I don't think my therapist and psychiatrist get me - help please

Support Needed

I have depression accompanied by 100% anhedonia. It started nearly 2 years ago and there is a very clear reason for it. I am a woman, I really wanted to have a family and kids... I was unable to conceive naturally and my husband of 8 years left me all of a sudden right before our planned IVF. I was already 38 and at this age it is virtually impossible to fulfill my life goals because relationships take time and reproductive aging is unforgiving. The shock of my husband betraying us suddenly (I considered him extremely reliable and not in my worst nightmares I imagine he'd leave me especially if we struggle with fertility) and the fact that it's impossible to turn back time and start over trying to make a family with someone else threw me in a deep depression. This was 2 years ago.

I used to be perfectly capable to feel pleasure even fron little things like an ice cream or a good movie. But ever since the event I went totally numb and I can't enjoy anything. I am unable to watch a movie or TV show because first 5 minutes pass, and I'm already bored to death, cannot make it past first pages of a book (and I was an avid reader), food is "meh", everything is "meh". I have zero desire to do anything and I cannot get myself to exercise or live healthy.

First they prescribed me SSRI which removed some of the crying spells I had, but did nothing to anhedonia. In fact it made me unable to feel any emotion - before I could at least be sad. So I hated them and stopped them. Later they put me on Wellbutrin. This one helps with energy so it's easier to get out of bed, but no pleasure can be felt. The only time I felt anything was when I had a serious surgery so my ex husband came to stay with me for one week and watch me as I was recovering. Despite the fact that he hurt me so much his physical presence enabled me to feel some pleasures although I was in pain - meals together, morning coffee, we watched some show, and it felt good. Psychiatrists I feel are just randomly trying different popular meds without too much thought. I do talk therapy once per week too but I don't think my therapist gets it, like her suggestions - oh go to the gym, do something for yourself - are totally useless as I can't get myself to do it.

I leave alone and I have no family. I don't have desire to make friends or meet people, socialize. Seeing how happy other people are makes me feel worse. Losing my relationship at my age makes me feel like I lost all hope for the future, all is lost, and there is no fix. I also don't trust people anymore since the departure of my husband was so surprising.. I trusted him with my life and he put me on this road by his unilateral decision, a tough road I didn't choose.

Posted May 11, 2025, 4:40 PM UTC

84
Loading comments…