looking for hope

[gabrielle00]

im just emotionally drained. i feel so worthless and i feel like giving up. ive been in a deep depression for 5 months now with little progress. ive lost all hope & faith. i need some inspirational quotes or success stories. it’s so hard to believe that things will get better.

[Hidden]

I understand where you're at. I am having similar feelings. Sometimes I am doing all right and then depression takes hold and I'm not even sure what triggered it or why I act the way I do. Sometimes I can come on this site and try to be really supportive and there's other times I am just doom and gloom myself. You're not alone. If I was in a better mood I'd try to say something more positive to you. Please hold on. Sometimes it's darkest just before the dawn.

[gabrielle00 in reply to Hidden]

hi thank you for your response. i also find that i feel depressed without any reason. im sorry to hear youre not in the best mood right now. sending you all the love i have left. im grateful to be communicating with you.

[Hidden in reply to gabrielle00]

Well I'm grateful to get such a nice response back!!! What's been going on in your life? If you're not comfortable telling me, I understand. Or if you like, you can send me something in the private chat. Whatever the case, I truly hope you feel better eventually.

[finefrenzy127]

I am so sorry you are going thru this! As someone who went thru the same exact thing I can tell you (honestly and real) it will get better! That dark place you are in now - fight back little by little. It will not happen overnight but it is the progress that counts. I stayed in it for 6 months - I often look back and cant believe I pulled my self out of it and I am proud of myself. You can do it, if you ever need to chat message me.

[gabrielle00 in reply to finefrenzy127]

wow congrats on pulling yourself out of it!! thank you for your hopeful message I really appreciate it

[KinokoNekoKun]

Always remember, you are not alone. I know 100% how you feel. Sometimes giving up sounds like an easy way out but, I always try to remember the small things that make me happy. Depending on my state of mind at the time , it may help, but if you are ever feeling worthless or down, talk to someone you know. I don't have any family and very few friends but, I've found that when I mention to them about wanting to die, the first thing they will say is "We love you, we need you" Sometimes that is all it takes, just a reminder that you are wanted and cared for, and not worthless. As Googoodollsfan stated, "Please hold on. Sometimes it's darkest just before the dawn." You will feel better soon. Hopefully, being on here talking with us helps as well. We are here for you.

[gabrielle00 in reply to KinokoNekoKun]

hi, thank you for your response. I really appreciate what you said about remembering the small things that make you happy. I find that I set such grandiose goals and criticize myself harshly when i dont achieve them. so I need to practice being present in the moment and appreciating the small things

[KinokoNekoKun in reply to gabrielle00]

Thankfully you are here , where plenty of us who are struggling will help remind you! We are all in this together!

[kvolm2016]

Hi gabrielle00, I'm glad you are here to find some support and encouragement. That's exactly what this group is here for! I'm sorry that you are at this low place. It is easy to understand your feelings after a long season with no relief or improvement. That is definitely frustrating and discouraging. But this low place does not equate to being worthless. It is always too soon to give up because there is more life ahead of you. Are you receiving professional care for your depression?

[endofheartache1290]

So first thing, don't get caught up in inspirational quotes and stories. They are nice and give you that surge of dopamine but that rush quickly fades and leads you into feeling like you need more quotes. The better thing to do is to try to be better than you were yesterday. Don't compare your progress to others and make sure to reward yourself for the little steps. Those little steps are just as important as the big ones. I know what you mean when you say that it feel like things won't get better but they will. So long as you are willing to put in the effort and work towards it you will get better. In the mean time there are a few things you can do to help yourself. Exercise is a big one. That has been shown definitively to improve your mood so walking for at least 30 min's 3 times a week will be a big help. Also, getting outside is crucial. People don't realize how important just being outside is for mental health but it plays a big role so get out in nature and explore a bit.

As far as motivation goes there is a way of thinking about it that is sort of counter intuitive but works. Inspiration leads to motivation which leads to action, which is true but it's also a cycle and you can start anywhere. You can watch a video and be inspired by someone to take action or you can be brushing your teeth and go you know what if I can do this I can do more things (action sparks motivation). It's not linear at all.

The last thing I want to say is you are far from worthless. You have value just like everyone else. If a stranger on the street deserves respect and kindness then why not you? You are capable and you are enough just as you are. You have always been enough, you will always be enough. Remember to be kind to yourself, never compare yourself to others. Only compare yourself to who you were yesterday. That is how you truly make progress. It's not easy by any means so don't think I am saying that all of this can be fixed overnight. It can't it takes time and it takes a lot of effort to retrain your brain. But you are more than capable of doing it.

youtube.com/watch?v=Vd_Lcub...(Not working as expected?)

Here is a video about things you can do to help you get the ball rolling again, however I do want to say that this video is not meant to be a cure for your depression. It's merely a suggestion of things you can try to get things started.

[KJnOTT]

I am so sorry to hear that you are struggling. I have experienced times in my life where it was hard to see the good in my life. You are not alone in how you are feeling. I highly encourage you to seek out some support for your depression and who can help you navigate this difficult season in your life. Do you have someone to connect with? I would be happy to share a resource or two with you if you are interested. Know that no matter what you are facing, your life has great value! I know how hard it is to see when

you are in a dark place, but I also know from experience that when we reach out for support it can help us navigate our feelings in hard times. I also encourage you to practice good self care - enjoy walking in nature, listening to calming music - things that will feed your soul. Blessings my friend.