Anhedonia After Addiction | The Inability To Feel Pleasure After Getting Sober
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- LEARN MORE: treehouserecov...
Overcome it, avoid relapse, and regain your happiness. Anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, will occur in the early stages of recovery from drug addiction / alcoholism. In this video, addiction counselor Rob Mo goes over all the information you need to not only understand anhedonia, but also to survive it.
Due to drugs and alcohol causing such high amounts of dopamine to be released in the brain, when the consumption stops, dopamine production also stops, putting a person into anhedonia. Once anhedonia starts taking place, a person may not feel the same pleasure they once felt in life. However, this will pass! And, there are means to help make this early phase of recovery pass by faster than average, getting someone back to a normal state of homeostasis (balanced brain chemistry). Understanding anhedonia is the first step to overcoming. Although anhedonia becomes less severe over time, it is a common predecessor of relapse. Knowing that this stage will pass is immensely valuable for getting passed it confidently and sober. For more information on overcoming addiction, visit treehouserecovery.com or give our main number a call and schedule a talk with Rob Mo at (855) 202-2138.
#anhedonia #addiction #PAWS
This whole comment section makes me feel like I’ve finally found my people.
We Are Not Alone.
Ya
Wassup everyone!
Love you dude
Realizing the "normalcy" is encouraging
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.
We can help with that feeling. It's most likely PAWS. Give us a call anytime
I’m one month sober from alcohol and I feel so Dan depressed. I’m feeling all this stuff he’s talking about. I’m coloring, listening to music, going on walks, and I can’t feel good. You’re not alone
I’ve found that when I really hit the booze hard it triggers my anhedonia. I’m going to make an effort to cut back on the booze. I go days at a time without any booze, so it’s not like I’m a quivering mess just sitting around thinking about booze when I don’t drink. The hard part is replacing the time drinking and the enjoyment of sitting on my couch with a beer or at the bar with some other activity. That’s the hard thing when you enjoy booze, it just becomes a habit and something to do as much as anything else. Rainy day or really hot outside, let’s go to the bar and have a few drinks. Like I said, for me it becomes as much or more of a habit and something to do as it is about the booze itself.
Hope you’re doing well. I pray in Jesus name. Amen ✝️
I'm 10 years sober I'm not doing it anymore without a motorcycle by summer I'll be drunk and mean and probably in jail but I'm bored so f it .10 years maybe 1 year of pleasure from being sober it's stupid I feel like life is shit anyway mostly now so I'd rather be drunk high miserable than sober miserable.
I'm a veteran, was actually addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.
Thanks for sharing your story. That's rough I sympathize. Save your health save your mind. Life is better without heroin, cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes. And you have more money in your pocket. God bless everyone who has rejected the devils intentions to be addicted to alcohol and cigarettes etc which can cause so much damage to health. I will pray for you all.
Hey mates! Can you help with the source? I suffer severe anxiety, panic and depression and I usually take prescription medicine, but they don't always help. Where can I find those psilocybin mushrooms? I'm really interested in treating my mental health without Rxs. I live in Germany don't know much about these. I'm so glad they helped you. I can't wait to get them too. Really need a reliable source 🙏
YES very sure of Dr.alishrooms. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, BPD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
Mushrooms are very medicinal. This is why anybody familiar with psilocybin and any other kind of fungi will tell you, "They are alive." They have a very ancient wisdom. To my experience, all mushrooms have always said, "Pay attention to your life. How you think, how you feel, and what will you do with the information that you always knew, but now are seeing in this point of view." This is why mushrooms are so respected in tribal cultures. This mental health treatment works for me too. Half micro doses do the trick for me. At least a few days at a time with lengthy time in between. Never addictive. Thank you for sharing this point!
How do I reach out to him? Is he on insta
Blah was the perfect description.. I feel lost have no joy in anything almost would rather go through the pain again then to feel utterly hopeless 😢
The most important thing to keep in mind right now is that this is going to pass. Anhedonia is temporary. You can do things to help speed up this process. Get active, even if it's light activity. Try your best to eat a lot of good nutrients as well. And most importantly, continue to work on you. Anytime you feel bad, think about what you can do naturally to feel better, and you'll start to change the reactive thought in your mind from dwelling on negatives, to focusing on what positive direction to go. This takes practice, and we are here to help guide you if you ever need anything. Feel free to reach out or call us anytime.
