Happiness is a complex and subjective emotional experience that everyone desires. While there’s not a one-size-fits-all definition, as the experience varies from person to person, it can be described as a feeling of:
- Contentment
- Joy
- Fulfillment
- Satisfaction
- Well-being
- Positive emotions
Happiness can be influenced by a variety of factors, including:
- Relationships
- Accomplishments
- Personal values
- Overall physical and mental health
Life’s challenges can sometimes make it difficult to maintain a positive outlook on experiencing happiness. The good news is, with the right support and healthy coping strategies, like going to therapy, you can feel happy again.
What is anhedonia? Is it normal, or could it be due to a mental health condition?
If you feel like nothing brings you happiness anymore, you may be experiencing something called anhedonia. Anhedonia is a condition characterized by a decreased ability or inability to experience pleasure or joy in activities that you once enjoyed. According to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, anhedonia is a core symptom. It can manifest in a variety of ways, including:
- A loss of interest in hobbies
- A reduced emotional response
- A sense of emptiness or apathy
- A lack of motivation
While it’s natural to experience periods of low mood or decreased motivation, persistent anhedonia can be a sign of an underlying mental health issue, including:
Here’s the good news — this doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you as a person. Mental health challenges are common and treatable. If you’re struggling with anhedonia, it’s important to seek professional help to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate support. Recognizing that you’re struggling is the first step toward feeling better.
How therapy can provide you with support and help you reclaim your happiness
If you are experiencing anhedonia, it’s important to know that feeling this way isn’t your fault. It’s also not something you have to live with forever. Sometimes, talking with someone who understands, like a counselor or therapist, can help you figure out what’s going on and how to take steps to start feeling more like yourself again.
Therapy is a valuable tool that can help individuals overcome anhedonia and reclaim their happiness. A therapist can provide you with a safe and supportive space where you can:
- Explore your emotions
- Identify negative thought patterns
- Develop healthy coping skills
Your therapist can also help you learn healthy coping skills that can make a big difference. Sometimes, the feeling of being stuck in sadness or emptiness can be overwhelming. Knowing how you can address and manage these feelings can provide you with a much-needed sense of relief. Your therapist can also help you explore the root of your unhappiness and build healthy habits that can bring you more joy and satisfaction.
College can be stressful, with academic pressures, changes in relationships and adjusting to new environments. Therapy can provide you with support during these tough times. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, but therapy offers you the chance to talk about these issues and get guidance on how you can navigate them. With the right support, you can begin to see progress, feel more in control of your emotions and begin to reclaim your happiness.
Tips to boost your happiness
While therapy is a helpful long-term solution, here are some practical strategies you can use every day to help boost your happiness:
- Practice gratitude — It may sound simple, but taking time each day to focus on what you’re grateful for can help shift your mindset. Recognizing the positives can help improve your mood over time.
- Stay connected — When you feel down, it’s easy to isolate yourself. However, staying connected with friends and family can provide you with emotional support and remind you that you’re not alone. Even a small interaction, like a quick text to a friend, can help lift your spirits.
- Indulge in self-care — Taking time to do activities you enjoy, even if they don’t currently sound fun, such as spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness or engaging in a favorite hobby, can help you reclaim the spark of joy in your life.
- Focus on self-compassion — Be kind to yourself. When you’re feeling down, it’s easy to be hard on yourself. Remember, you’re doing your best. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you would offer to a friend who’s struggling.
- Get moving — Physical activity can do wonders for your mood. Exercise releases endorphins, chemicals in your brain that help boost your mood. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout; a short walk or a quick stretch can help.
- Limit social media — Social media can help you feel connected, but it can also be a trap full of comparison and negative feelings. Limiting your time online and focusing on activities that make you feel present and engaged is a better mood boost.
- Set small goals — When you’re struggling and feeling down, even small tasks can feel overwhelming. Setting and completing small goals, like cleaning up your desk or reading a chapter of a book, can give you a sense of accomplishment and help build your momentum.
In your journey to reclaim happiness, finding the right support is essential, and Lightfully U can help
At Lightfully U, we use an approach to whole-person-centered care provided by our deeply compassionate experts. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) enables us to provide truly personalized and holistic treatment tailored to each client’s unique needs, not just their diagnosis. An effective care plan may incorporate pharmacotherapy as well as psychotherapy. PCM uses components from evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Each component is selected for its ability to address four core processes that are the drivers behind all mental health disorders or challenges:
- Difficulty with emotions
- Difficulty with thoughts
- Difficulty with relationships
- Difficulty behaviors
We understand the challenges college students face, and we are committed to empowering students to overcome obstacles, reclaim their happiness and achieve lasting mental wellness.
Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, contact us. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.
