Today is Thursday, and as usual, I invite everyone to focus on our physical…

We for You | Daily Reflection | *by Maryam* ❤️

Assalamu Alaikum dear Sisters, 🌸 I hope you are all doing well, InshaAllah.

Today is Thursday, and as usual, I invite everyone to focus on our physical health and take care of the bodies Allah (SWT) has entrusted to us. 💚

One sister recently asked (paraphrased):

“I’m not sad, but I’ve completely lost my motivation. I no longer enjoy the things I used to love, and I don’t feel like doing anything. Could this be more than just stress or depression?”

My answer is: Yes.

While depression and anxiety are common causes of persistent loss of motivation, they are not the only ones. A symptom known as anhedonia, the reduced ability to experience interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed, can also be linked to underlying medical or nutritional conditions.

🧠 Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in motivation, reward, learning, and goal-directed behaviour. While it contributes to the experience of reward, it is more closely linked to “wanting” than to pleasure itself. Pleasure is regulated primarily by the brain’s opioid and endocannabinoid systems, whereas dopamine is activated as we anticipate and seek a reward.

When the body is under prolonged stress, such as chronic sleep deprivation, inflammation, insulin resistance, burnout, or ongoing psychological stress, the brain’s reward pathways may become less responsive. Activities that once felt exciting may no longer generate the same motivation.

This doesn’t automatically mean you have depression, and it doesn’t mean you’re “lazy.”
It could be due to iron deficiency (even when haemoglobin is normal). Low ferritin (reduced iron stores), thyroid dysfunction, vit. B12 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, folate deficiency.
Chronic stress or burnout, poor sleep, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, certain medications, depression, anxiety, or other neurological conditions.

🔬 Ferritin is one marker that can sometimes be overlooked, particularly in people experiencing fatigue or symptoms suggestive of iron deficiency.. Because Iron is essential for dopamine production and it acts as a cofactor in dopamine synthesis.

Some clinicians, particularly in functional medicine, suggest that women with ferritin levels below 45 ng/mL may be more likely to experience fatigue or reduced motivation, even if their haemoglobin is normal. But, this is not universally accepted in conventional medicine. Overall, iron deficiency may contribute to low motivation in some people, but it is rarely the only cause.

📵The idea of avoiding social media, food, music, or other pleasurable activities for a day to “reset” dopamine has become popular online.
There is little scientific evidence that short-term dopamine detoxes reset dopamine receptors. But, reducing excessive screen time, improving sleep, and avoiding chronic overstimulation improve attention, mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life.

Personally, I think there is still a lot of benefits in taking regular breaks from screens and constant information. Just as fasting can help us become more mindful of food and appreciate simple flavours again, taking intentional breaks from digital stimulation may help us feel calmer and more present, even if we can’t proove it literally “resets” dopamine.

✅ Research consistently shows that regular exercise improves mood, cognitive function, and motivation. Some studies suggest it may influence dopamine signalling.

✅ Cold exposure (cold showers or cold-water immersion) may temporarily increase dopamine activity, as shown in some studies too.

✅ Setting small, achievable goals can improve motivation by activating the brain’s reward pathways through repeated success.

✅ Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can make it from another amino acid called phenylalanine. It’s also found in protein-rich foods. It may support cognitive performance during periods of acute stress or sleep deprivation but evidence for treating anhedonia or depression is limited.

⚠️ Do not self-medicate with:

💊*L-DOPA* (levodopa, a prescription medication used mainly to treat Parkinson’s disease). Unfortunately, this is sometimes promoted on social media despite the potential risks of self-medicating.
🌿*Mucuna pruriens* (also known as velvet bean, a herbal supplement that naturally contains L-DOPA). Low motivation requires proper assessment rather than self-treatment.
💊🌿*Other direct dopamine precursors or dopamine*-enhancing supplements, unless advised by a qualified healthcare professional.

If you’ve lost your motivation, not just your mood, don’t dismiss it as laziness or assume it’s “just stress.”
Sometimes the cause is psychological.
Sometimes it’s medical.
Often, it’s a combination of both.

Persistent symptoms deserve a proper medical assessment rather than assumptions. Finding the root cause is the most important step.❣️

🩺 Blood tests you can ask your doctor about:
• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• Ferritin
• Thyroid function (TSH ± Free T4/Free T3)
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Vitamin D
• Blood glucose and/or HbA1c (or fasting glucose where appropriate)
• CRP (if inflammation is suspected)

But note there’s no single blood test that diagnoses anhedonia, and investigations should always be individualised.

May Allah (SWT) grant us all good health, beneficial knowledge, and complete shifa. Ameen . 🤲🏻