Dealing with Anhedonia in Addiction Recovery
Drug and alcohol addiction can have an enormous impact on a person’s mental health. As a luxury drug and alcohol rehab in Palm Beach, we understand that addiction can be a rollercoaster of emotions. While the initial side effects of drug abuse are euphoric and pleasurable, over time, the body begins to crash, not only as a result of withdrawal but generally due to depleted physical and mental well-being. As a result, drug abuse often leaves addicts feeling “nothing,” known as anhedonia. Today, we’re sharing more on why people experience anhedonia after addiction and how to cope with it.
What Is Anhedonia?
Anhedonia refers to a person’s inability to experience or feel pleasure. It’s often a common symptom of mental disorders like depression, as well as substance abuse. While it may be hard to imagine, a person with anhedonia can’t feel any pleasure or spark of joy from the things they used to like doing. Favorite books or movies are no longer enjoyable; a sunset may not seem as beautiful as before. People with this disorder may view the world through a black-and-white lens, with all of the colors that joy brings obscured. The two types of anhedonia are social and physical anhedonia. A person with social anhedonia doesn’t want to spend time with others or doesn’t experience pleasure in spending time with others. Physical anhedonia is when the person doesn’t enjoy physical sensations such as touch. This kind of anhedonia can be especially harmful to a marriage or relationship with a spouse that involves physical intimacy. It can also be harmful to relationships with friends and families. Some common symptoms of anhedonia include:
- Withdrawing from others
- Self-isolation
- Decrease in emotional responses to things they once enjoyed
- Low self-esteem
- Negative thoughts of others
- Lack of empathy for others
- Faking emotions, especially in social settings
- Food tastes bland
- Avoiding physical or emotional intimacy with a loved one
- Changes in mood towards someone they cared about
Regardless of its causes, anhedonia is strongly linked to mental illness. We offer mental health treatment at our Palm Beach rehab for individuals who are struggling with a mental disorder; they learn healthy ways to cope with their symptoms and regain control of their lives.
Relationship Between Anhedonia and Substance Abuse
While it’s most often a symptom of depression or a variety of other mental disorders, experiencing anhedonia after addiction is also possible. Drug and alcohol abuse cause mental and physical changes in their users. Especially for someone who uses these substances for a long period, they’re more susceptible to chemical imbalances that can contribute to mental health problems and symptoms like anhedonia. Regarding anhedonia and addiction, research suggests that anhedonia is a key factor in relapse, as well. Anhedonia is also involved in the transition from recreational drug use to full-blown addiction because longer use of a substance could inhibit the individual’s ability to feel pleasure. Anhedonia tends to be most common in people who heavily abuse substances like cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. In a 1994 study, anhedonia was linked to alcohol withdrawal as a symptom. A person who attempts to suddenly stop using drugs or drinking alcohol without the help of medically monitored detox is at a higher risk of struggling with anhedonia. A possible explanation for the relationship between anhedonia and alcohol abuse is the effect withdrawal has on the dopamine reward system in the brain. Similar to mental illnesses like depression, low dopamine levels could lead to depressive symptoms, such as an inability to feel pleasure. Substances like alcohol and cocaine affect dopamine levels and other hormonal balances within the brain, it’s no surprise that anhedonia and drug abuse are related. Over time, it may be more difficult for the person to feel any kind of pleasure without abusing drugs or alcohol. Anhedonia could also contribute to substance abuse. A person struggling with anhedonia or related mental illnesses may turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with their symptoms. The extreme contrast between not feeling any pleasure and experiencing a euphoric high could easily encourage drinking and drug-taking behavior. As a result of this tight-knit connection, most people in this situation require drug or alcohol treatment to quit.
How Long Does Anhedonia Last?
The duration of anhedonia varies from person to person and depends on various factors, including the severity and duration of the person’s addiction as well as the drug they were abusing. For instance, because anhedonia is linked to drugs that impact dopamine levels – such as cocaine and opioids – individuals who abused these drugs are more likely to experience anhedonia than those who abused benzodiazepines. While anhedonia can come in waves that last a few hours to a few days, other recovering addicts may experience the symptom for weeks or months at a time. If you’re in addiction recovery and experiencing anhedonia, speak to a healthcare provider or therapist right away, as this symptom could contribute to relapse if left unaddressed.
How to Get Rid of Anhedonia
Because every substance, person, use pattern, and length of use is different, it can be difficult to know how long you’ll be dealing with anhedonia. Despite this, experiencing anhedonia after addiction shouldn’t last too long, as it’s usually a cause-and-effect reaction as your body adjusts to a lack of drugs or alcohol. Just remember that if you’re experiencing this, you’re not alone. It’s completely normal to experience anhedonia after quitting drugs and alcohol. It simply serves as another motivating factor for staying sober. With this said, here below are some tips for overcoming anhedonia that may help you:
- As much as you may want to, avoid isolating yourself from loved ones
- Engage in healthy and fun activities to keep your mind busy
- Hold onto positive moments, as small as they may be
- Create a list of reasons why life is better without drugs and/or alcohol
- Forster healthy relationships and behaviors that contribute to your sobriety
- Pursue sober activities that make you happy
As a rehab center that offers mental health and addiction treatment, we understand how difficult it can be to cope with anhedonia. We can teach you how to fight anhedonia and regain control of your life. Whether you’d like to get started on your recovery with our residential addiction treatment in Palm Beach or need help staying sober, call Seaside Palm Beach today at 561-677-9374 or send us your contact information to learn more. Sources:
- NCBI – Anhedonia and Substance Dependence: Clinical Correlates and Treatment Options
- NIH – Anhedonia in schizophrenic, depressed, or alcohol-dependent patients–neurobiological correlates
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