Deciphering the concept of anhedonia. The frequency of the disease in the population and its main features for differentiation. Recommendations for patients and methods of psychological assistance to patients. Anhedonia is a pathological condition of a person's mental health, in which he loses the ability to experience a sense of satisfaction. As a result of this pathology, all types of motivation and impulse to action are lost. Most often occurs in people with various mental illnesses such as depressive disorders. At the same time, they become lethargic and apathetic, cannot get joy from the things that previously brought it, and outwardly look very tired and sad. The disease occurs equally among the male and female population, as well as in different age categories.
Reasons for the development of anhedonia
Today, anhedonia is a fairly common disease, but its only and main cause has not yet been found. Most scientists agreed that several different factors play a role in the development of pathology. As a result of their general influence or a strong damaging effect of only one in the future, the disease occurs. Therefore, there are several types of factors that can cause this kind of change.
Biological causes of anhedonia
This type of impact includes all kinds of changes that occur in the internal environment of the human body. Despite the fact that most of the manifestations of this pathology are based on mental changes, violations of the body level can easily lead to them. It is believed that organic damage can severely disrupt important centers in the brain, which has dire consequences.
Among the main influencing factors are the following:
- Neuroendocrine regulation … This type of exposure is widespread throughout the body. By regulating the basic processes, this system releases many biologically active substances that play the role of a kind of mediators (transmitters) in the nerve pathways. Insufficiency or excess of any of them can disable and disrupt the emergence of any emotional manifestation. Very often, it is this harmful factor that causes the loss of a sense of happiness.
- Traumatic impact … A factor that almost always plays a major role in the development of the disease among the young population. Often violations occur after a fairly long amount of time, when a person has already forgotten about what happened and does not associate with him the presence of certain symptoms. The fact is that many head injuries tend to manifest themselves slowly. For example, a contusion or contusion. The consequences of these influences are capable of causing a cascade reaction mechanism. One by one, the results of long-standing injuries will be felt afterwards.
- Age changes … Due to the fact that, after all, most of the sick are elderly people, this factor has become practically the only reason for them. This is due to the fact that over time, the cells of the brain, as well as the body as a whole, undergo many changes. The properties for adaptation, regeneration and healing are lost. Any process is more difficult and slower. The structure of nerve fibers also changes, which cease to be so fast and are the first to manifest this in the form of impairments to emotionality and cognitive skills.
Psychological causes of anhedonia
Anhedonia belongs to the category of mental illness. That is why the main reasons for its development are still in some way connected with the pathology of this system. The influence of this factor affects all people in different ways. Someone has enough defense systems to deal with it. Others are not able to limit this influence on their own.
Among the most common reasons are the following:
- Stressful situations … This group of pathology is the biggest harmful factor. Both children and adults are exposed to this influence. Regardless of whether it is a one-time exposure or repetitive, it still causes many consequences in the mental state of a person. The factor carries with it a violation and failure in the entire protective mechanism from external influences and exposes the appearance of somatic pathology of internal organs.
- Depressive disorders … Such conditions are more common among the adult population. People who have lived for many years, for whatever reason, stop interacting with the outside world and close in themselves. But there are also teenage depression. With them, such a state often arises due to some kind of emotional shock and is accompanied by long-term, serious mental disorders. One way or another, people lose interest in their surroundings and, in fact, cannot feel a sense of satisfaction because of this.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder … Such an item is required for highlighting because of its prevalence. It arises at the moment when a person recognizes or becomes a witness of some terrifying event for him. Depending on the stability of the nervous system, this news can be different - betrayal, death of a loved one, a terrible accident or injury. As a result of such an impact, the psyche of many people is not able to cope with the changes that have arisen in the body. The level of stress hormones and areas of super-strong activity in the brain lead to the fact that a person subconsciously blocks all connections with the environment. This is how he can protect himself from its effects.
- Mental illness … Among the most common are schizophrenia and depersonalization. In such conditions, a person loses orientation in his own personality. Therefore, he cannot focus himself on any sensation. In such cases, anhedonia acts as a sign of the presence of some underlying pathology. Such diseases almost always lead to its presence and require immediate intervention from the outside.
