Have you ever felt extremely excited about a new hobby or activity, only to quickly lose interest a short time later? This experience, known as anhedonia, can be common. Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure or joy in activities that were once enjoyable. There are two types of anhedonia:
- Anticipatory anhedonia — This happens when you aren’t excited or feel pleasure about future activities or events.
- Consummatory anhedonia — This happens when you don’t enjoy the activity while doing it.
Symptoms of anhedonia include:
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Lacking motivation
- Not finding enjoyment in things that used to be fun
- Withdrawing from social interactions
Anhedonia can make it hard for you to stay engaged with hobbies, activities or interests that used to bring you joy.
Conditions that can feature anhedonia
Anhedonia can be associated with certain mental health conditions, including:
- Depression — Loss of interest or pleasure in activities is a primary symptom of depression.
- Anxiety — Experiencing anxiety can interfere with your enjoyment and make it hard for you to focus on the activity.
- Bipolar disorder — People with bipolar disorder can experience mood swings that can affect their interest in activities.
- ADHD — ADHD can make it hard to stay focused and pay attention. This can cause a sudden loss of interest in activities.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — PTSD can cause anhedonia due to the emotional and psychological impact of the trauma.
If you think you may be experiencing anhedonia and it could be due to an underlying condition, it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional to determine the cause and get you the support you need.
Why do people with ADHD struggle with keeping interest in hobbies?
People with ADHD can struggle with keeping interest in activities due to a few factors:
- Hyperfocus — While ADHD can cause a loss of interest in some activities, it can also cause hyperfocus on others. This can make it hard to switch between activities or keep interest in a single activity for long periods.
- Difficulty with delayed gratification — People with ADHD may struggle with delaying gratification. This means they seek immediate rewards and satisfaction, which can make it hard to stick with activities that require them to be patient and put in effort.
- Executive Dysfunction — Executive Dysfunction, a common symptom of ADHD, can make it hard for people to plan, organize or prioritize tasks. This can make it challenging to keep interest in activities that need sustained effort.
- Impulsivity — Impulsivity is common with ADHD. This can cause people with ADHD to jump from one activity to the next without fully exploring or enjoying any one activity.
- Sensory overload — People with ADHD can be more sensitive to sensory inputs. Activities that are too stimulating or not stimulating enough may fail to hold their interest.
- Lack of structure — ADHD can cause people to struggle with time management and structure. Without a clear plan or routine, it can make it hard to stay committed to hobbies or activities.
The cycle of a new hobby with ADHD may look like:
- Curiosity
- Excitement
- Enjoyment
- Boredom
- Denial
Understanding these challenges can help you find strategies to manage your interest and engagement with activities and hobbies more effectively.
How to stop losing interest in activities and hobbies
If you’re struggling with quickly losing interest in activities and hobbies, here are some tips that may help:
- Identify the underlying cause — Try to determine if there’s an underlying mental health condition or other factor that is contributing to your loss of interest. If so, seeking professional help can be beneficial to help you cope.
- Start small — Begin with smaller, less demanding activities to keep from becoming overwhelmed. As you build your momentum, you may find it easier to do more complex activities.
- Create a routine — Create a routine that incorporates your hobby or activity. Consistent practice can help you stay interested and make the activity a regular part of your life. Using reminders can help you remember to stay on track.
- Find a partner — Having a partner or group to share activities with can help make them more enjoyable or motivating.
- Set realistic goals — Break down larger activities into smaller, more manageable steps. This can help keep you focused and motivated. It can also provide you with quicker feelings of accomplishment.
- Reward yourself — Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement can boost motivation and encourage you to stick with the good behavior of continuing the activity.
- Explore new interests — Don’t be afraid to explore new activities or hobbies. Trying something new can help you discover new passions and interests.
- Practice mindfulness — Mindfulness techniques can help keep you in the present moment and reduce stress. This can help improve your ability to enjoy activities and hobbies.
- Seek professional help — If you’re struggling to maintain interest in activities despite your best efforts, consider talking to a therapist or counselor. They can provide you with support and guidance. If you are struggling with Executive Function skills, working with an Executive Function coach can help you strengthen your skills.
It’s OK to lose interest in some activities and hobbies. Not every activity or hobby will be a good fit for you. Interests also change over time. The important thing is to find activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. With patience, persistence and the right support, you can overcome the challenges of anhedonia and discover new passions.
WorkSmart Coaching can help you find balance and manage anhedonia symptoms
At WorkSmart Coaching, a division of Beyond BookSmart, we believe that Executive Function skills can be:
- Taught
- Learned
- Applied for success
This view informs all our Executive Function coaching services.
Our services are customizable to your needs, learning differences, emotional challenges, etc. This customization allows us to help you see what you’re capable of.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an inquiry call.
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