Loss of pleasure and motivation can be a sign of clinical depression, which can sometimes have a biological cause. Depression can be treated with therapy and/or medication so that your mind has a chance to feel positive again (through the release of positive chemicals in your brain).
Feeling unfulfilled or unhappy can be a normal experience for many at different points in their lives. Factors such as work and family stressors, past traumas and negative self-talk can make it challenging to find joy.
What causes your unhappiness? Research seems to show that unhappiness - and happiness - is caused by patterns in our lives: patterns in how the things we do, which are called behavioral patterns, and patterns in the things we think, which are called cognitive patterns.
The good thing about being happy again is, if you've lost it, you can find it. It is attainable whether you decide to reach back or move toward unchartered territory for a new place of happiness. Of course, life is unpredictable, and we aren't promised 365 days of joy, but we can strive to have more good days than bad.
Losing interest or pleasure in activities or people that once gave you enjoyment, may be due to overworking, relationship problems or being in a temporary rut. However, a loss of interest in many things or people, that is ongoing, can sometimes be a sign you have a mental health condition.
For most of us, the experience of uncaused joy and zest for life fades as we grow older —as we become immersed in the world of bills, commitments, duties and responsibilities… the dull and boring adult stuff.
A negative or depressive worldview is often at the root of the fear of feeling good. There is a psychological phenomenon called confirmation bias, which means that people subconsciously seek out experiences that confirm the way that they already think of themselves and the world.
It's because happiness and sadness are emotions that are constantly evolving and moving up and down in our lives. There is no happiness without a little sadness every once in a while.
There is usually an underlying issue if you cannot feel happy for others' accomplishments or happiness; this underlying issue is usually depression or anxiety.
According to Dalai Lama, the root cause of human unhappiness stems from misunderstanding—many people don't really understand where their emotions—both positive and negative—stem from. The solution, he counsels, is to educate yourself both about your emotions and the circumstances that give rise to them.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Compulsive personalities are conscientious and have high levels of aspiration, but they also strive for perfection. Never satisfied with their achievements, people with compulsive personality disorder take on more and more responsibilities.
