Social anhedonia: the inability to enjoy and feel interest in relationships with others

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Social relationships are not important for them, they avoid them because they do not understand the emotional variables and in addition, the high load of stimuli is exhausting for them.

Social anhedonia is a state in which the person is unable to feel interest and pleasure in their social interactions. This means that the moments shared with friends are enjoyed. Talking to people is exhausting, leaving home to work, study or attend an event is something that is low and that is preferred to avoid.

We are not facing a social anxiety disorder as such, it is a more unique reality. Although It is common to relate this condition to autism spectrum disorder and even schizophrenia. Because what we often see is a painful reaction to stimuli and above all a clear difficulty in managing emotional variables.

It is interesting to delve deeper into this concept to better understand its nuances, the causes and the type of profile that may be behind this type of anhedonia.

Social anhedonia is a still little-studied phenomenon that, although it is usually associated with depression, often hides more problematic realities behind it.

Social anhedonia is an indicator for three very specific realities: depressive disorders, autism and schizophrenia.

We know that anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure in general, to experience no interest, motivation or enjoyment in almost any aspect of everyday reality. Now, when we add the adjective “social” to this term we are delimiting ground.

Social anhedonia is a behavior in which the person specifically avoids public situations.interactions and everything that goes beyond your comfort zone.

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Research work such as those carried out at the University of Wollongong (Australia) indicates something important. The human being is a social creature: We need those daily contacts with friends and co-workers to feel good. These alliances mediate our well-being and personal development.

Howeversocial anhedonia directly evidences some psychological disorder in which many more characteristics will appear that will allow a more appropriate diagnosis to be made. This is a dimension that we cannot lose sight of.

How does it manifest?

Social anhedonia is a construct that It is basically manifested by the inability to understand and process emotional stimuli. There is a clear maladaptive element and it is defined by the inability to feel well-being when sharing time with other people.

This characteristic becomes more evident in adolescence. The person shows increasing discomfort and anxiety when they have to socialize, they lack the skills to communicate, empathize, understand and react to social codes. Furthermore, striking physical symptoms appear such as exhaustion, headache, dizziness… Exposure to any social situation is debilitating.The person experiences feelings of loneliness and irritability. This shows us that, in some way, they know that social interaction should be rewarding for them as for anyone else and that this would give them motivation and happiness. However, they are aware of their limits, of their inability to understand and move through these socio-emotional universes.

From Stony Brook University (United States), researchers focus attention on a fact thanks to a study.

Social anhedonia is a phenotype of autism spectrum disorder, depression, and schizophrenia spectrum disorder.. If we could detect it early in children, we could give earlier diagnoses and more tailored intervention strategies.

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Many times, we may be faced with the classic withdrawn and anxious child at the same time who, far from paying attention, we sometimes label as shy or problematic. However, we are dealing with more than just a behavioral problem or lack of social skills.

Many times we find ourselves faced with autism that has not yet been detected, in front of a child with depression or in front of a boy or girl who at some point, upon reaching 18-19 years of age, will give more clues to their schizophrenia.

How is this type of anhedonia treated?

Anhedonia, whether general or social, It is always a manifestation of an underlying problem that must be properly diagnosed. When a child, adolescent or adult does not show enjoyable behavior in social situations, avoids them, suffers and does not know how to function in these scenarios with specific emotional codes, we need to make a more exhaustive assessment.

Doctors L. Chapman and M. Raulin developed the Chapman scales aimed at detecting physical or general anhedonia and social anhedonia. This already represents a tool of great value to later proceed to an adequate diagnosis and know what we are facing.

In these cases, the intervention mechanism for a person with autism will not be the same as for someone with a schizotypal personality disorder. However, it is worth noting that both can benefit from approaches such as behavioral and communication therapies, social skills education, family and educational therapy.

It is crucial not to neglect these types of situations in which the person does not show that enjoyment or motivation to relate and establish social ties. Let’s keep it in mind.