Def: the inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable, e.g. exercise, hobbies, music, sexual activities or social interactions. While earlier definitions of anhedonia emphasized pleasurable experience, more recent models have highlighted the need to consider different aspects of enjoyable behavior, such as motivation or desire to engage in an activity.
YEP.
Everything feels like a chore. Things I should do – why don’t I want to? Why am I wasting all of this time on my iPad, playing spider solitaire or candy crush? Or reading too much Facebook, even if they are interesting articles? I just want to sit here, on my corner of the couch, and, well, sit here. I’ll listen to music, or watch reruns on TV. Not even looking up movies from my Netflix list.
One of the ways I knew depression was coming back was my loss of interest in things like going to church, visiting friends (that’s hard anyway, since I don’t really have any here), drawing, knitting, swimming, beach walking. My out-of-the-house activities are pretty limited – appointments with my therapist or psych doc or chiropractor, sometimes including a massage. Once a month, I get my hair cut. I’ve stopped in several times for a pedicure. I know all of their names, but they’re not friends.
I do most of the grocery shopping. I run any necessary errands. And I do have a husband-wife couple with whom I’m friends, and who I enjoy visiting. But I didn’t have the energy today.
I’ve been out to lunch a couple of times with a couple of different ladies, the closest to “friends” I have. I know I could call them to get together, but see, I don’t really want to.
Not only is it that I don’t want to do things I used to do, I have no motivation or desire to do anything – I’m happiest on this left-side cushion of my couch.
I’m going on a boat tour tomorrow. I so badly want to back out, but a) I was really excited about it when I signed up, and b) I’ve already paid for it. This will be something I push myself to do. Hopefully doing nothing today will give me enough energy for tomorrow. And it’s a push against depression to do something I wanted to do – fake it ’til I make it?
Dear readers, please remember that I am trying to write about depression from the inside. I don’t want to sound like a complainer, yet I fear that’s how these latest posts are read. Instead, I want to give real examples about what it’s like to live with depression.
At the same time, thank you for your encouragement and reminders that I am not alone. Your expressions of support are invaluable! God promises He will never leave me, and I know He is with me this time. And you are too. Thanks.
Sunny with a Chance of Clouds 
You don’t sound like you are complaining, Peggy, keep writing.
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There is a Facebook I am following called Prayers for A Woman’s Soul”
https://m.facebook.com/PrayersForAWomansSoul?_rdr
Check out today’s. It was very good!
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Good resource – thanks.
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Been praying for you today.
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I’m praying Peggy!
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It’s helpful for others who are trying to identify depression in themselves, and I think ultimately it is going to help you. Just do it lol… I think it will be worth it
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Nope! Have a listening ear and prayers on my lips… You are precious and dear to me and I care about ‘all’ … You know what— this is love…
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You are not complaining; you are processing. There is a big difference. And you are being brave by sharing your thoughts, emotions, and experiences when our culture views sharing the reality of depression as “whining.” Keep up your writing and sharing! Those of us who have been there know that you are describing your reality and are not “complaining” or “looking for attention.” Those who are just starting on this journey will appreciate reading about your experiences so they can see that they are not alone.
You, too, are not alone. You are loved! And I am glad you are writing about your journey.
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Please don’t worry about sounding like you’re complaining. We won’t judge you for feeling the way that you feel and being honest about it. I think a lot of us spend so much time pretending to be happy or content in our real lives and that’s why the blog world feels so safe..you don’t have to worry about being judged for being honest with how you’re really feeling. We’re here. No judgement. No explanations needed. Sending you lots of kind thoughts and gentle hugs, if okay?
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I think it’s great that you’re able to write about it so honestly and you put it so well. After reading, I was like “Oh, wow. This sounds like me”. I’m like this a lot but I didn’t think it was depression, I just thought it was just the way I am
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