I developed Anhedonia as a negative symptom of schizophrenia, which caused by amphetamines and severe stress. I had no connection to anything. I couldn't enjoy food or my favourite smell, had no connection to anything, couldn't cry about someone who cared about who died, I felt completely flat. Couldn't feel anything when hugging loved ones, I couldn't feel any pleasure in activities I used to enjoy I was still motivated to do them but had no pleasure from them at all. I couldn't laugh at things I used to find hilarious. No connection to my favourite songs which was frustrating as one day I would like to be a singer after I pursue an acting career, I felt no connection to or pleasure from acting. This was bad but at least I wasn't delusion and hearing voices anymore. It took me 6 months of research to find out what is was. 18 months later and Anhedonia has become less I am back to about 70% of what I was before this happened. It's not fully gone but I can feel pleasure, sometimes I get tingles from songs now and laugh loudly at funny things which is up to a level I never thought I would get back to. Also I have Aspergers Syndrome.
I have no medical experience so I am just going to say what worked for me.
I kept listening to my favourite songs everyday trying to reestablish some connection, kept hugging loved ones to try to get some feeling of pleasure, kept on acting out my favourite roles I have performed previously, trying to somegow get pleasure back. I read somewhere meditation might help so I found a meditation course that was right for me and did this for a month. I also read somewhere to make a Gratitude Journal to help with Anhedonia, so each day I wrote down 5 things I was grateful for from that day and kept doing it. I did some research and was wary of putting any chemicals or herbs that I didn't know into me as I have had various medications from doctor in past for previous conditions which made me worse. I have also taken high amounts of various street drugs which I stopped taking after schizophrenia (besides cannabis which I have long on/off binges) as I was scared of becoming schizophrenic again. I did lots of research and read that Rhodiola Rosea could help with Anhedonia. I took Rhodiola for a month alongside meditation and after about a week I could feel slight pleasure when trying to act, stopped Rhodiola after a month and could still feel some pleasure but not a lot. Went on a 2 month heavy high strength cannabis binge when I went back to university I felt pleasurabless feeling getting slightly better but not much, although I don't meditate when taking cannabis. I then went back on Rhodiola which was cheaper brand for a month and meditation and then a full month of meditation alone. I then started smoking cannabis again and had big breakthrough I actually felt full pleasure and got excited to the point of nearly crying, don't know what happened but about 4 hours later when singing to a mutually enjoying song with one of my best mates Anhedonia kicked back in big time but at least I knew that although it wasnt for a long time it was possible feel genuine pleasure again. I stopped cannabis and started doing meditation for 2 months again as I had to focus more on my studies. I started smoking cannabis for the last 2 months heavily again but had to stop partly due to financial problems and that I am not allowed to smoke it where I live now. My life has improved more than I thought it ever would. Hope this can be an help someone and let them know that a good level of recovery from Anhedonia is possible and hopefully like me they will be able to regain some pleasure in their life.
