7 Indicators That You Might Be Experiencing Social Anhedonia

Life comes with ups and downs, joys and sorrows, mourning and celebration. Our emotions can act as a useful indicator of when you might need support. For most people, pleasure, happiness, and joy are tied to many life experiences. What if you could not feel these things? If that’s happening to you, you may be experiencing anhedonia.

What Is Anhedonia?

You may have heard of hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure. Anhedonia is its opposite — the inability to enjoy something. We use the term anhedonia when someone is unable to enjoy the good things in their life.

There are two types of anhedonia. The first is physical anhedonia, which is when someone cannot enjoy physical sensations such as physical touch from another person or the taste of food. The second is social anhedonia, which is when someone cannot enjoy the companionship of other people. Both types of anhedonia can be symptoms of depression, other mental health conditions, and physical health conditions, as well as side effects of certain medications.

How Common Is Social Anhedonia?

Social anhedonia is more common than its physical counterpart. It is not comparable to social anxiety; it’s not introversion or fear, resentment, or negative feelings about social situations. Instead, anhedonia refers to a diminished or missing capacity for enjoyment.

7 Signs of Social Anhedonia

1. Social Withdrawal

Social withdrawal is the avoidance, removal, or isolation of yourself from social activities. This could look like no longer showing up to social gatherings like family dinners or a night out with friends, or even no longer engaging with friends remotely (through texting, social media, etc.).

2. Lack of Relationships

Social anhedonia can make you uninterested in relationships with other people. You may find yourself no longer wanting to pursue and maintain friendships, romantic relationships, and/or family relationships. If interpersonal interaction is not enjoyable to you, you may refrain from engaging in the relationships you have or starting new relationships.

3. Reduced Emotional Response

While most people might smile, hug, and celebrate the news and lives of their loved ones, people with social anhedonia might struggle to do so. Symptoms include a reduction or inability to show and feel emotional responses to social interactions, both verbal and nonverbal.

4. Depression

Both physical and social anhedonia can be rooted in preexisting depression, but this does not apply in all cases. If you’re struggling with some form of depression and find yourself withdrawing or preferring solitude, you might be experiencing social anhedonia. Be sure to mention this symptom to your doctor or mental health provider – it will help them help you.

If you are experiencing an inability to enjoy the good in your life and you aren’t already working with a physician or therapist, consider doing just that. A physician can look at possible physiological causes (like an out-of-whack thyroid, certain vitamin deficiencies, or medication side effects) for your symptoms, and a mental health professional can help you heal whether the causes are physical or not. Reach out to a therapist in your area today!

5. Poor Social Adjustment

When facing a new situation where you must adjust to the social climate, you might struggle to adapt if you’re dealing with social anhedonia. The skills you’ve acquired and are used to using in this type of setting may no longer be working for you. You might feel like you have to “fake it” in social situations where you’re not feeling genuine pleasure.

6. Decreased Overall Positivity

Another indicator of social anhedonia is the inability to be positive. The old you might provide encouragement, offer solutions, or bring optimism to a situation, but social-anhedonia you might not be able to. Instead, you might tend to say nothing or be pessimistic.

7. Monotone or Flat Vocal Expression

Lastly, if you’re feeling no pleasure or joy, you might also use a monotone or flat vocal expression that sounds uninterested or distracted. If this is a trend over time (versus, say, just a couple of days of flat verbal affect due to feeling blue, down, or exhausted), it could indicate social anhedonia.

Conclusion

Social anhedonia is more common than you might think. It’s a major symptom of depression. If you are experiencing any of these indicators or symptoms, consider working with a mental health professional. To learn more about your options, click here.

Struggling with anhedonia or depression? Start your search for a therapist who can walk this road with you and help you heal.

References

Healthline. (2018, September 17). Anhedonia: Symptoms, Treatment, and More. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/anhedonia.

Many people who experience anxiety or depression know the symptoms of each are not always well-defined. For instance, they can overlap. Commonly overlapping symptoms of anxiety and depression include difficulty concentrating, sleep issues, tiredness, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

It is not always easy to tell which condition is causing symptoms. In many cases, people seem to experience aspects of anxiety and depression. They may not know whether they are dealing with anxiety, depression, or even both. One reason for this confusion is each condition’s ability to mimic the other.

Identifying one main cause of symptoms is not always possible or necessary. But knowing the root causes of your symptoms could help you find the best treatment approach. A deeper understanding of your experience may also help you feel more hopeful about seeking help.

Key Differences Between Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety is a constant feeling of worry. It can occur on its own or be triggered by certain events or factors. Physical signs of anxiety often include shortness of breath and tense muscles. People dealing with anxiety sometimes experience panic attacks, heart palpitations, and dizziness.

Depression is prolonged sadness or loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities. It is characterized by low energy, feelings of low self-worth, and sometimes, suicidal thoughts. [fat_widget_right]

Symptoms that overlap between anxiety and depression often have different origins. For example, anxiety may cause a person to stop doing an activity or withdraw from a social setting. This is often because those things inspire panic. Depression can also cause someone to withdraw in similar ways. In the case of depression, withdrawal may be due to loss of interest in the activity.

