In this opening episode of Season 5 of The Light Inside, host Jeffrey Besecker and guest Tanith Carey explores the topic of emptiness and anhedonia, the silent thief of joy.

Carey describes the experience of waking up to a world devoid of colors and melodies, where happiness and the ability to feel anything have been replaced by an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Jeffrey and Tanith delve into the ache and constant dull pain that accompanies anhedonia, as well as the numbing of the senses. 

Despite this desolate landscape, there remains a flicker of hope and a longing for the return of emotions. Join Jeffrey as he explores the journey from despair to finding the light at the end of the tunnel.

-Emptiness

We’ve all felt it. There are times throughout life when we all feel a little hollow. Imagine waking up each morning to a world that once sang with colors and melodies -Now shrouded in an unrelenting haze. 

As a psychological phenomena, Anhedonia, the silent thief of joy, wraps its cold fingers around every inch of your being. Not only is it the lack of happiness, but it’s also losing  the ability to feel anything - leaving behind an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

Join us as we embark on this emotional journey, with author, Tanith Carey, as we exploring anhedonia from all angles, sharing Tanith’s story of resilience. 

We shedding light on the path to rediscovering the beauty of emotions, and guide you through the labyrinth of feelings that shape our lives.

"I think it's (anhedonia) the missing word in our mental health discussion” - author, Tanith Carey

Get Tantihs Latest book: Feeling Blah: Why Anhedonia Has Left You Joyless and How to Recapture Life's Highs

[00:01:10] The ache of anhedonia.

[00:06:07] Loss of joy: anhedonia.

[00:07:18] Disconnecting in Hedonia.

[00:10:06] Lack of joy in Hedonia.

[00:14:19] Shame and seeking professional help.

[00:16:59] Brain's metalympic reward pathway.

[00:20:09] Fear of happiness.

[00:24:10] The role of happiness addiction.

[00:27:20] Breaking free of anhedonia.

[00:31:38] Feeling the soul's vibrational frequency.

[00:34:23] Reparenting and finding joy.

[00:36:04] Burnout and cortisol levels.

[00:40:33] Neurotransmitter imbalances and anhedonia.

[00:45:39] Thyroid imbalance and low mood.

[00:46:27] Antibiotic overuse and gut microbiota.

[00:50:00] Porn and anhedonia.

[00:53:24] Treatment for anhedonia.

Credits:

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Featured Guests: 

Tanith Carey

Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound

Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker

Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio

Senior Program Director:  Anna Getz