@@TreeHouseRecovery thank you for your response, I really do appreciate it and read it probably 5 times a day.. Tomorrow will be three weeks. I know its not a massive amount of time but when you're getting your hat handed to you every second of every day it's an eternity.. I'm glad I'm no longer "sick" but I have never felt so low. My emotions are a rollercoaster. I try your advice and when I get overwhelmed with the negative I take a moment and think of anything positive I had done during these 3 weeks.. I am so exhausted physically like I worked out in a field all day but have done nothing. I force myself to straighten up the house or even walk outside.. And here is my failure point I convince myself that this is how I will always feel unhappy, exhausted and so low that I would rather die on my "medicine" than to live life feeling this way.. Strange I can say that to a stranger but can put it into words for my loved one's.. Anyway your response meant the world to me I will keep your advice in mind.. Wish me luck.
@@melloyellogsxr Wow, you are amazing, everything you said just sounds so on point with what this phase will do to someone. What you are doing most normal people can not do or handle, you know that right? You are so strong. I am so excited for how amazing you are going to feel when you finish this phase. Nothing is going to be able to affect you when you're done with this and you become an optimized you. We definitely wish you all the luck, but it sounds like you have the inner strength needed, and luck is just an added bonus at this point. Please stay in touch! Give us updates when you can, and any advice you want to share we would love to pass it along to our guys going through the same situation. Thank you for what you said, again, we are here with you through this journey!
@@TreeHouseRecovery yesterday marked one month.. Thank you for the encouraging words they could not have come at a more needed time.. Yesterday nothing was going right I had talked myself into giving up and was so close I even went to the ATM and withdrew cash.. I told myself give it one more day and if I still feel the same in the morning then go and that's when I seen your response and thought about how far I have come.. I never made it this far before. I gave my wife the cash I took out she was so happy that I didn't give up it made me feel good.. I have to admit it is getting better I find myself smiling more. This one guy on UA-cam I watched swore exercise is the best to making yourself feel better faster so I try and keep myself busy doing anything. it was so hard at first but now has sorta become routine and now about to start looking for employment (I lost my job because of my addiction) I won't lie it still dominates my every waking thoughts but I feel like I might really have a grasp on it now.. I want to say again thank you for your words you really have no idea what they have done for me and how much I appreciate them :)
Tree House Recovery how long does it usually take?
22 years old. 1 year sober from heroin, meth and crack in May. My bro went to jail for reckless manslaughter last year and I realized I couldn't live like this anymore. After 10 years of addiction in the streets of Birmingham I can finally feel happy again.
I'm so happy for you 🤗
Keep it up! You are worth it!
🙏
@@Sedonawhite
update my brother was released from jail on April 17th and died on April 18th. RIP Dee I'll love you forever man and I miss you. Fly high.
@@step2058 damn I'm sorry to hear that. 🙏🧚♀️
Birmingham,Alabama?
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!
Thanks!
i have debilitating anhedonia even after many years. i havent been able to engage in hobbies for so long. i can't work, i can't study. it's all a mess.
I think I prefer using to not feeling anything. I have been sober for two years and still feel nothing.
Except every human is different & all our brains are different & we have different habits so everybody experiences something different, not every case can just heal by themselves for me it is not possible it’s been 2 years but I used a lot of different drugs at once so I’m not surprised but there still is no solution to my problem except trying to focus on positivity & not focus on negativity but that requires me to isolate from the rest of the world n idk what the point is or if I’ll ever feel different cuz I’ve been feeling the same for a really long time n it was bad before that but it got way worse in the last 2 years & it’s not getting better no matter what I eat or do or manifest
@@arasharfa I know exactly how U feel it's 1008am and I am waking up exhausted 🥱
This is helping me so much with my recovery. I didn’t know there was an actual name to what I was experiencing. Thank you so much
Smfknj how r u now
@@sangeetalambh6389 soo much better. Still clean. Took nearly a year for my brain to normalize
@@smfknj6010 did u feel depersonalization in ur withdrawal please ans I m 186 days sober now
@@sangeetalambh6389 Very much so. I believe the reward centers (dopamine etc) in my brain were soo messed up that nothing I did seemed to bring me any enjoyment. All of my favorite activities just seemed so hollow and meaningless. I had a complete loss of identity because when nothing you do makes you happy you start to feel like maybe you’re just doing all the wrong things. I didn’t take into consideration my brain just needed to rewire basically. It really took about a year, but i feel normal now. Im inspired, motivated, happy. I feel like im myself now and it’s because the things I do are making me happy because my brain is finally letting them
@@smfknj6010 I quit alc and nicoteen Dr pre benzo and SSRI for withdrawal itook them 50 days and quit after six month I again drink for few days and quit .dr pre me clonazepam 3 mg and qutipen 50 mg for sleep.after 15 days I quit both drugs because of side effects.now feel DP anhedonia gone first 90 days.how much more time to heal
Ive been sober over a year and still feel no pleasure in anything. Video 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’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 😔
Same, been sober for years so it’s not PAWS. Been to 8 different doctors over the course of many, many years and none of them can fix my anhedonia. This isn’t always drug related.
