Hope, Hopelessness and Despair

Hope, Hopelessness and Despair

What is spirituality? Spirituality means religion for most people, but it can also translate to a transpersonal, transcendental state or psychology. Most spiritual guides, most teachers, most supportive figures will say that hope is better than hopelessness, and of course, than despair. But for those persons who experience despair, things are not so simple. After all, part of some mental illnesses, such as depression, is feeling hopeless and experiencing despair, and in the case of a clinical diagnosis of MDD (Major Depressive Disorder), it may take a lot more than simply talking oneself out of it. Although that is a start, and part of getting better with any mental illness is self-work, obviously in combination with medication, therapy and other professional, psychiatric treatment.

You might want peace, but if the depression wants to fight back– you'd better be ready! Image: Megan Jorgensen

Self-help books on depression advise one to keep positive, to avoid blaming oneself for what happened (or keeps happening) and to be gentle, compassionate and kind to oneself. While good advice, it may be hard for a person with depression to take the advice, since part of depression is also feelings of guilt, of failure or of being under constant, unsurmountable pressure.

Naturally, having supportive people, close ones to help and support one through the struggle, is likely to shift the outcome towards the positive end. Also, an important sentence often mentioned by mental health professionals in regards to mental illness is comparing it diabetes or another form of physical disease; thus, people should not blame themselves for those, nor be afraid or ashamed to having to continuously take medication to keep the disease under control.