COVID-19 Virus Series
There is nothing worse than feeling powerless or hopeless. It does not matter where it comes from or why it is there. The reason it is felt does not diminish or accelerate it. It is there and it is keenly felt.
What happens to you when you feel hopeless? With hopelessness, the body and mind go into hibernation. Things stand still. Time freezes. The thinking of no hope spreads to everyone, once it starts. In severe cases, it starts with the people, spreads to society, the country, then the world. Government can spread hopelessness in reverse. But our safe haven is that thinking can be reversed, it can become an ally.
In a survey put out by USAFacts.org, 48% of Americans feel depressed, compared to data in 2011 to 2017, where 17.3% to 17.5% of Americans indicated they had a depressive disorder. This is backed up by the CDC, according to the article.
USAFacts.org/articles/45 – 48% of Americans are feeling down, depressed, or hopeless during the COVID-19 pandemic
1. Embrace Positive Results
- Give yourself more time to process the situation and come up with a perfect solution.
- It is more important to give other people time to process their situations.
- It takes a maturity that is beyond what many of us currently have to overcome hopelessness. We are forced to mature faster than we normally do. That is a good thing.
2. Avoid Negative Effects
The negative effects of giving in to feeling hopeless or wanting to give up causes a person to withdraw, to give up. You have to work hard to keep your mind active and to keep looking for a better future:
- I always think that I will never know if something will change tomorrow, if I give up today.
- I also reflect on whether I want that person or situation to control me – uh – NO!
- Work on what you are thinking about.
3. Change Hopelessness to Hope for Yourself
- Be patient
- Embrace a new and healthy normal for yourself
- Think right. Sleep well and wake up thinking right because you went to sleep thinking right.
- Act, do something that is productive, never let yourself be inactive.
- Learn a new skill.
- Do not give in to panic in yourself.
- Do not judge anyone but yourself. Others answer for only themselves.
4. Resist Signs of Depression and Hopelessness
- Lack of sleep
- Increased anger
- Lack of concentration
- Emotional or physical or cognitive breakdown
- Poor decisions
- Relationship breakdowns
- Lack of communication
5. Change the Outcome of the Situation
If you give in to the situation. Nothing changes, or it gets worse. This is different than just waiting it out, waiting to see what happens. There is no way to tell if you do an action, that it will help or make the situation worse. But waiting to see what the situation is, assessing it and taking time to make decisions is responsible.
So be active, but in a responsible way. Be prepared. If you fight a situation, it usually promotes that issue. I remember the subgroups in society in the 60’s and 70’s. They became included in a part of society and accepted because society tried to fight them and make them change. Change is part of life, but we can make that change good or bad, depending on our reaction to that situation.
I know I am vague in many details of this topic, but there are so many issues arising today, that it would be impossible to have an accurate accounting of all the solutions. We can make the solutions together or independently, that is a choice.
I like the focus on positivity!
We need that don’t we!
Excellent tips! Hope is a powerful thing.
Thank you for saying that. It’s so true.
Great tips – always trying to focus on the positive!
Right! We can always be reminded daily of that! Thank you!
Thank you for the great tips. There are so many gentle ways to keep depression at bay, and embrace all the positive things in our life.
You are right. I like that you said – embracing the positive. Thank you.
Great tips to keep depression at bay. Getting out there is key. But I am sure it is easier said than done.
True. One of the hardest thing to do is keep depression out. Thank you for your comment Tricia.
The pandemic put my “Travel the World” plans on definite hold. Thankfully, I’m not a depressive type; I’m just bored. So – I started a blog!
This period has been quite revealing about how people cope.
I totally agree. Many can cope well and we forget that.
Wonderful gentle reminders of positivity!
Thank you for your comment. There are so many who have a tough time being positive.
It’s been a very difficult time for us trying to manage mental health and physical health during covid. The behavior of everyone around us was just crazy. I appreciate the effort you put into this to educate.
You are so right Jason. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Wow, what a big jump from just a few years ago. This past year has definitely contributed. Thanks for talking about such an important topic.
You are welcome. Society certainly has changed in the last year! Thank your for commenting on this important topic.