@@hapchandler5172 I need help, but I don’t know what else to do. Therapy didn’t help, and I definitely don’t want to try another antidepressant. I hate feeling like life is a chore.
Wow, you and I are the SAME people. We should connect and see if we have tools that can help each other ❤
Try feeding your spirit. I struggled with addiction, depression and anxiety for 10 years, I'm 30 And one year sober. May sound cliche but I found Christ and that has helped immensely. Do I still have bad days? Of course, but I'm much happier than I was.
If you wanna get esoteric, it could be the shift that happened after covid. But maybe I'm just crazy.
A wise old junky once told me “ you got to pay to play”, we wreck our brains and it takes a long time to recover.
Yeah. Luckily after 90 days we start feeling a lil better and remember how we felt after waking up sick when was using. A bit boring day clean your first few months or first year is still way better than that feeling.
how long is long?? 5 days physical withdrawal, 14 days clear thoughts, 30 days starting to workout "normally" again.......but how long really to feel normal joy of life?? Taking full range of supplements (Amino Acids, Vitamins A-Z,) and eating plant based diet......nonetheless doubt when I will ever feel normal again......
@@fredericbeigbeder9119 What do you consider normal? Do you have an image of yourself as normal? My strategy is through 12 step work. Sometimes i feel okey. Sometimes it sucks. Its normal. Maybe not. 🙂
@@mikieger6001 12 steps is you depend on a fucked-up image of God, it is Will-power. But yes I just learned that everyone is different....me personally would be still a drunk asshole if I only had 12 step, so be blessed
@@mikieger6001 and I just achivied to be fully restored after 48 days, so my question is obsolete (the miracle cure for me was psychedelics and a diet of pure vegetables and fruits).......Nature is the blessing
Don't give up on recovery. Life is harder in some ways, but is 100% worth it.
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 watching 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. ❤
6.5 years from heroin. I wish I had this broken down for me like this when I was early on in recovery. Everyone early on, needs to hear this.
Best wishes my brother
How are you feeling now
Awesome 😂❤
4 years for me and it’s still going strong:( it’s awrul
I'm 11 years sober and this is me too man!! Atleast I'm in control of my life and crushing goals, just kind of a dull boring life though.
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.
Congratulations on your 1 month clean Rose.
Rose how r u now
You quit 3 habits. I congratulate u... Dont find out what being mentally and PHYSICALLY dependent is like.
I'm guessing this was the first time you quit?
@ Rose Mendoza That is so awesome. Im happy to hear that.
This would be better than 99 percent of videos with 1 million views
You get this after toxic relationships too. Which are also addictions. I had it about 3 years after leaving my narc ex, but the realized I always had let toxic people in my life. So its been a long long detox.
@@robinnobles5785❤
maybe to you they are is not the same thing as substance addiction
@PeterSsailing I don't know about that. Been hooked on both and some people I've been addicted to were worse for me than any drug. Drugs are no joke either... but yeah there's alot of similarity. This is why people stay in abusive relationships for so long. They're chasing the highs that those relationships bring, which also inevitably come with a crash. Often with devastating consequences.
@@Xisk77 That's some real dumb shit to be hooked on bad relationships, on purpose. Sounds masochistic. On the other hand at the end of the day we all battle or try to manage the forced experience of brain chemicals being something out of reach to adjust to our will. Which is the fault of the creator. This means God/Architect is not good. We are all programmed with this inferior system. It's crap design and I have no respect for the entity who dreams this shit up for us to live in. But.... boys n girls that's my take on it. Most humans are dumb enough to be religious (and think their creator is a nice entity)
@@Xisk77 for me having youth ptsd did make dangerous and toxic relations feel 'like home' so the wrong intuition, but maybe you can call it addiction.
Sometimes I feel like the temporary happiness from addiction is better than the permanent unhappiness of sobriety.
100%. I don't think we all return to normal after quitting. Even years after the fact. Life sucks
That's exactly the point. At least you get it! That's the hardest part ❤
If you're interesting look into extended fasting. Resets your mind and body. 7 day fast improved my anhedonia about 50%, which is the difference between life and death. Still a road ahead but significant.
@@4DTravelrwhat kind of fast is this? Im 21 months sober and andohenia already feel like a fast in itself
That's because you're saying it's permanent. But there's no reason it has to be. Noones destined for permanent unhappiness.
Exactly that rush and excitement from being chemically dependent is slowly disappearing. It totally plays with your mental and physical emotions. Everything is blah feeling. No excitement whatsoever. It takes along time to overcome this,but it can be accomplished eventually.
How long have you been experiencing it for?
I don't think it's just dopamine. There are other enzymes like GABA and others that are not being activated. That's what I've read anyway.
dang. I didn't know this was a thing, I just thought I was over life.
