Passion!

Jagraf

OK so I don't just mean that . Life has thrown me ups and downs just like everyone here, but I'm really struggling to feel passionate about anything - I don't experience extreme sensations of happiness, sadness, excitement etc.

My life is good, I love my OH, I have fab friends and family, but I can't get excited about good things, its as though my mind is a pinball with barriers.

Is this normal as you get older, and a bit tatty round the edges? Does reaction become mediocre ?

lincroft1710

Yes, sometimes you just can't be bothered, the effort just doesn't seem worth it.

bagpussbear

It's an interesting question, as I confess I feel the same as you do and have wondered if its an age thing too.

I no longer experience extreme excitement, like I did when I was younger. And I miss that.

I've suffered from depression in the past, and have wondered if the serotonin levels in my brain just never came back properly?

Perhaps for those of us that have had a lot of life experiences, its more normal to be mediocre about these things.

I really don't know. I am interested to see what others reply to this thread.

Hermia

bagpussbear wrote: »

It's an interesting question, as I confess I feel the same as you do and have wondered if its an age thing too.

I wonder if it's because people tend to not seek out new experiences as they get older. The one thing you notice about people in their teens and twenties is they are always excited about new things whether it's new bands, authors, film directors, travel destinations, hobbies etc. I used to work in an office full of teens and their excitement for new things was so infectious it really cheered me up. I notice a lot of my friends just don't do that any more. They just do the same old same old and won't really take risks with anything new. I think this can lead to people feeling sort of flat. The most alive old people I know are the ones who do try new things all the time. My uncle was really in a rut when he retired and his wife pushed him into going to a local art class. He absolutely fell in love with it and it was amazing to see how alive he became in other areas of his life.

London50

IMO it is the age thing, as we get older overall we have had the same things in the past perhaps many times. Good things/bad things and I think it is just like an old joke, we find it funny the first time but it wears thin after it is repeated.
We now just except that things happen but the chances are we have seen it again and again with both good and bad outcomes so it becomes "the norm". Perhaps it is a shame and yes it would be nice to have the passion of the younger generation again yet I for one am content to know that I can except life for what it is and as long as I have a loving family around me I will leave the "passion" to others to enjoy just as I did in my younger years :0)

trailingspouse

I think it's a case of having 'seen it all before' as we get older.

I can remember going to the cinema as a child, and the excitement was almost unbearable - it would be a bit odd to still feel that excited about a trip to the flicks now!!

But that's not to say that as we get older we're not interested, or engaged, with what is going on in the world. We just act a bit more cool about it all now.

And I guess it's the same with extremes of sadness - as we get older we naturally come into contact with things that make us sad, and amongst other things we learn that mostly it's not the end of the world, and life goes on.

TBeckett100

To be honest I don't get overly excited by much. Must be old age.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Google anhedonia. If it strikes a chord, maybe it's time to look at seeking assistance.

If not, just find something different to do. If you don't like it, try something else - and keep trying.

Gloomendoom

How old do you have to be?

tea_lover

Maybe I'm in the minority here as I still get stupidly over-excited about little things. It's my sister's 40th birthday in a few weeks and I'm so excited about the pirate party we've planned for her (I say party, it's just the 5 of us ) Just thinking about it makes me happy.

I think it's a reaction to how much I hate work - I get over-excited about other things to take my mind off it.

I would agree that trying new things can help. I recently started music lessons again and am really enjoying it.

VestanPance

I don't tend to get excited by things these days, as I've been there done that for most thing. I'm still passionate and get as much enjoyment out some of my hobbies as I always have though.