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How Have You Dealt With Persistent Hopelessness?

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I guess this is my normal stance in life now. I don't tell people, but I really feel hopeless and futility in my life quite often. I know it's temporary, that it won't last, but when you're in that place, utterly hopeless... how does that knowledge help when you don't believe it. I've been completely and utterly fried at some points.. like, laying on the floor unable to move for 3 hours. But in the end, I did get up and eat something. I found that when my mind is torched, my body still wants and needs things. So I just stumble along and watch from afar while one of my alters goes around.

I used to rely on the Goddess to help me, but I sorta stopped believing when I was diagnosed with bipolar. The shock was just too much to bear.
 
I felt like that for awhile once. I laid in bed for a couple of weeks straight, only getting up to...

@SheilaKathy I have a cat and barely cope with that!

This has been years although I've had months like you described. I'm quite active, I get up and do stuff but just this persistent feeling. Although today it is less stronger than yesterday.
 
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@NatBird I keep going largely through sheer inertia. It's what I've been doing for 41 years, and I can't stop now. I mean, the only real alternative is death, or being stuck in torment til you come out of it. Also, some of what keeps me going is boredom, believe it or not. I've been through the meat grinder so many times that I've gotten bored with it. "Yes, yes.. I know life is pointless and the world would be better if I died. Also, I want tacos." *drives to taco bell*

It might be hard to believe, depending on your age, but eventually you get used to some of the symptoms. It comes with time and practice, and is certainly a nightmare to achieve, but what else was I doing with my time? Just sitting around hating the world and myself, missing out on fun things that my friends were doing.

And other times the only thing that kept me going was my heart beating, as my body refused to die just because I was devastated by blistering horror. Sometimes your heartbeat is the only thing you've got left.. The only thing that can't be taken from you. And when it's like that.. I just let it beat.

I think there's another side of this, though. I remember searching very hard for the Meaning of Life when I was younger. I thought if I found it that I would be transformed somehow.. that I would Become. Then I found it. Want to know what happened? I was overwhelmed with peace and love for the world, absolutely vibrating with energy. Finally THIS was The Answer.

Then I took a crap and went to work, because though I may have changed, the world didn't. Still had to go to work, put up with stupid people, all that stuff. While this may sound discouraging, it works both ways. No matter how f*cked up you are inside, or how transcendent and happy you are, The World is still out there. If you can't hang on to anything else, hang on to that.
 
Oh, and the Goddess is Sweet Kali-Ma. She's the Hindu goddess of Life and Death. I used to feel a really strong connection to her, but when they diagnosed me as bipolar, and I found out that all my amazing spiritual adventures were basically just symptoms.... Yeah, it pretty much destroyed my heart. It took my gods from me. I really haven't been able to get my groove back since then. I want to.. I just can't seem to believe in much of anything anymore. =(
 
Realized I don't want to just play out time.

I'm tired of being alive just so a few people won't get hurt if I die. (Or maybe I'm being extremely conceited in this line of thinking as to believe that it would affect anyone?)
 
Oh, and the Goddess is Sweet Kali-Ma. She's the Hindu goddess of Life and Death. I used to feel a rea...
@Go Hungry thanks for your perspective.

I relate to a few things you shared particularly your heart being broken by diagnosis and it destroying your connection with the Goddess.
Can you say what it was the Goddess brought to you?

I had a similar thing happen with meditation and mindfulness. The practice changed my life. At some point I was set to go and live at a monastary. I was happy and excited a lot and content most days. When I felt low that was okay too. I felt connected, a sense of trust and moved through the world in that way. Then I was majorly triggered, the situation hit a switch and since then sitting meditation has just brought on dissociation and intensified body memories.
I too felt like I lost an important connection. Something that helped me to feel love, care and belonging, severed.

I've started to get brushes with the connection through other practices but it's intermittent. I'm unsure if it's because these practices are new to me or...

Perhaps this phase is some dark night of the soul.
Realized I don't want to just play out time.

I'm tired of being alive just so a few people won'...
@EveHarrington I didn't understand. Can you say more?
 
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I know the feeling @EveHarrington . When I get down, I get really bummed that it's only my parents keeping me alive. I simply couldn't do that to them. All the other people in my life could deal, but them.. It's just wrong for parents to outlive their kids.

Ofcourse that's total bullshit. I've got SO MUCH to be alive for right now. Truthfully, I am on the cusp of greatness, last happiness.. All I have to do is hang on and ride it out.

Sorry, that probably doesn't help, but... I can say I sympathize.
 
I know the feeling @EveHarrington . When I get down, I get really bummed that it'...

@Go Hungry

If your interpretation is correct then I think I get EveHarrington's comment.

I don't sense there's anyone that would be bothered or know for some time if I stopped existing. So staying alive for others isn't a motivating factor for me. Although this wasn't the topic. (perhaps this is what you meant @EveHarrington ?

I have things to be hopeful about but can't seem to access it. I just feel numb/dead indifferent to a lot of things, right now. Yes it will change but it's hard to keep believing that when experience indicates otherwise.

I've just made the connection that the hopelessness might be as a result of the grief/loss that I am processing.

With grace I'll continue to do my dailies and see...
 
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