Same.
Same guys this is bad
@@livelaughlove1190 Well, yes it is bad. But it's better than thinking you are "over life". At least people know it can be sorted out.
@@thejollysloth5743 yea but it’s extremely hard to do so for people who are in hard situations on top of it and for some people it’s way harder then others
@@livelaughlove1190 Oh, I know that. It sucks real bad.
So I think what I took away from this is I need to start running and working out to start creating natural dopamine again bc this withdraw process is tough. 11 years of use is a long time Ike
Thank you I’m on day 50 and totally feeling inability to feel pleasure this video helped me to let go
how is it going now?
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..
Wow where in Mexico??
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.
So happy to hear you have found a way to overcome anhedonia. Congratulations! Do you do anything in addition to the L-tyrosine? We would love to hear the recipe for your success :)
For the rest no additives, only L-tyrosine 2 capsules of 500 mg per day.
After 4 to 5 days I already noticed a difference, everything came back gradually.
Was motivated again, could cry again, my interests came back, all the feelings that a person has gradually returned.
I was no longer a zombie a terrible time but because of that Anhedonia I couldn't grieve.
You are no longer yourself, you are a stranger to your own body
and mind.
In your brain, there was no internal monologue, only silence.
Looks like a security mechanism of your brain that was triggered by the stress in me.
Everything comes to you through feelings and what you see and hear, your senses, but it was blocked.
What you read a lot is that people with this condition Anhedonia came because of drug use but this was not the case with me.
I also found someone where it was caused by a high dose of antibiotics.
On youtube you can see more stories about people with Anhedonia who have gotten better by using L-tyrosine.
Some say it's a dopamine agonist.
@@yoda747 Wow thanks for sharing all of this. We are so happy you are thriving again. Yes, it definitely can come without ever even using a substance, and it is almost guaranteed to come if you are someone that is quitting an addiction. The reason I ask what else you do to help is because I want to recommend some additional, easy to do, ingredients for your recipe. For example, get active. This doesn't need to be intensive workouts, although that would be beneficial, but any movement helps kickstart your brain to becoming rebalanced. Simply walking more will promote the chemicals that can help further heal your brain. In addition to this, continue to harness relationships. This comes with many benefits. Your brain releases oxytocin when with friends and bonding, another chemical that helps the brain feel good. It's also very powerful to continue to be vocal about what you experience, and having a good friend that will talk it out with you is so helpful in moments that we feel down. Hope this helps. Any other advice or question feel free to give us a call anytime at (855) 202-2138 Thanks again for this information!
You have no idea how much hope your comment gives me - I’ve had depression for a year but last 6 month it’s been numbness only. So it’s not drug addiction induced for me as well. I even experienced what they call “depression because of depression” but now I feel like a total stranger to myself. Whole world has changed - inner and outer. I was so passionate about so many things I just couldn’t care less now. I will def tell my doctor about L-tyrosine
@@BaiaBakhtadze : That's why I'm reporting it here to give people hope that this condition doesn't have to be lifelong.
I regularly walked with the thought of not wanting to live like this.
I am not exaggerating but this is one of the worst conditions a person can get, that is from my experience but also what others say about Anhedonia.
The point is that you can try to explain what it is but if you have not experienced what this condition is you can hardly have any idea what it is exactly.
I had no more feelings, I also had that my taste was gone and there were more inexplicable physical complaints.
You literally go through hell.
What I also learned is that especially people who take anti-depression medication of the "ssri's" type get this condition.
It seems that ssri medication maintains this condition of Anhedonia.
But I am not a doctor, I just decided to try it myself because I had the idea of not losing anything anymore.
I already lost everything.
I hope that you and the people reading this are encouraged not to give up, there is a way out of this hell.
being sober is traumatic ....
Hope ur still sober and your feeling better
Dude probably smoking a fat one rn
U mean traumatizing. I agree. Hope u can find some sort of peace my dude. Hope we both can.
@@doofiedoof6379 💩
I love the way you break this down. I feel that if more newly sober folks knew about this, fewer people would relapse. This is great information.
We agree, the more information you know about what's actually happening to your brain during addiction and addiction recovery, the greater your chances are for long term success and a healthy, happy life!
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.
I got that sometimes. Feeling nothing doesn't mean being depressed.
Your last sentence doesn't seem related lol
i relate to this more than i should .. Feelings of comfort coming my way knowing that im not alone in this
Antipsychotics caused this. Its been a few months n a coupl weeks off. Idk if ill ever be me again 😢
Workout, it helps release all the bad stuff . Sauna, vitamins . Be disciplined
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 had anhedonia the worst from quitting meth but only for a week. But I had anhedonia the longest quitting benzos/alcohol just not as severe. It sucked everytime however.
