![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zonked on May 30, 2011, at 20:41:42
That's one of the things that sucks about depression... your hobbies just languish, and despite repeated efforts to engage in them they just don't give you the same gush of reward that they did before depression.
*sigh*. Perhaps those of us who've lost the ability to experience joy will go on to be those who'll appreciate it the most when it returns.
-z
Posted by Phillipa on May 31, 2011, at 0:24:03
In reply to Don't you miss your hobbies?, posted by zonked on May 30, 2011, at 20:41:42
My hobby was work that's how much it meant to me. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on May 31, 2011, at 15:52:03
In reply to Don't you miss your hobbies?, posted by zonked on May 30, 2011, at 20:41:42
It is extremely important in my opinion to keep doing the hobbies regardless that the reward isn't there. A new hobby is even better. You don't want the brain to forget how to process stuff. It's just like a muscle....it has to be exercised or it will degrade even further. Until the day comes when you can see some pleasure again, the point of hobbies is not joy, but rather exercise and health upstairs. It can also play a role in the healing itself, sort of a retraining. Believe me, I know it's hard and seems fruitless. But it's not.
Posted by alchemy on May 31, 2011, at 19:44:10
In reply to Re: Don't you miss your hobbies?, posted by bleauberry on May 31, 2011, at 15:52:03
because i've been depressed since my early teens, i've never found hobbies to be enjoyable. i've looked at classes, etc. i have a creative side & am good at things, but no enjoyment or motivation.
one of my most hated questions in the world, "what are your hobbies?"
Posted by zonked on May 31, 2011, at 19:58:43
In reply to Re: Don't you miss your hobbies?, posted by bleauberry on May 31, 2011, at 15:52:03
bb:
I hope you don't misinterpret my tone here, or if I am being too nosy, please let me know...
Have you found sufficient relief to prove that you're right (at least for you) about staying with your hobbies? Where are you right now with your symptoms...?
A family member *just* asked me why I was just sitting down in a chair and not reading a book or something. So I pick up a book, I try to read it, something I am pretty *certain* that, asymptomatic (or improved), I would find pretty interesting, and find myself unable to concentrate... I continue to read (and at other times, engage in other things I used to really like) and wonder what the point is. It's exhausting instead of enthralling, and frustrating because I could just get just as much (as little?) enjoyment out of reading the motor vehicle code.
My family is so tired of hearing about depression (from me) and what it robs me of that I just said, there's a reason why, but I don't want to go into it.
I'm not saying you don't have a point...
-z
Posted by floatingbridge on June 1, 2011, at 3:40:46
In reply to Re: Don't you miss your hobbies? » zonked, posted by Phillipa on May 31, 2011, at 0:24:03
> My hobby was work that's how much it meant to me. Phillipa
I don't think I've read a more concise answer. There's volumes in that sentence.
:-/
Posted by floatingbridge on June 1, 2011, at 3:55:58
In reply to Re: Don't you miss your hobbies?, posted by alchemy on May 31, 2011, at 19:44:10
Maybe, soon, Alchemy, you'll be able to enjoy more, sustain more interest.
My creative links are pretty frayed. I am intermittent on my loom. I have difficulty reading, though once wrote. I did other stuff. It's never all coming back. I try my best to dilate pleasurable times, but I can't finish a chapter in an easy novel these days.
I do try to accept pleasure from small things, like swimming in the kiddie pool w/ my son, or taking a short walk. Watching my chickens when I can make it out to the hen house. I can't sustain anything.
I do take pleasure in watching nice people do things--when not in a pique of despair.
But I have improved in fits and starts over the past three years--even if tomorrow I post how pointless the entire project of (my) life seems.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.