If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide, PLEASE call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Feeling hopeless can be one of our most painful experiences when struggling with addiction and mental health issues. We’re consumed by dread, negativity and pessimism. We don’t feel like ourselves. We feel anxious and depressed. We don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. We assume we’ll be struggling forever, and we start to believe we’re doomed to a life of pain and suffering. When we feel hopeless, it can feel impossible to look for solutions to our problems, to cope with our challenges in productive and effective ways, and to get ourselves out of the predicaments we find ourselves in. Hopelessness robs us of our joy and our peace. We’re unable to make sense of things and to think clearly. Our judgment can be impaired, and our vision can be clouded. Sometimes we feel as though we want to take extreme measures to relieve the emptiness, discomfort and panic that can come with hopelessness, and many of us consider suicide as a means of escape from our intense pain. When we’re in this very dark place, when we feel like there’s no way out, there are some things we can try and remember to help ourselves move through it.
There are some emotions that are universal to human nature, whether or not we’re struggling with addiction and mental illness. Hopelessness is one of them. When we’re feeling hopeless, we might take comfort in the fact that everyone around us has felt the same way at one point or another. Everyone has felt isolated, disconnected, empty and lost. None of us are strangers to these painful emotions. We might find solace in knowing we are not alone in our pain. Countless people around us know exactly how we feel and can relate to us completely. When we open up to them and allow ourselves to be honest and vulnerable with them, we can be comforted and reassured by their compassion and understanding. We can be inspired by their stories of moving through hopelessness and fear.
A powerful remedy for any challenging feeling, and especially for the anxiety and discomfort that can come with hopelessness, is beginning a gratitude practice. When we focus on all the things we feel grateful for, we can immediately feel soothed, calmed, nurtured and comforted. As we practice, our brains are rewired to find even more things to be grateful for, and this can help us to naturally feel more positive, optimistic and hopeful as we work towards recovery.
At The Guest House Ocala, we are uniquely equipped to help our guests heal from trauma-induced substance abuse, process addiction, anxiety and depression in a safe, comfortable and confidential setting Call 855-483-7800 today for more information on our treatment programs.