⏰ Serious case of the blahs

Plus TikTok therapists and making meaningful friendships.

View this email in your browser COME HANG WITH US! ✨ Looking for friends in all the wrong places? In the second installment of our Lonely Together Workshop Series, join mental health expert Nina Polyné, PsyD, and ASICS Elite Athlete Emma Bates as they share tips for meeting like-minded folks and turning those connections into meaningful friendships. And if you missed yesterday's workshop, "Alone But Not Lonely: How To Freaking Love Your Own Company," watch the session here now! REGISTER NOW WEEKLY WIND DOWN 💪 Try this: Fact-check your self-care strategies. If you classify toxic positivity, shopping hauls, or post-work cocktails as a form of self-care, think about whether those are really making you feel better. If they're not, how can you revise them? Think on this: What's something you're really excited about this month? If you don't have anything, what's something you can plan to look forward to? Remember this: Life is hard, and it's OK if you're struggling to keep up.  Read this: How to Handle Friendship Conflicts Like an Adult ICYMI 👀 12 self-help books that are actually helpful for BIPOC folks  Busy Philipps was diagnosed with ADHD alongside her daughter We're all feeling lonely, so why aren't we talking about it? What it's like when your therapist is TikTok famous "I know the feeling of not wanting to be here." HIGHLY RECOMMEND ✨ An active desk: As someone who works from home, I'm constantly thinking, Dang, I haven't walked further than my porch to greet the UPS person today. To get more active throughout the day, I bought this desk tray that sits right on top of my stationary bike. Now, I'm able to go for a casual bike ride while watching Real Housewives, talking on the phone, or answering emails. It is a little hard to multitask when doing more difficult assignments, like diving into the complexities of PTSD or pathological liars, but I've noticed I feel more chill and accomplished when I'm able to prioritize my physical health a bit more. —Shannon Barbour, Features Editor THERAPY HACK 💡 Want to feel happier? Buy a treat for your friend instead of yourself. Despite how great retail therapy can feel in the moment, the effects are usually short-lived. Research suggests that we actually feel happier when we spend that money on someone else, says psychologist Laurie Santos, PhD. She pointed to a review of research where, in one small experiment, people who spent money on others (donations, toys for siblings, or food for friends) reported happier moods throughout the day than those told to spend the cash on themselves. This was especially true if they spent the money on someone else during an in-person social interaction, rather than, say, sending a digital gift card. Try it: Next time you need a pick-me-up, resist the urge to add to your Amazon cart and pay that money forward instead. Set up a casual lunch date with your BFF and pick up the tab, or take your work bestie who's feeling extra stressed out for a coffee. Whoever you gift is likely to be pleasantly surprised, and their happy reaction may just rub off on you.  Were you forwarded this email? Click here to subscribe for free. LET'S DISCUSS 💬 Feeling Kinda Numb Lately? You Could Be Experiencing Anhedonia By Kara Cuzzone Everybody feels off from time to time, but if you've been feeling generally blah or kinda numb for a couple weeks or more, it might be a sign that something bigger's going on with your mental health. There's actually a word for that pleasure-less existence. It's called anhedonia.  While it's not a mental health condition, anhedonia is a symptom that shows up multiple times in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), especially in relation to depression and suicidal ideation. But—worth noting!—you could experience anhedonia without any diagnosable mental health condition, adds psychiatrist Judith Joseph, MD, MBA.  Technically speaking, anhedonia is "the inability to enjoy experiences or activities that normally would be pleasurable," according to the American Psychological Association. It's basically one of the hallmark symptoms of major depressive disorder, described in the DSM-5-TR as "markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day." It could also be described anecdotally as "high-functioning depression." Besides a lack of pleasure, anhedonia can also manifest as a feeling of numbness or emptiness. "When you have anhedonia, it's not just not feeling joy," says Dr. Joseph. There are a bunch of other feelings, like stress or sadness, that you might not feel as much as you normally do, she adds.  There are two main types of anhedonia, which help experts understand exactly how the symptom is impacting your life, explains Dr. Joseph. Physical anhedonia is when sensations that used to activate your pleasure response (like eating, having sex, or hugging) no longer do it for you. With social anhedonia, you might not feel good (or feel anything at all) when spending quality time with your family or hanging out with friends, says Dr. Joseph. And you can definitely experience both types at once. Some people dealing with anhedonia don't find enjoyment in *anything* anymore, whereas others can still find pleasure in certain settings, even if they're feeling numb in other areas of life, explains Tiffany Ho, PhD, a cognitive neuroscientist and assistant professor in the psychology department at University of California, Los Angeles.  Keep reading for 4 tips on how to deal with anhedonia.   READ MORE ON THAT NOTE Is High-Functioning Depression for Real? 12 Very Good Reasons to Try Therapy READ MORE READ MORE Is High-Functioning Depression for Real? READ MORE 12 Very Good Reasons to Try Therapy READ MORE 🎧 What we're listening to: Are you worried you're feeling nothing? SHARING IS CARING 📬   You've earned 0 points so far. Access your custom referral hub below: SHARE NOW Or copy and paste your unique referral URL: https://greatminds.wondermind.com/2a73de4a/ NEED HELP NOW? These resources can help. 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