Fatigue or loss of energy are other symptoms often linked to depression. But anxiety may also cause a loss of energy, which can stem from a sense of exhaustion. This tiredness is often caused by anxious thought patterns, obsessive thinking, or rumination. In the case of depression, loss of energy may be more likely to occur as a primary symptom.

Both conditions can cause social withdrawal or a change in activity levels. These symptoms can have vastly different causes. Different approaches may be necessary to address these causes.

Signs Anxiety May Be the Cause

If you identify with most of these symptoms, you may be experiencing anxiety:

• Cold, sweaty, numb, or tingling hands or feet
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Racing thoughts
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Dizziness

Being diagnosed with a specific anxiety disorder may also mean anxiety is a root cause. For instance, someone who experiences panic attacks or social anxiety may still have symptoms of depression. These may cause someone to withdraw from life, relationships, or social settings. This behavior can trigger feelings of hopelessness and loneliness, which may mimic depression.

Anxiety may also be a more likely cause if:

• You have a family history of anxiety
• You experienced shyness as a child
• You have experienced these symptoms from a young age

People diagnosed with depression may experience feelings of anxiety. The term for this is “anxious distress.” It is characterized by feelings of tension, restlessness, and difficulty focusing. The sense of hopelessness that can come with depression may cause worry about the future. Those who experience depression and anxious distress may be at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts. It is important to seek treatment in these cases.

Signs Depression May Be the Cause

Depression is categorized as major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). One key sign of depression is major depressive episodes. When these occur, symptoms of depression may become severe enough to limit daily functioning. Some other primary signs of depression are:

• Feelings of intense sadness
• Oversleeping
• Fatigue or feelings of being “weighed down”
• Feelings of hopelessness or guilt
• Slowed thought processes
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Some types of depression are easier to identify as such. For example, depression caused by a certain life event may be easy to identify. Postpartum depression, which occurs after childbirth, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), include symptoms of depression that have distinct triggers.

People who mainly experience anxiety may also be diagnosed with one of these depressive conditions. In these cases, the conditions would be seen as co-occurring, or comorbid. This term is used when two separate conditions are both present.

The experience of swinging to and fro between anxiety and depression can be a frustrating one. It may feel like a negative cycle in which balance is much needed but difficult to attain.

Depression may also be a more likely cause if:

• It runs in your family
• You recently experienced a traumatic loss

If a person is only diagnosed with anxiety, they may still show signs of depression. People with anxiety may expend much of their energy toward worry. These thoughts can leave people with little energy for performing daily tasks or hobbies. When anxiety causes overwhelm or burnout, it may start to look like depression.

The experience of swinging to and fro between anxiety and depression can be a frustrating one. It may feel like a negative cycle in which balance is much needed but difficult to attain.

Do I Have Both Anxiety and Depression?

It can be difficult to tell if you have both anxiety and depression or if symptoms of one just look like the other. In one study, 72% of people with generalized anxiety had a history of depression. Meanwhile, only 48% of people with depression had a history of anxiety. But research indicates comorbid anxiety and depression may be more common than originally thought.

The study also points out that comorbidity can be cumulative. This means a person may experience anxiety and depression at different life stages. Some experts suggest that anxiety at a young age may increase the likelihood of experiencing depression in the future. But depression may also precede anxiety.

When You Are Confused About Your Symptoms

Questions or concerns about depression and anxiety should be directed to a trusted mental health professional. Therapists are often trained to identify the root causes of issues. Discussing your symptoms in therapy may help you discover the source of the issue that prompted you to seek help. Once you and the therapist identify the issue, you can learn how to overcome or manage it.

Talk therapy can be helpful in identifying the cause of certain symptoms. A trained therapist can help unravel your symptoms and see what may be causing them. Whether you experience anxiety, depression, or both, your therapist can help create a plan for addressing those conditions long-term. This may mean more therapy sessions, a support group, psychoeducation, or medication and treatment with a psychiatrist in conjunction with therapy.

Regardless of what next steps you take, it is important to remember that people experience anxiety and depression differently. It’s not always necessary to know every cause of a mental health issue to treat it. But labeling or identifying an issue, especially a root problem, may help reduce feelings of worry or uncertainty in some people. Remember that you are never alone. Any help and guidance for improving your mental health may only be one question to a trusted therapist away.

References:

1. Ankrom, S. (2018, February 15). Depression and anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/depression-and-anxiety-2584202
2. Anxiety disorders: Risk factors. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml#part_145335
3. Davis, J. (n.d.). Is it really depression? Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/features/is-really-depression#1
4. Moffitt, T. E., Harrington, H., Caspi, A., et al. (2007). Depression and generalized anxiety disorder cumulative and sequential comorbidity in a birth cohort followed prospectively to age 32 years. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 6(64), 651-660. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.64.6.651
5. Smith, K. (2018, February 13). Anxiety vs. depression: How to tell the difference. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/anxiety-depression-difference
6. Stressed or depressed? Know the difference. (n.d.). Mental Health America. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/stressed-or-depressed-know-difference
7. Wilcox, M. A., Kent, J., Canuso, C., & Wittenberg, G. (n.d.). The DSM-5 MDD anxious distress specifier: A useful predictor of risk: Suicide, comorbidities, disability, and treatments? Retrieved from https://isctm.org/public_access/Autumn2015/Poster/Abstracts/1-Wilcox.pdf