(no subject)

[violsva]

So yeah, if anyone has techniques for dealing with anhedonia now would be a good time for me to hear about them.

Comments

[enemyofperfect]

Ah, hell. I'm sorry you're dealing with that.

A piece of advice I bounce off of hard most of the time is "Do a bit of housework when you're feeling bad, because even if you don't feel better, at least a bit of housework will get done," but when I'm on the anhedonic side of things, there's sort of grim satisfaction in knowing that I wouldn't be enjoying [insert chore here] even on a good day.

If the anhedonia isn't complete, sometimes I find that a switch of recreational medium seems to shake loose a flicker of interest, if not pleasure. So maybe tv when I'd ordinarily be reading, or random youtube when I'd meant to watch tv, etc.

If socially acceptable meals are too much work to seem worth it, a protein bar or a bowl of potato chips also contains calories to keep my body running.

If insomnia isn't currently an issue, going to bed early can make for less time to get through.

I'm not sure if this targets anhedonia specifically, but making myself just look outdoors -- even while staying physically inside -- seems to ease some of the trapped tedium feeling I've been getting this year.

Possibly even more YMMV than the rest of this comment: I mind it less if I give myself permission not to feel what I would in a time of better brain.

Best of luck finding techniques that are helpful for you.

[violsva]

Just recognizing that this is a symptom and there is a name for it is actually a step in the right direction for me.

And I have already been accidentally following the switch medium advice, actually. So giving myself permission to just play video games may help, thank you.

[enemyofperfect]

Having a name for a thing can be very powerful. I'm glad you have that now -- and that you have video games, too.

[enemyofperfect]

One more stray thought: Sometimes I find that catharsis and relief are more accessible than happiness, which makes hurt/comfort even more valuable than usual. (Fortunately, fandom is a pretty great place for that.)