5 Things to Do If You Feel a Loss of Interest

Feeling a loss of interest can make it harder to do the things you need to do each day. It can leave you feeling listless, disinterested, and unmotivated to do much of anything at all. Known as anhedonia, this feeling can cause people to lose interest in activities they used to enjoy.

If you feel like you're losing interest in everything, you may be wondering what to do. Here are five options, along with some potential causes of your lost of interest. We also talk about how to get help so you can start to enjoy life again.

Why You Feel a Loss of Interest

Loss of interest is one of the key symptoms of depression. In addition to depression, feeling like you're losing interest in everything can also be caused by several other mental health conditions says psychiatrist Steven Gans, MD, including:

• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• Trauma related disorders
• Substance related disorders

Loss of interest can create a cycle from which it's hard to break free. Because of decreased interest, you might stop spending time with others and engaging in things that normally help you feel less stressed. This increased isolation, decreased activity, and lower social support can then play a part in making you feel more anxious and depressed. 

What to Do When Losing Interest in Everything

Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to feel better when you are experiencing a loss of interest. Here are some things that may help.

Focus on Staying Active

A loss of interest can make it difficult to stick to an exercise routine, but focus on getting some physical activity in each day. Exercise has been shown to have a number of positive effects on mental health, including improving mood and decreasing symptoms of depression. Even going for a brisk walk each day can help.

Get Enough Rest

Lack of sleep can have a negative impact on mental health. For instance, one meta-analysis of 34 studies found that insomnia significantly increases depression risk. So if you are struggling with a loss of interest, make sure that you are practicing good sleep habits and giving yourself plenty of time each night to get quality rest.

Take Small Steps

While it may not be possible to throw yourself into the activities you normally love with the same gusto as before, it can help to do little things each day. If there is a hobby that you used to love but have lost interest in, challenge yourself to learn something new about it. Or break up a larger project into much smaller steps and set aside a little time each day to tackle just one thing. 

Make Plans

Although it can be difficult to get inspired when you're losing interest in everything, you may find it helpful to make plans for things that you want to do in the future. Research has found that planning for the future, known as proactive coping, can help improve resilience.

Find Support

When you’re feeling disinterested, it can be helpful to turn to friends and family for support. Let them know that you’re struggling with this lack of interest.

Sometimes just spending time around other people can lift your mood. Other people’s enthusiasm can also be contagious, so you might find that their zest for different activities starts to rub off on you as well.

Getting Help For Your Loss of Interest

It's important to know that you don't have to live with a loss of interest in your life. Instead, reach out to your healthcare provider and talk to them about what you are feeling suggests Dr. Gans.

Dr. Gans adds that getting help is especially important if your loss of interest is accompanied by other symptoms like "a depressed, sad, or irritable mood, significant changes in appetite or sleep, loss of energy, trouble thinking and concentrating, or changes in outlook such as hopelessness, worthlessness, or thoughts of death or suicide."

Diagnosis

Your physician will ask questions about the symptoms you are experiencing. They may also perform a physical exam and lab tests to help rule out any underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to how you’ve been feeling.

They may then recommend different treatments depending on your diagnosis. For example, if you are diagnosed with depression, your provider may suggest psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. You might also consider just seeking help directly from a mental health professional without first seeing your primary care physician or nurse practitioner.

Treatment

There are a number of different treatment approaches that can be used to address the loss of interest, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help change your thoughts and behaviors. Antidepressants or other medications may be prescribed to help elevate your mood. 

You might also consider trying online therapy or a mental health app to help address feelings of lost interest. Mobile apps can be useful for setting goals, offering mental health tips, and tracking your progress. Online therapy can connect you with a trained therapist who can offer support and advice delivered by email, video chat, text message, or phone. 

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A Word From Verywell

Everyone experiences some degree of disinterest from time to time. Sometimes it might be because you are just feeling uninspired. In other cases, it might mean that you’ve lost interest in some of your old hobbies and need to explore some new passions. 

But losing interest in everything can also be a sign of a mental health condition such as depression. If a loss of interest is making it difficult to cope or interfering with your life, it is important to talk to a physician or mental health professional about how you are feeling.

Depression can worsen over time, so the sooner you get help, the sooner you will begin feeling better and regain your passion for the things that bring you joy.