don’t really have any physical access to recovery or meetings and I’m weary of rehab, but I might need it. I’m not giving up on sobriety and I’m not drinking. I hope I can come back to this comment later and laugh, and not just feel like I’m perusal myself tap on a little rectangle in my hands.
My anhedonia lasted a whole year so I gave up sobriety. Getting sober also got me out of the house more which cost more money and introduced me to more people with their own weird agendas which lead to more pain so what’s the frigging point ? I guess my goose is cooked. How the hell am I supposed to go surfing I gotta work my frigging life away. Temporary uncomfortable? I surely wish that was the case. But hey things can always get worse:)
Will soemone basically start all over like the brain healing from this every time they take even one dose? Or if they even take a partial agonist to the same receptors? I took Kratom during withdrawls and then I stopped after week two and didn’t have withdrawls but now I have PAWS. I feel blah non stop, so again if I take Kratom is it stopping my brain all the way and starting the process over? Or am I still making some progress? 🙁
I almost died from drinking. Ended up in the ER and then a 10-day stint in detox. I had a dear friend who turned out to be a flake like all the others in NA. LSS. I went to NA for 8+ months. I was sober or clean or whatever you call it for 9+ months. The depression that lingered, the depression I was medicating my entire adult life with booze hit hard. I relapsed and I have been drinking ever since.
Does this Anhedonia lead to an absolute lack of energy? I can’t energize myself to do anything at all since I stopped using drugs and this makes me angry without the energy of being angry… When I successfully can get energy from being angry I go for a long run with some aggressive music on but this does not happen that often.
I’m scared that I’m never going to get out of that blah feeling I currently have an alcohol problem but I’m also addicted to smoking weed and so is my whole family and the people that live with smoke on a daily basis it’s not realistic for me to get out of this living situation anytime soon I know that I will probably never stop smoking weed so am I always going to feel this blah feeling?
Absolutely sounds great for me and everyone I know that needs sobriety …how to start the process fastest is jail believe that fact except I remember cold turkey on everything and I’m not on rewarding medications nor alcohol nor Street drugs nicotine wasn’t difficult just stay home go to grocery store minus cigarettes sold there and get started working out .. .I remember rehab from maximum amount of pain pills to zilch …also I remember the mental ward and their replacement techniques …I think I’ll gamble with everyone around me on street drugs and meds cigarettes pot for money …all in …no doubt I’m winning
Funny that you mention surfing. I like surfing, but my stand up paddle board (SUP) is my favorite. I never heard of anhedonia, but I think that explains why I have no motivation to go out with my SUP. Absolutely no pleasure and major depression. Do you know how long it lasts, because I’m majorly depressed with suicidal ideation?
Has anyone experienced panic disorder after getting sober? I got diagnosed with it a couple months after being sober. Still trying to put the puzzle pieces together, I am 8 months sober with panic disorder now and couldn’t do a lot of things I normally would do like drive but I’m getting back into the groove of it all.
12 months ago I underwent 6 months of Accutane medication for my acne. I got some weird side effects from the Accutane which I think can be cause of my liver not being really optimal, but I managed to get through it. The last 2 times I went out drinking I got anhedonia and concentration issues the day after. The first time the symptoms went away after a week, but I thought the problem was connected to me eating gluten (I have celiac disease), which I accidentally did that evening and not the alcohol. Therefore I went out the following friday not knowing that alcohol wasn’t good for my body. Now I have had the same symptoms the last 6 weeks. Do you think that because of a tired liver I can experience withdrawal issues? I have never had any problems related to depression before.
Now been sober for 5 days, lack of motivation has been big issue, like nothing interests me, I used to drink 3-4 times per week, also biinge drinking 4 days, sometimes heavily. And now it’s been few years so. So I guess..it takes some time then..but interest in activities is low, used to get gym before and all that, now nothing interests
This explains a bit, I’ve had adhd since before it was a thing. Had an addrenaline filled life with motocross and 4×4 (jeeps etc) Got ride of my dirtbike and 4×4 due to um expected expenses in late 20’s then turned to drugs for that rush. In small amounts for years, $40/Week after I had decided to stop the drugs I’ve been blahh most of the time. I’ll have enjoyment in activities but very short lived. Thanks for the information. If nowpeople knew about this I feel it would help almost endlessly.
I thank God my chains are gone. I am greatful for my health and my freedom and I am greatful to get to go back to work. 1 Corinthians 6. Says to be sober. Your body is a temple. I don’t have to be sold out to a prison cell again. I am greatful to overcome my addiction. My freedom and my family 👪 means so much. Thank you Father.
While I have never had any substance abuse issues, this article did help remind me of why my depression causes me to feel this way. I’m remembering what it was like to go to Tai Kwon Do and I want to go back now. This isn’t something trivial. I’ve been dealing with mental health for years. Thanks so much!