I used to love ten pin bowling. Not only was the game itself enjoyable, but the social aspects of hanging out with friends and talking about life
while we bowled was fascinating. It was not just a filler activity, it was a lifestyle filled with fun, friendship and excitement. From the moment you
put those bowling shoes on, it was like entering another world - a better world. You would joke and laugh about life while waiting your turn, enter an
intense moment of concentration when it was your roll, or be greeted with cheers of adoration when you managed to pull off an impressive strike. Then
you would go for something to eat afterwards and discuss how you were "in the zone" or "had a bad omen" that day. Those were precious times.
I am not certain exactly when things started to change, but gradually the experience began to lose its appeal. Now it joins a growing list of
activities that I no longer gain pleasure from. The thought of putting on those shoes doesn't carry the same excitement as it used to. The whole
routine is like any other chore - boring, uninspiring and predictable. The talk is idle chit-chat with no substance; the bonding element has all but
evaporated. You wait your turn, crack a smile at others while mumbling some barely coherent platitude. When it is your turn, you stand up, roll the
ball and see the pins fall over. The pins always fall over loudest when you have nothing to say.
* * * * * *
The above extract attempts to familiarise the reader with the condition known as anhedonia. It is
normal to gain and lose interest in certain activities throughout your life, but when one loses interest in several activities in the space of a short
time, and lack of activity causes feelings of emptiness and isolation, Anhedonia might be the reason why.
* * * * * *
Extended reading:
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Wikipedia entry
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Psychology Today article
*
BioPsychiatry
*
Net Doctor
edit on 8/11/2012 by Dark Ghost because: (no reason given)