How common is it to feel lost and hopeless?
You may not realize just how common it is for a person to feel very alone, lost, and hopeless today. Grief, stress, and never-ending changes make it hard for many people to see the good in each day. Angry people, constant negative news, and an unattainable expectation of living a perfect life like everyone else on TikTok can be defeating.
When you are facing feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair, there is real, authentic, effective help available. At Willow Creek Behavioral Health, we welcome you to come to us right now. Skip the call if you want. We offer walk-in help when you need it. If you are suicidal, here is what you need to do now.
Even if you do not need immediate help, the mental health treatment in Green Bay that we offer can give you the support you need at a critical time.
Why Do You Feel So Hopeless?
If you make statements like the following, you may be feeling hopeless, like many other people.
- “No one can help me.”
- “I feel like giving up.”
- “I’m not good for anything.”
No matter what you are thinking or feeling right now, realize that these negative thoughts may be distorted ways of thinking. That is, they are likely not true. Some of the reasons you may be feeling like this right now include the following.
All you can think about is the worst-case scenario.
It’s very common with those who have post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety to feel like there is always something bad happening or likely to happen. Your brain has built up a defense in these situations by thinking about all the worst-case outcomes, often to prepare for them.
The reality is, the worst isn’t likely to happen. Sometimes it can seem like it, and you’re worried about what might happen if it does.
You ignore positive experiences and feelings.
Someone may tell you that you always focus on the bad. But the reality is, your brain may be programmed to constantly seek out the “thing” to worry about rather than to focus on what’s good. If you are ignoring positive feelings or experiences, it’s easy to feel hopeless all the time.
That one bad thing can make every good thing impossible to recognize. Learning how to recognize that it is just one bad thing, even if it is a really bad situation, may help you navigate those challenging situations with more confidence.
You make a negative experience bigger than it is.
Another common reason for feeling hopeless is making a bad experience far worse than it is. For example, you may have an error in a report submitted to your employer, or you may fail a test at school. You think that means everything else is going to topple over.
The reality isn’t like that for most people. Everyone can have a bad experience, and most people face rejection, stress, and frustrating situations as well. That bad thing does not mean more bad is to come.
You feel so alone.
Hopeless feelings build the more time you think about them. Sometimes, when you lose friends or family or your life changes significantly, you can feel incredibly alone.
Some people find themselves pulling away from others, even if they really don’t want to do so. It may seem like it’s easier to just be alone than to deal with other people or have to explain yourself.
You’ve experienced something that’s tragic.
Some people begin to feel hopeless and lost when life changes drastically in some way, especially if they did not have any way to prevent what was occurring from happening. Examples may include:
- Losing a job.
- Struggling constantly at school.
- Facing the loss of a loved one.
- Ending relationships that were long and meaningful.
- Facing significant financial struggles.
- Being rejected by others.
These situations hurt, and they can make you question everything around you. It may even feel impossible to make things better. Help is available.
How Mental Health Treatment Can Support Your Improvement
Mental health treatment allows you to refocus. It cannot eliminate stress and fear, but it can provide you with more control over what is happening to you and what the real, accurate views are. In many ways, treatment can help you gain clarity while tackling the underlying mental health disorders you really cannot control alone.
Speak to Our Team About Your Thoughts and Feelings
At Willow Creek, we can offer help in a way that fits your situation. If you are feeling lost and alone, unable to see the point in life, or just hopeless, reach out for immediate help. We encourage you to learn more about how we can offer mental health support in Green Bay that is going to help you find a way forward. Contact us now.