The number of individuals today who feel depressed is staggering. I know that the pandemic has significantly attributed to this increase and it makes me very concerned that some people don’t have the support system they need to overcome depression. My heart and prayers go out to these individuals.
Thank you Dawn! We need to make sure we are sensitive to the people around us. I appreciate your heart and your prayer to all of us!
This is not an easy time, but you have shared some proactive things that will be so helpful to so many!
Thank you! People need to have someone they can share with so the help they get will be positive for them. Hope is catching!
My favorite line of your article is “Change is part of life, but we can make that change good or bad, depending on our reaction to that situation.” This is so true! There’s always a silver lining. We’ve been able to experience history in many ways over the past year, we’ve had the unique opportunity to think outside of the box in problem solving, and many people have rediscovered the joys of either volunteering to help others or to allow others help.
Thank you for saying that Carolyn! Things never stay the same, I love looking at things as a unique opportunity too.
We are good about forcing each other out of the house for walks when one of us starts to spiral. A change of scenery and nature can make all the difference!
I love that! Thank you Tiffany! That is one of my go-to’s. A walk!
The rate of depression and hopelessness among the 20-somethings right now is outrageous. I am appalled by the number of suicides my son’s friend group has had to deal with in the last year.
I am so sorry to hear that. As an RN I hear the hopelessness of all ages. Thank you for caring.
These are great tips! So important and what is great is there are ways to help!
I totally agree, there is a lot of support and willingness to help! Thank you for saying that!
It has been a trying time for many, this past year. Finding the positive in every situation and wiring down something I am grateful for each day.
Gratefulness is very healing. Thank you for saying that.
This has been a rough time for so many people. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is struggling without hope.
Thank you for your compassion and thoughtfulness to people.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. PROVERBS 3:5
Amen. Thank you for sharing that truth.
It has been amazing to see all of the new skills and hobbies people are trying out because of the pandemic and quarantining. I tried my hand at keeping a sourdough start alive and reaping the benefits of that. These types of acquisitions give purpose and hope and is a good reminder that things will only get better from here. Thanks for sharing!
LOL! I also started cooking more. It is a nice feeling, I used to cook all the time. I have a different perspective now, but I’m cooking.
I truly believe you are what you think you. Meaning you become what you let yourself think, so you need to change your thinking. tammyhorvath.com/blog
Thank you for your comment. I agree with changing your thinking too.
These times are very trying. We don’t always have the strength to overcome these bouts of feeling down but it is very useful to have tips like these to help cope through them.
You are so right. We can make it through if we have support. Thank you.
Very inspirational and something many people need to hear in the current situations they may find themselves.
Thank you for your comment. This is a difficult season.
COVID and everything that comes with it; not being able to go to church in person, schooling my kids at home, not seeing friends etc have brought me an onslaught of PTSD, anxiety and exhaustion. I always remember not to give in. And I also make an effort to use the tools that help me feel better, even though most days I don’t feel like it, I play music, I ran, I write, I sing and pray. And sometimes I just cry.
Thanks for these reminders. Sometimes I feel like I’m alone but when I read things like this, I feel a connection with others like me.
The days you make yourself do something you don’t want to do are great ways to keep depression from overpowering. Thank you for sharing what you do, music, exercising, journaling, praying, singing are wonderful and better options than letting depression control.
40 years ago we were told my husband had 6 months to a year and a 1/2 to live he is still alive today we chose to face that being positive telling jokes laughing singing and trying to be as positive as we could. We were positive he was going to be OK and guess what he was. Somebody said to me but what if he had died and I said at least we had a happy time together until that happened, so I think We need to consciously try and choose to be positive even when it seems hopeless I pray a lot and believe that Jesus has helped my family and will continue to keep us in his hands I love your piece thank you
Thank you for your encouraging comments. That’s the only way to handle things-positive.
Great tips! I think communication is such an important step to combatting depression
Yes, Thank you. There is something said about talking with someone.
That is a wonderful post. We all need to remember that inner peace radiate outside. If you don’t have calm and peace inside, anything insignificant can shake up your core. Love and peace to you and your family.
Thank you for your positive input. I appreciate that.
Thank you very much for sharing this! Very timely insights and suggestions considering what we are all going through both individually and collectively.
Thank you