How many times has depression hooked its big ugly claws into you? When you think you’ve learned all its tricks, it somehow gets you again. You try, forcing yourself to do your basic self-care, use your antidepressant tools, go to work, live your life, and hoping that if you stick to your comfortable routine, you’ll snap out of it. But, you keep sinking deeper and deeper. Soon, it’s hard to find joy in the things you used to. Then the hopelessness sets in. It’s hard to convince yourself that better days are ahead when it all feels so utterly hopeless. This post is about finding hope in depression, no matter how bad it is.
Life can really suck sometimes, can’t it? You could be doing well, coping with depression, and even finding some genuine joy. Then something little happens, it could be a fight with a spouse or friend, an expensive home or car repair you really can’t afford, a negative change at work, or anything that shakes your happiness. Then something else happens. And again. Depression is going to use all these little things and turn them into a big thing. It’s going to tell you that your life sucks and will always suck. It puts that “your life is awful” mantra on repeat. You can only ignore it so many times before you can’t. There are only so many times you can argue with it before you start to believe it. Finding hope in depression is extremely difficult when all you can focus on is how many times life knocks you down. But we’re going to fight back together!
Refocus Your Thoughts
You might believe in your heart of hearts that there’s nothing good about life because your depression keeps reminding you about all the bad stuff. It won’t let you see the good. I went onto Psych Central’s website and found this article by Hope Gillette. She talks about why you might feel hopeless and how to help dig yourself out of that spiral.
One of her great tips was to think about other times that you’ve faced challenges and survived. It’s fair to say that, for most people, life has its share of good and bad parts. Think about your successes, like when you landed a job, aced a test, bought a house, sold a house, I bet there’s plenty of things you could list. Refocusing your thoughts on times that life has gone well will help you find some hope that things can be good again.
Don't Be Ashamed to Ask For Help
When you’re in the midst of a depressive episode, it’s all too easy to isolate yourself. This is another one of depression’s nasty tricks to keep you from fighting back. Humans are social creatures by nature and when you need help, it’s important to ask another human for help. Ms. Gillette’s article says that having someone you can connect with can help you feel like you’re not alone in this. Talk to a friend or family member.
If you don’t feel up to talking to people you know, there are support groups (either in person or online) where you remain more anonymous. If you’re a spiritual person, praying or talking to a spiritual leader can help you with finding hope in depression.
There is no shame in getting professional help either. Ms. Gillette talks about the importance of finding where this sense of hopelessness is coming from. While soul-searching can help greatly, sometimes it helps to get a professional and unbiased opinion. A mental health professional can help you find the root cause, which may be from some unresolved grief or trauma, or a mental illness diagnosis like depression or bipolar disorder. They can also help you find techniques for finding hope in depression. Remember that getting help doesn’t make you weak, it’s a mark of strength!
Find Some Joy
The last tip that I’m going to share from Ms. Gillette’s article (please read it, there is so much more good advice in there!) is to think about what can bring some joy into your life. Ask yourself what you need to do more of that you haven’t lately. What hobby supplies are collecting dust in the back of a closet?
What lies are your depression telling you that’s keeping you in this hopeless state? Try setting a small goal for yourself that will help you accomplish something in one week. Once it’s done, you’ll prove to yourself that you can do something to make yourself feel better. Finding hope in depression is all about using your passions to fight your way back.
Build On That Joy
Once you find something that gives you a shard of joy, build on it. Bake some fresh bread so that incredible smell permeates your home. Read a book that inspires you. Do a craft or some other hobby just because it makes you happy. Then watch as that shard of joy gets bigger and bigger.
You might be surprised to see that doing just one small thing for you can give you strength. It can uplift your mood and make things seem better. I love writing. Every time I get a chance to write, I feel lighter, like the world isn’t so heavy on my shoulders anymore. It brings me joy. I want you to find something that makes you see just how amazing life is.
Finding Hope in Depression
Depression is a terrible illness that makes you a victim of your mind. It’s a constant fight between your depression that wants to drown you and your mind that wants to live. Just keep telling yourself that finding hope in depression, no matter how severe, is possible.
Look for joy and beauty around you. Watch a sunrise or sunset. Take a walk with a cup of coffee or another warming beverage. Listen to a child’s unbridled joy at a park. Smell some flowers. This world is full of such incredible beauty. Notice it and allow it to bring you some hope and joy.
Remember That These Feelings Are Temporary
Try to picture yourself the last time you lost a battle with depression. That hopelessness, apathy, fatigue, and loss of joy were very real. But did they last? It’s hard to see past the painful episode you’re stuck in right now. But just remember that you’ve been lost in this dark sea before and you came out of it. You may not win every battle depression wages against you. That’s okay. You WILL win again and again. Just hold on, focus on whatever scraps of joy you can, and remember that it won’t last. If you’d like, check out my post about coping with depression.
Be Gentle With Yourself
Depression uses these moments of hopelessness to try to tell you that you’re not strong enough to survive it. You might get frustrated with yourself that you can’t snap out of it as easily this time. Remember that depression is an illness. A chronic illness. You’re going to have good days and bad days. Depression will win some, but you’ll win more. Don’t beat yourself up for something that you’re fighting every day. Be kind to yourself. You might be surprised that finding hope in depression is a lot easier when you’re treating yourself with love. Hang in there!
All my love!