The main signs of anhedonia in humans
This pathology tends to appear imperceptibly in a person's life. Its initial manifestations practically do not distinguish sick people from healthy people, and only in the midst of an illness can symptoms be observed externally. The disease affects almost all areas of human life and therefore is characterized by different sets of symptoms.
Personal signs of anhedonia
This group of symptoms determines the signs that can draw the attention of the patient himself. They reflect those moments that present any problems when doing ordinary things. Often people notice a change in their attitude towards someone's expense or about an event. At the same time, one's own sensations change very much, and the perception becomes no longer as colorful as it used to be.
There are several signs of this condition:
- Lack of hobbies … People with this pathology gradually lose interest in their hobbies. At first, they notice that they have abandoned the desire to do what they love. They cannot allocate time for it and often refer to fatigue, they can describe it with the term “out of love”. But after that, a state arises in which they do not want to look for other types of interests at all. In the end, idleness turns out to be ideal. Therefore, when they are asked about their favorite business or hobby, people often begin to think about their absence.
- Dislike for others … Such a vague sensation arises in a person already at the initial stages of the manifestation of an existing disorder. He notices how much his friends and even relatives began to annoy him. At parties and meetings, he tries to hide or leave as early as possible. This happens due to the fact that communication with people brings a feeling of discomfort. Such a person cannot, and does not want to maintain small talk. He is also not interested in heart-to-heart conversations. The preference is given to independent reflection without outside interference.
- Misunderstanding of the outside world … One after another, joyful emotions leave the human mind. As a result of this process, well-known people become strangers to him. He does not understand their joyful facial expressions throughout the day, he cannot separate the feeling of happiness from pleasant events. Sincere surprise at such behavior is all that such people can show, even if it comes to any joke in their direction.
- Loss of interest in art … Almost all people around the world welcome one or another type of creative activity. Someone is fond of works of music, theater, cinema. Others prefer reading books, studying painting. People with anhedonia lose the ability to admire these things. Most of them cease not only to understand what they love, but in general in any way to be involved in them. Even elementary listening to music can cause them nothing more than indifference.
- Isolation … It is the final manifestation of a progressive disease. People are trying to completely limit themselves from the world around them. This desire leads to the fact that they stop communicating with loved ones, friends, attending family events and birthdays. They look for work in a close area and in a quiet environment so as not to attract undue attention to themselves. In the end, a person finds himself on his own with his problems and experiences, in every possible way rejects outside help in any business.
Social signs of anhedonia
Understanding is the basis for interaction and peace in any society. In the absence of this single factor, the death of society occurs. Actually, such a process occurs in the environment of patients with anhedonia. Due to problems in consciousness, the outside world becomes not only uninteresting for them, but also interferes in their personal life.
Problems arise where they shouldn't be. Such people are unable to maintain any kind of relationship. It is difficult for them to find a common language even in a family circle. First of all, communication with parents suffers. The alienation from them cannot be overlooked. Disagreements also arise due to insensitivity and constant bad mood. Families are crumbling, because it can be very difficult for a husband or wife to come to terms with such changes on the part of the second half.
Bonding with friends is also undergoing a big change. They are worried about such indifference of a loved one, misunderstandings arise at every step. At the same time, the patients themselves very rarely admit the presence of any pathology in them. More often than not, everything is attributed to normal behavior, the usual lack of mood or a friend's whim in relation to them.
The same problems are pursued in the society of strangers, at work, on the tram, the subway. Patients do not think about any consequences, monotonously perceive criticism and encouragement. As a result, they often have problems in both personal and social life.
Classification of pathology of anhedonia
The presented pathology is a fairly young problem of our time. But already on the threshold of the twenty-first century, several of its varieties were identified. In order to better understand the influence of such a disease on a person's daily life, you need to know about several of its following forms:
- Physical … It is characterized by damage to the sensory organs. In this state, the patient loses not only the mental ability to get pleasure, but also the organic one. It means that such people do not perceive pleasant smells, delicious food or a relaxing massage. All receptors designed for the perception of sensations do a poor job of their function. Therefore, the usual joys of life for such people are also not peculiar and incomprehensible.
