When you go on any social media “For You” page—a discovery feed driven by an algorithm, the content is always varied. There will be videos and posts about your favourite artists, sports teams, or upcoming movies. But there’s also world news. And the more negative it is, the more engagement it gets. This pushes the more depressing stories to the top of your feed. As a result, this creates habitual doomscrolling. Watching the news also contributes to feelings of hopelessness. In addition, lives haven’t been the same since the pandemic. People are lonelier, with lower incomes, higher costs of living, more costs of living, and poor mental health. It remains difficult to keep hope alive.
It can also feel pointless to regain hope because of how many issues people worldwide are facing. For some of us, we experience mental health issues because of environmental reasons. If you don’t have a job or are struggling to pay your bills, why bother with trying to improve your mental health? It’s forgivable to think and feel like this. And nobody should shame you for feeling like you’re stuck in pits of despair. People can also tell you that you’re not alone. But how is that comforting? More people carrying the same burden makes it appear like there’s a systemic failure in giving people economic freedom, access to mental health, or any services that people have a right to survive. So when you’re feeling increasingly hopeless? What can you possibly do to change things?
Why is hope important?
According to PsychCentral, there are three types of hope: attachment, which is the hope for intimate relationships and emotional bonds; Mastery, which is the hope for acquiring skills; and Survival, which is the hope for overcoming challenges. Hopelessness occurs when these three hops are withdrawn.
For instance, if you experience a breakup, you feel hopeless because you’ve lost or feel you can’t maintain an attachment. If you lose a job, you lose mastery and survival hope. When you feel like your loved ones have abandoned you, or you can’t be able to survive through your life, or you can’t prove your worth as an adult—you can be overwhelmed with hopelessness. It can also happen when you don’t feel inspired or motivated. Hope is the fuel that helps you push through any difficulties. If you’re in school and your studies are getting too hard, hope is what helps you keep studying. You hope you’ll graduate, get your degree, and get a great job. When the hope is removed, it can make you feel like you’ve lost your will to exist.
How to deal with hopelessness
1. Seek support
Being part of a community helps ease the burden. Finding a hobby and joining its groups can help ease the stress that you’re undergoing. In addition, it makes it easier to seek any help you need. Having friends who can help you unburden and who you can help can also be rewarding. When things are overwhelming, get professional help from counsellors or mental health professionals. It can also help you manage feelings of loneliness or abandonment. You can make new friends, connections, and moments that you can feel hopeful for.
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2. Sit with your feelings
Acknowledging how hopeless you feel helps you process it. Talk through these feelings with someone you trust or journal your feelings. It helps you align what you’re going through and it can show you what you can sort out into what needs action or what needs support. This can also build feelings of hopefulness because you’ll have something to look forward to. If you’re feeling hopeless because you’re experiencing trauma, you can seek support. If it’s because you’re lonely, you can start putting yourself out there. Outlining the hopelessness and its causes helps you identify the root cause and how you can deal with it. Morning Pages: Harnessing The Creative And Therapeutic Benefits Of Journaling For Personal Growth
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3. Make a difference
Sometimes focusing on how you can help other people helps you put things into perspective. Whichever way you can volunteer or assist can make you feel better. It can be simple things like doing chores for a senior neighbour who doesn’t have assistance, or helping collect contributions for a children’s centre. Join mutual aid groups, support justice organisations, or participate in support groups. Find a cause that speaks to your heart and participate in a way to help the people in need. Being surrounded by positivity and action can help you regain hope. 7 Benefits Of Doing Volunteer Work
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4. Find joy
Whatever it is that gives you joy, embrace it fully. Whether it’s being a part of nature, finding flowers, reading, or watching movies. Find time to participate in your joy. Make time to invest in something that can make you happy. Looking forward to the next moment you’ll partake can help you build hope. You can also invest in activities that leave you with wonder and awe. Remain curious and hope will come to you. Mental Wellness: How Play Can Help Adults Find Joy
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5. Get inspired
When you’re told that you’re not alone, it can sound like an unhelpful cliché. It’s not a good thing to know that other people are going through similar tribulations. However, while it can be a sad thing to know others are going through a lot, it’s hopeful to learn that many others made it through. Suffering is temporary. Holding on until you get to the other side can be rewarding. It’s also uplifting to see how other people have gotten over hurdles they’ve experienced. They can also show you actionable ways to get through your situation. If you’re experiencing oppression or being treated unfairly, other people who went through the same thing can help you know how to overcome these problems. They can also show you where to seek help.
6. Avoid bad habits
Doomscrolling, catastrophizing, and being negative help feed hopelessness. It can also worsen your mental health and make you feel helpless. Taking the smallest action to get out of despair can help lift you out of your situation. Avoid negative self-talk by countering these thoughts. Use gratitude journaling to remind yourself what is worth living for.
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Check out:
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