short term joy

For a while, so many things in our lives serve no purpose beyond creating acute feelings of joy, excitement, reward, or pleasure. They're often very good at doing so, making it easy to think that stacking these moments throughout your day will lead to a good life.

But if you know anything about depression, you know that during those deep, dark periods – when anhedonia hits and your ability to feel reward disappears – all these tools suddenly stop working.

I've found that feelings of achievement and accomplishment are more durable. When I invest time in doing things that feel worthwhile rather than just feeling good, those feelings remain more accessible even on my darkest days.

The things I'm proud of, especially those that have helped others, still resonate when I'm depressed. They're dulled, yes, but not completely gone the way joy tends to be.

I'm hosting a free live discussion and Q&A on Friday, January 31st on how you can still make life feel worth living even in your darkest times.

Comment “live” to join me for Annihilating Anhedonia: Your Guide to Feeling Again.

#MentalHealthAwareness #Depression #MentalHealthJourney #WellnessJourney #MentalHealthSupport #AnxietySupport #EmotionalHealth #MindfulLiving #SelfHealing

Why Your Past Always Seems Better Than Your Present

Those magical moments from your past weren't actually more special than what's happening right now. Our brains play three specific tricks that make old memories seem better than they really were.

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Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.

But I do care.

[TheCausticFamily]

Thank you so much! That confirms a lot that when I accomplish something I feel great so I continually write a list of goals every day and I make sure that I accomplish them all if I don’t, I get depressed. But still feeling grateful for accomplishing what I did and I add what I didn’t get accomplished onto a new list.. I sure appreciate your advice. You’re awesome.!

[mickmouse]

Many of your recent videos (and possibly many of your videos all along) really hit home. You describe the feelings and situations so accurately.

[scottfulton]

This is so, so true. The feeling of achievement brings so much more satisfaction than joy. Recently I fixed my oven, which I had been putting off for weeks, and after doing so I felt so much better about myself. Definitely more feeling of satisfaction than from...say, watching a movie.

[Lindaheal]

This rings true for me. Even in the face of pretty strong anhedonis, doing something for someone else seems to connect with a different sector of my thoughts and emotions. And when I 'm deeply depressed and feeling immobilized, an act of compassion or caring for someone else often sparks movement for me. Thanks for bringing this out into the light for me. It makes me wonder if these things origi ate in a different part of my brain than self-care, or pleasure does.

[jaynemcdowall]

Joy is unbelievably difficult and nearly nonexistent. Something we wish for, like a fantasy I think.

[sheliahudnall]

This is something I noticed during small group meetings with depressed patients. They acknowledged feeling depressed at home but feeling better after accomplishing the simplest of tasks. Making a bed. Picking apples. "Then I felt better." It was small, but it was real.

[jenniferpetrellicarslearni]

Wow I really needed to hear this! Thank you so much!!!

[LindaErasmus-jp]

This is true. That's why I try to help people and animals.

[spinnerpip]

Thanks so much for being here. You help me so much!
I don't feel like any of my therapist's or Psychiatrist's methods do any good. You just get it!!❤

[sparklingchoice]

Ive been in a long term depressive state for the past five months or so, I definitely could see this working, but its so hard since I cant even get myself out of bed somedays, how can I achieve something?