- Sexy … A variety that is part of the physical form, but has become widespread among patients. Indeed, with such a problem they rarely seek help, and even more so they look for the cause in a mental illness. Its manifestations are quite simple and understandable. One of the partners cannot enjoy intercourse. Moreover, it is not only moral pleasure that suffers, but also bodily pleasure.
- Social … With this form, the main complaints will focus on poor relationships with others. Man is an individual, closed within his own framework of thinking. He avoids any kind of conversation, pleasant or not. He also prefers not to attend holidays, weddings, birthdays and other gatherings. The other person's opinion is presented as intrusive, and the praise does not matter. One of the varieties is also the loss of incentive for career growth and good earnings.
- Aesthetic and intellectual … In this case, the main manifestations will be aimed at the destruction of moral satisfaction from favorite activities. This refers to the processes from which a person draws inspiration. Rereading their favorite book, such people often notice that it has ceased to bring them joy. Tastes in clothing and music are changing. Also, outlook on life and plans for the future become a problem. They become pessimistic and unfavorable.
Some sources also distinguish a partial and total type of anhedonia. In this case, either only one sphere of human activity is affected, or mental, physical and social together.
Features of the treatment of anhedonia
This disease poses a significant threat to the modern world, because it affects healthy segments of the population. Their motivation to action, their joyful perception of their surroundings and their belief in a bright future suffer. That is why the correct treatment of anhedonia is so important. It must also be said that the therapy of this disease is a whole complex of measures and cannot be performed independently.
General advice for anhedonia
In order to eliminate the existing problem, you need a complete understanding and awareness of its presence from the patient. This guarantee will allow the doctor to make sure of the high and quick results of the prescribed therapy. Also, much depends on the patient and at the time of treatment.
It is necessary to adhere to several general recommendations:
- Healthy lifestyle … It includes, first of all, the elimination of any bad habits. Often they are the very reason why the disease occurs. And sometimes a factor that interferes with a speedy recovery. Therefore, it is very important to stop its influence. You should also do moderate daily exercise. Even morning or evening jogging, exercise after sleep will be enough.
- Proper nutrition … Many of the body's resources are not infinite, so it is very important to replenish them from the outside in a timely manner. Eating healthy food can strengthen the human body, change its metabolism and increase resistance to any impact. You need to accept this type of food not as a diet or punishment, but as an improvement in your own diet. It is important not to forget about the correct content of vitamins, minerals and water in food.
- Daily regime … The distribution of the time of day for sleep and wakefulness plays an important role in the life of every person. After all, it is during rest in the body that important hormones of joy - endorphins - are synthesized. If not enough time is allocated for this process, then the consequences will not be long in coming. Observance of useful rest and work can not only eliminate, but also prevent many problems.
Psychological help for anhedonia
For the treatment of such diseases, this type of therapy is the most important. Despite the use of any other type of influence, psychotherapy cannot be replaced by any of them. It must be remembered that only a doctor can suspect and confirm the diagnosis, as well as prescribe anhedonia treatment at home or in a hospital. To differentiate it from other pathologies, it is required to spend a lot of time talking with the patient.
There are the following types of psychotherapy:
- Positive reinforcement … This technique involves a session during which the doctor invites the patient to experience good moments. During this process, they try to find as much joy as possible in their surroundings. A person needs to enjoy the ray of the sun, the pleasant aroma of coffee, and good weather. At the same time, an analysis of his feelings and experiences is carried out.
- Existential therapy … Treatment is aimed at eliminating a certain vacuum, into which a person has left because of a lack of understanding of the world around him. For this, an individual technique is used, the importance of the patient in society is calculated, as well as the formation of the correct view of other people.
- Humanistic psychotherapy … This type of therapy excludes the treatment of anhedonia with drugs. It is designed for the patient's independence and his joint problem solving with the psychotherapist. At the same time, during each session, the doctor gradually delves into the patient's consciousness, asking him leading questions. It is important not to show any emotionality about his story, so that the person independently applies the appropriate emotions to the story.
How to treat anhedonia - watch the video:
The inability to receive satisfaction is very painful for people, so it is important not to allow it to occur. Modern methods of medicine make it possible to quickly establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate long-term treatment. Psychic methods of therapy are preferred.