I can't keep myself busy if no motivation to do anything
@partlysimpson5154 I found that going fishing is very therapeutic and a healthy pass time. Best of luck to you 👍 ❤ you got this
I have anhedonia but I have never had addictions
I made a stupid foolish mistake . I put my career job in jeopardy. I became so afraid... the Stress destroyed my mind, and that caused me to give up my job.. I couldn't believe it. I lost my mind . I got severe depression, snd anxiety... now the therapist said I have anhedonia.
I hate living, suffering like this....
Thank for this information. It is key in my understanding myself. It is frustrating and stressful not knowing why I feel the way I feel or why I think and behave the way I do. Self awareness is powerful!!!
I had three years of very debilitating, depression and the inability to feel anything, aka anhedonia. Psilocybin microdosing mushrooms, miraculously healed me. Now I need them again because it came back.
I've heard this now a few times. I'm chipping away at healing my anhedonia with fasting and exercise, but if I get stuck or progress stops, I'll absolutely consider it.
How long did the effect last before it came back?
"People making permanent or life threatening decisions based on temporary uncomfortably" Wow🤯
its not temporary to us it feels like forever
Yep just a guy I did this for thirteen years solid
I have chronic back pain plus no drugs to medicate it with now I am clean
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.....
I know this is an old video. 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
Could be PAWS. POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME. Can last for years depending how long and how much you used. Everyone is different. I was an opiate addict for 12years and I am now 3 years clean cold turkey and still have problems.
3 years! Wow! That’s incredible!
9 days for me & I feel so crappy.
It’s funny u say shadow man, I’m keeping a video diary ( cause my brain is going to explode ) and I just talked about the Devil walking beside me always! I’ll be so happy when he’s only coming around as a shadow man.
@@tessthemess4614 the trick is not trying to get rid of your demons but rather living with your demons. We all have them and when you made the choice to quit you decided to take control. So it's ok to have a little devil beside you. Wouldn't be able to enjoy the good things in life if everything was perfect. Keep it up it WILL get better. I promise!!!!!! There more hard days than good days but when you have good ones they are incredible!
I'm off for 6 months and struggle to eat. Remembered recently that my mother starved me and only gave me a little food when I allowed myself to be raped or abused... She would say "Do you deserve to eat?" and "The food tastes awful doesn't it? You can't eat it, can you? Your going to go to bed hungry, aren't you?". I think she drugged my food too. I hate looking too skinny and I love cooking and eating, but food literally tastes bad sometimes when it's not, and when I'm depressed, I can't eat, and I feel bad when I do.
One night I woke up stuttering and shaking. I was fighting something that got in, for the right to my mind. Prayed for ages and won in the end. It was pretty shaky stuff.
I wrecked my nervous system, ask me how.
I’ve been told I’m an alien and a robot because I don’t have feelings. I don’t know why when I know I should feel something I try and nothing happens. It’s disappointing.
The eyes 😍
Maybe Find your purpose , works for me❤
How long does it take for ur brain to go back producing dopamine naturally or is the brain changed forever??
It will never be as it used to be but brain will create new neuronal connections. Some upregulation will happen but it will not be the same.
@@W1HURI that’s a lie bro, plenty of people recover from anhedonia there are many cases
@@SmokedOut420 it will not be the same still. If dopamine receptors get overstimulated enough they will never upregulate. Brain rewires itself after addiction. You can recover to be happy but the brain will never be the same.
@@W1HURI that's your case, look at your post on this video, you started abusing drugs at the age of 16 when your brain wasn't even done devopling. It's a prove fact that drug abuse In adolescents causes anhedonia, that's your own fault, I recovered from anhedonia after drug abuse, I've seen many others.
@@W1HURI you had changes in your brain during the developing stages of your brain, that is irreversible damage, but not people who's brain was already devopled.
9 months have passed since I do not use drugs and only now I am becoming interested in something in this life. Thanks to your advice, I will naturally increase my dopamine levels and maybe someday I will be able to live the wonderful life that I had before.
How are you now
Thank you so much for this video 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
Thank you so very much for this!! I really needed to hear this bc I'm 21 days into my sobriety and I'm blah AF lol both biochemically and mentally. Knowing this has already helped a lot. Thanks again
We are glad to know this information is helping you. Stay strong Rodney. You can get through it. Feel free to call anytime if you need to.
@@TreeHouseRecovery it really helped because I feel absolutely lost and feel no joy in anything but this comforted me! Thank you
@@hasal1234 you’re welcome
Finally sober but feel so sad and bored. No dopamine release! Its hard 😢
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?
Dude just keep on going through life, things will get better
TY soooo much for explaining this!!!!
