Verywell / Catherine Song
Information in this article might be triggering to some people.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
Verywell / Catherine Song
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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But just because you think it doesnt mean its true.
Your thoughts may be distorted, inaccurate, or downright wrong.
Hopeless feelings fuel hopeless thoughts.
You might even think things like, Ive tried everything already and nothing works!
But thats probably acognitive distortion.
You may have tried a few thingsor even 10 thingsbut you likely havent tried everything.
At least be open to the idea that the way youre thinking might not be accurate.
There may be more hope than you imagine.
So take a few minutes to argue the opposite.
Whats the evidence that things might work out better than you expect?
Or how might things actually get better?
Thinking a bit about the potential positives can open you up to more possibilities.
After all, you might be thinking, I dont gain anything.
I dont want to feel this way.
But, upon a little more reflection you might discover that feeling hopeless protects you from being disappointed.
Being hopeless also might help you feel all right about not taking action.
So consider whether you might be gaining something by remaining hopeless.
You might find it somehow protects you from creating change or doing anything differently.
How might your life change?
What would you be doing differently if you had hope?
Then, you might go ahead and start acting as if you were hopeful.
Or, youd be applying for a new job.
Go do those things, even if you arent hopeful, theyll work.
Sometimes, you have to change your behavior first and the feelings might follow.
So if you act hopeful, you might start to eventually feel more hopeful.
Spend some time thinking about potential solutions to the problem.
Brainstorm ideas and keep them in mind, you dont even necessarily need good ideas.
Could spending time with family members help you feel a little better?
Might you feel a little more hopeful if you took a mental health day from the workplace?
Theres always something you might do to make things a little better or tohelp yourself feel a little better.
Tell them what youre experiencing.
They may be able to help you see things from a different perspective.
Or, they may offer strategies that can help you feel better.
It can be hard to tell people what youre going through.
However, telling someone could be key to helping you gain a little more hope about your situation.
Develop a Plan
After youve developed ideasby yourself and/or with someone elsecreate a plan.
Decide what step you are going to take first.
Keep in mind that if plan A doesnt work, you might always have a plan B.
Take Action
once you nail a plan in place, its important to take action.
After all, you likely wont gain hope about your situation by sitting still.
A mental health professional can assess your needs and discuss your treatment options, like talk therapy or medication.
Most mental health issues are very treatable.
Treatment can help you feel more hopeful about the future.
Find out which option is the best for you.
A Word From Verywell
Remember, just because things feel hopeless doesnt mean they are.
