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Anhedonia - My experience - Will it ever go away ?

Discussion in 'Rebooting - Porn Addiction Recovery' started by Experiment1996, Mar 30, 2023.

  1. Experiment1996

    Experiment1996 Fapstronaut

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    I get up in the morning and I don't feel any emotions. I don't feel happy and I don't feel sad. I feel no motivation to do anything productive. I feel no drive and no energy to do anything productive. I don't feel any positive feelings or so-called vibrations in my body and in my brain. I get up and that's it. I am like a robot. I don't feel human. My facial expression is exactly the same most of the time. I look jaded, numb, bored. I look fucked up. My brain is still numb. My senses are numb. My brain feels no stimuli. Everything feels exactly the same. I have no motivation to work at all. I don't want to do anything productive. I spend my time going out into the city, walking a bit and hanging around in the city. I watch people walking, eating, talking, laughing, etc. I don't want to do anything productive.

    If a person gave me 1 million Swiss francs, my brain would feel no stimulus. It is as if he had given me a piece of bread. I would just put the money in the bank and that's it. I would have no motivation to do anything with that money. I wouldn't even go travelling. That would be too exhausting.

    If I were married to the most beautiful woman, I would have no interest in having sex or being intimate with her. I would sleep in my room and tell her to sleep in another room. I don't even mean it in a bad way.

    Somehow it doesn't matter what time it is because everything feels exactly the same anyway. I have lost my sense of time. For me it's only important and good that it's sunny and bright, because then I can do more. I feel better when the sun is shining.

    Friends and relatives sometimes tell me jokes or something about their everyday life and show emotion or laugh and I just look bored. I am always very objective and like a robot. I talk to people without emotions. I don't have any problems talking to people like that, but as soon as someone wants to talk with emotions, then I feel uncomfortable because I can't relate to those feelings. I laugh very rarely.

    I don't feel any empathy or emotion towards the people who died because of the earthquakes that happened in Turkey. I don't feel anything about the refugees from Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. either. I don't care what is happening there. That is because of my anhedonia. For me it is only important that I have enough money to eat, drink and have a shelter. I don't care what else is going on in the world.

    Guys how long will my brain be numb ? This is crazy. Without emotions (especially joy) you automatically have no motivation to do anything.
     
    JS44471 and JC8833 like this.
  2. born3

    born3 Fapstronaut

  3. agentrs11

    agentrs11 Fapstronaut

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    You did not mention how long you were addicted and how long you are in the process.. I am on day 124 and still feel anhedonia for about four days, at least once a month..
    I was an addict for 20 years.
     
  4. Experiment1996

    Experiment1996 Fapstronaut

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  5. born3

    born3 Fapstronaut

    I just read your post. I really hope you find your healing. Try and get out into nature every day, even if its just a slow walk. Also try and get away from watching the screen, I know you said you spend a lot of time watching stuff. The reason I asked about the spiritual stuff is because recovery is every part of us mind, body and spirit. Like I said I really hope you find your healing. All the best.
     
  6. CleanWarrior

    CleanWarrior Fapstronaut

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    I have struggled with the same issue: Feeling numb and exhausted/lack of motivation.

    From what I have learned so far this all has to do with low dopamine levels.

    Chronic edging drains your body of natural dopamine levels which can take a long time to replenish.

    Fortunately for me the edging didn't start until my 30's so my brain had time to form.

    You started at age 13 which is a very crucial time for the brain to form.

    What helps me a lot are cold showers, getting lots of sunlight, and being on a keto diet.

    I find that removing all stimulus (dopamine detox) helps reset my brain and things like carbs/sugar spike dopamine.

    Also healthy animal fats help the brain.
     
    Experiment1996 likes this.
  7. JC8833

    JC8833 Fapstronaut

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    I know this is a bit older but man this explains me to a tee..4 months giving up this drug and this exactly explains me. Not sad not happy just completely flat (as is my sex drive) gotta be the brain rebalancing and what not.
     
  8. Alexpath

    Alexpath Fapstronaut

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    Yep, this describes me well, too. Glad I'm not alone.
    I'm able to get some things done but it's with very little, if any, passion.
     
  9. Anonymous86

    Anonymous86 Fapstronaut

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    You've felt no positive emotions for quitting after 4 months of abstinence from porn? That concerns me for myself.
     
  10. JC8833

    JC8833 Fapstronaut

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    not really..maybe slight improvement since early on but nothing super positive yet..absolutely no natural libido coming back which is the reason we all quit this stupid drug
     
    Anonymous86 likes this.
  11. JC8833

    JC8833 Fapstronaut

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    Yeah I’ve read some ppl say your like going through the motions after quitting and in the flatline “anhedonia” period and that is 100% true with what I’ve experienced
     
  12. gordonfreeman14603

    gordonfreeman14603 Fapstronaut

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    I also have anhedonia even on my way to 5th day, but I also have very much inner peace.
     

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