After quitting marijauna and other drugs I’ve found that anhedonia is the most prevalent symptom that keeps taking me back to using. Thank you for this video, it’s relieving to know that this feeling will go away with time and that there are other methods of creating dopamine in the brain.
I’m reminded of the NA meeting scene in Half Baked.
@@OzyMandias13 hahaha bro exactly nice catch 😂😂😂
@@dunnejongen8229you could have deficet schizophrenia
EXERCISE! I swear to god it helps so much.
Which other methods?
I really feel trapped by my anhedonia. It has gotten so bad that I don’t even want to eat or pet my dog. I think about ending my life at least 3x a day because I fear that I don’t have the discipline nor motivation to take action to possibly come back from this.
We all think of suicide everyday, because we say “why do things” just keep fighting its all we got
Same
Jesus loves you brother don't give up my brother I love man
Don’t give up bro
Same for me. It has taken my life away. I hope you have recovered.
Hi! This video is filled with answers to my ample questions. I am in the midst of starting my journey and this video will be a bookmark for my future reference. Thanks for sharing this informative video.
I don't want to do drugs anymore but its hard with the way I'm feeling. I literally can't enjoy anything.
Give us a call. We’re here to help
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.
My advice. Stop listening to videos and just do stuff. That's it.
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.
Or taking ssri's when you're manic to soothe your brain, then everything is blah, too much bother, or over whelming..
Great video. I'm approaching 5 months sober and I'm getting days we're i just feel empty and it's a joyless existence. Never knew there was a word for this condition.
Congratulations on your sobriety! Stay focused, and remember this is temporary! The healthier you become, the more your brain/body will rebalance. You got this!
Tonight is night one. I have smoked weed and nicotine for 8 years now I am 24 and I want my life back
Got pretty severe anhedonia after breaking from a porn addiction. Couldn't even enjoy conversations, rollercoasters, or pretty much anything, it definitely made depression worse.
Porn is awful.
Thank you for sharing this. It sounds like you were able to overcome this state and get back to a balanced state. Congratulations! Any advice for those struggling at the moment?
@@TreeHouseRecovery Most important:
Exercise consistently. Eat right. Take grass-fed beef brain supplements. Sleep well. These things are a must not only to help heal from mental illness but they are good for your overall well-being, period.
Also good: Fast once to twice a week (full days without eating), take cold showers, learn new skills like a playing a musical instrument, a martial art, something that is difficult and may be uncomfortable at first, but rewarding, maybe relearn cursive. There are many things that are good for the brain, there are also many things that are bad for the brain. Do the things that are good for your brain.
@@Ioannikios174 This is so great. You just touched on many things we teach our clients! Sounds like you did your research Joel, and that in itself is one of the first necessary steps to healing. We love what you're doing, keep up the amazing work!
@@Ioannikios174 If you don't mind. Would you like to tell us(me) how things are going now? I find myself in the same situation as you were once in. I manage 2-3 weeks without it and go on a binge and right after I feel just.. meehh... Like no interest in real sex/no motivation/poor sleep patterns.
Congratulations on your path towards a happier you
@@liquidsquid101 Feeling a WHOLE lot better now!
One day I just quit that was it I changed my mind.
Has there ever been a study on the correlation between a patient with ADHD suffering more from Anhedonia than a patient without? Just wondering because I saw a study that links ADHD to the person having a lot less Dopamine receptors than a "Normal" Brain.
I've learned from having 2 children with it as well as myself that ADHD isn't what it's being sold to us as, the problem for 99% of sufferers is the standard American diet, look up the ketogenic diet and healthy fats and why these are needed for our brains to function, along with proper nutrition. The food we eat is horrible and unless you do the research and learn just how bad some things really are, you may never get better. Carbohydrates or sugars are the enemy, along with pesticides and other chemicals, not to mention that our soils have been depleted of many nutrients that used to exist in nature. I'm also a recovering opiates user. Diet and exercise will help cure what ills you. Don't take any advice from the government and most doctors, not even nutritionists are giving out the best advice...you have the power to learn right in your hand. Use it.
@@vernpalechek9314 agree with @vern Palechek... ADHD its bs. its funny how in early 90's ADHD and ADD wasnt even popular.. nowadays almost everyone its diagnosed with ADHD lol.
@@amaterasugokamekkyaku579, absolutely, I grew up in the 60's and 70's and ADHD, didn't exist, it was big pharma's answer to the increase in the use and consumption of HFCS, which our government was part of when they changed the dietary guidelines for the standard American diet. Next thing you know the country is getting fat. When I was in school there was literally a handful of big kids.
I do have to say from being on Vyvanse something like Adderall and doing opiates for 11 years it helped ALOT with just getting by the day. But I have learned from immense trial and error that no drug is the way to go. Get sublocade and set yourself free.
Thats the real danger of drugs especially for ppl who were depressed before, take a drug, and suddenly feel good. It's sad to feel so good and then feel apathy in daily life.
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.
You're not alone. Many people are surprised to learn how potent nicotine can be. But nicotine didn't allow you to enjoy these things. It was just a way to pump dopamine quickly into your brain, and now your brain is to used to those high levels. It will re-adjust. Hang in there. Be social, get your heart rate up for at least 30 min as many days as you can (every day if possible), and you should start to feel improvement. If you want some guidance give us a call (855) 274-1040
Yes Norma Jean I was a vaping addict almost never put it down before that smoked for over fifteen years have recently quitt smoking and vaping feel bad depression anhedonia tiredness and boredom I quit because of the expense and difficulty locating juice
I am reaching out for help I am not able to move from my room. I am reaching out to you.
Finally someone puts a name on it ! Seriously why don’t they explain all this to us in iop & other classes were told to go through . This is awesome ! Thanks for sharing . This is a hopeful video . Plzzz keep making these types of videos 😊😍
Been sober about 5 years now and still feel that blahhness about life. Only thing really keeping me going is the gym and hookups. Not a day goes by where I don’t want to take opiates again or smoke weed. I know it takes time to feel like is worth living but how much longer?
I never took any drug or alcohol.
Here I am, anhedonic since 2019.
At this point I'm getting used to feeling nothing and continuing life like this.
For as long as I can. But the difficult part is work... like a normal person while carrying a deadbody....
@@muniaisworthit numb deadweight.. that’s exactly what level been feeling. I don’t wish this on anyone honestly.
@@grimizzi715 Me too.
This is why I'm an antinatalist. Not being born is the best. Once you are born there's no painless way to go.
i’ve been clean 9 years and have yet to feel a single moment of joy or satisfaction. 9 years! it’s the reason i started using to begin with
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’d never heard of this word before. Knowledge is power. You helped me get a better understanding of what my loved one is going through. Thank you!
I quit nicotine, so I walk and walk and eat dark chocolate, wow, my Di. Ck wake up together with me each morning, I feel alive... So I don't need nicotine, I just need dark chocolate and walking
Ive never been addicted to anything but was checking for overlap between adhd and withdrawal. I just figured this is what boredom feels like normally. Ive had long periods of this and just accepted it
Amphetamines really does this, 2 years, get past that, fighting chance, I believe why people addicted to meth , always relapse.... because of what he is saying in this video.
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.
I have this and I also have an agoraphobia. but mine happened after my daughter committed suicide. I was always heavy into sports and outside and hiking and I was a dual athlete, but not now.😢
We are sorry to hear about your daughter. Joining a crossfit community maybe helpful regarding the anhedonia. Let us know if we can help.
Great video. Has me nailed. I was a big time ACOA thrill seeker. I made too many changes in early recovery and went straight into this state. Thanks for the explanations.
Is there anything that can repair the brain after getting DESTROYED by antidepressants causing you to be anhedonic even after YEARS of stopping them?
@Gigix Bolla Since Jan 2018
It's not always linked to drug and alcohol withdrawal. I believe I experienced this after a series of events, including my mom almost dying and being very sick. We were very close. I'm not a drug or alcohol addict.
It's depression which can be triggered by many things trauma, substance missuse due to depleted dopamine levels .. no it's not always drugs.. but you make a good point cos ppl assume the long term waiting for it to pass is down to this condition when it could be trapped trauma.. or denial of certain emotions or being around toxic ppl ❤❤❤❤❤❤
I feel like this all the time,I can literally count the number of times on one hand I have felt anything even close to a good mood in 10years,I don't think anything would help,too much pain.
Could this include energy drink and pre workout energy powder addiction? Been on them for a decade non stop and seriously can’t workout, read books or enjoy life due to lack of interest. I get nothing from caffeine now but still take it for whatever reason and can’t quit.
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
Me to. Did you stop enjoying music to?
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.
How do you feel now ?
Almost two years sober, but honestly I’ve felt no joy in life. I constantly compare my life to when I drank.
Congratulations on the 2 years. If you're interested, we can refer you to some people who specialize in anhedonia. 855-202-2138
Same, brotha. I'm over 5 years clean. The only thing that brings me joy are moments with my 7 year old son. This shit is tough! Good luck
I know I'm fucked after smoking weed daily for 1 year straight. I just dont enjoy anything in this world. Even smoking weed doesn't give me pleasure nowadays. Guys please stay away from weed or any other drugs for that matter.
Well said and greatly appreciated. It would have been ideal to include a hint of social media reward cycle instead of only saying 'drugs' . Childhood trauma, use of antibiotics, and other illness caused my anhedonia. Plant medicine ceremonies (ayahausca, psilocybin) are helping a great deal.
How many ceremonies you had.. or doses??
Antibiotics really kill off beneficial bacteria in your gut along with all the bad bacteria. All those beneficial bacterias being gone means less nutrient absorption. The brain and gut are connected like everything else, if gut health is off then so will your hormones and mental health
I hope that now that we understand the relationship between the gut biome which is where dopamine is made and the brain that you have added gut health nutrition to this process.
Absolutely, thanks for your comment! Nutrition and healthy habits are a big part of our recipe for success.
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.
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 on buprenorphine and still experiencing anhedonia...When I quit, and hopefully I will, I expect hell. I will try getting my brain chemicals measured. Thx for the video. You are totally right that it needs time but the recovery is then full recovery, not patching it up for a short time.
Bupe long term causes anhedonia.
Am I the only one who experience anhedonia with short term memory problems?
short and long term here
Nope I’m 24 and memory is the absolute worst it’s ever been. It’s absolutely horrible
I’m 24 and have severe short term memory problems, it’s due to a dopamine deficiency in the brain as described at the start of the video.
I hope that there is still a chance for us to recover
@@yohanani6838 are you on psych meds?
I need dopamine!! Im always irritated....suuucks. I feel like such an uptight asshole sober. I hate that....i used to crack jokes and talk to alot of people...now i feel blaaaaahhhhh
Am I the only one who suffers from Anhedonia for years without trying any drugs nor alcohol ever?
how to afford help? cost so much these days and insurance won't cover
Got to work that's the end of it. Nobody is going to help us .
@@silver4831Silver looking for a way to help myself. it is horrible living like this. “Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.” good bye...
Hey @Patinom2 there are definitely resources available for your circumstance. If you give us a call on we can help you find the best possible route for getting help. Give us a call anytime at (855) 202-2138
I never let myself feel TOO good on fentanyl. Micro micro dosed. If I plowed myself with a big hit I would've never quit
Riding quads got me happy quicker. And finding out my passion
There's no coming back from this...... if you do come back, you'll find an empty shell of yourself, and the only way to navigate through life is to think back to how you did things before, or else you'll find yourself freezing and not knowing what to do in the simplest situations.
_T H E B I G B L A H H H_
I've been clean for almost 3 years and I still cannot find pleasure from life! I'm depressed nothing makes me happy. I don't have insurance and I can't get any help so I just keep chugging along going to work and making sure my bills are paid that's about as much as I can handle.
That’s all I do… I feel like a living dead girl … Rob Zombie song
@@lauraestes9304same, feeling suicidal because of loss of enjoyment in life
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
How does this apply yo non drug addiction? I.e sex addiction, exercise addiction etc
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.
It’s hard to stay a functional addict. I’ve been on suboxone for going on 10 years. I literally got hooked on suboxone and here I am now still on it. My life has finally come together except that one thing. I feel it will become a larger problem when I get older.
Give us a call if you want to get off the suboxone. We can help.
Thank You 🙏 I’m in recovery and also work in treatment. And also love my own euphoria. This message is Awesome
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.
yes, but how to recover , to overcome, solution?
Work out none stop till the day u die. Resting only when its time to recover muscle groups.
@@mgtowanonymous3120 lol
@@Matty94 I'm bein dead serious. An when in the anhedonia phase put on headphones listen to REAL music l
The likes from Marcus warner ,Thomas bergersen,mozart,hans Zimmer ect ect an even if u gotta squeeze ur arms together against ur chest because the dam cold sweats and that anhedonia shit is so bad an u really dont wanna do it force urself to do laps in ur house or room for at least 30 mins to an hour /hour an half max
At first
An just focus on the music.
That shit will have u in the feels big time. U will more than likely be crying. But itll be the good kind. That shit will get u so far I'm telling u.
Try it. U wont be disappointed. An gL ur not alone.
@@mgtowanonymous3120 yes i know you were serious :) I just found it funny for some strange reason, I have tried walking for some time and it seems to help a little bit, but i think you are correct that i have to increase the intensity quite a bit. and yes music is a great tool to use aswell, definitely helps!. I also started swimming again in cold water, that seems to boost my overall happiness, due to the small boost in endorphins, but I have noticed it is a lot less compared to before i started drug abuse. But even a small increase in dopamine for just 30 mins is better than nothing I believe. when did your anhedonia start? and thanks btw, gl to you too! nice to know i am not alone with this horrible feeling.
@@mgtowanonymous3120 do u got whatsapp. would like to ask questions to u there
Thank you sir for this video on the familiar anhedonia after addiction, this is very therapeutic and supportive also a pleasure to find support and inspiration and understanding in the comment section! Greetings from the Netherlands