Causes and risk factors for Despair

Causes and risk factors for Despair

•   Loneliness
  
•   Lack of social support
  
•   Recent stressful life experiences
  
•   Family history of Despair
  
•   Marital or relationship problems
  
•   Financial strain
  
•   Early childhood trauma or abuse
  
•   Alcohol or drug abuse
  
•   Unemployment or underemployment
  
•   Health problems or chronic pain
  The cause of your Despair helps determine the treatment
  Understanding the underlying cause of your Despair may help you overcome the problem. For example, if you are desperate because of a dead end job, the best treatment might be finding a more satisfying career, not taking an antidepressant.
  If you are new to an area and feeling lonely and sad, finding new friends at work or through a hobby will probably give you more of a mood boost than going to therapy. In such cases, the Despair is remedied by changing the situation.
  The road to Despair recovery
  Just as the symptoms and causes of Despair are different in different people, so are the ways to feel better.
  
• What works for one person might not work for another, and no one treatment is appropriate in all cases. If you recognize the signs of Despair in yourself or a loved one, take some time to explore the many treatment options.
  In most cases, the best approach involves a combination of social support, lifestyle changes, emotional skills building, and professional help.
  Ask for help and support
  If even the thought of tackling your Despair seems overwhelming, don’t panic.
  Feeling helpless and hopeless is a symptom of Despair— not the reality of your situation. It does not mean that you’re weak or you can’t change!
  The key to Despair recovery is to start small and ask for help. The simple act of talking to someone face to face about how you feel can be an enormous help. The person you talk to doesn’t have to be able to fix you; he or she just needs to be a good listener.
  Having a strong support system will speed your recovery. Isolation fuels Despair, so reach out to others, even if you feel like being alone or don’t want to feel like a burden to others.
  
  The truth is that most people will be happy that you chose to confide in them; they’ll be flattered that you trust them enough to open up. So, let your family and friends know what you’re going through and how they can support you.
• Make healthy lifestyle changes
  Lifestyle changes are not always easy to make, but they can have a big impact on Despair. Lifestyle changes that can be very effective include:
  

  •   Cultivating supportive relationships
    
  •   Getting regular exercise and sleep
    
  •   Eating healthfully to naturally boost mood
    
  •   Managing stress
    
  •   Practicing relaxation techniques
    
  •   Challenging negative thought patterns
    Don't blame yourself
    This is the simplest, cheapest, and most important thing you can do to beat Despair.
    The stigma of Despair, plus feelings of guilt and inadequacy, can get in the way of recovery.
    Managing the symptoms of Despair requires a practical, proactive approach—and patience.
    You need to be able to own the reality that Despair is a physical illness like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
    You can’t get over it by ‘trying harder’ or adjusting your attitude.
    It requires acceptance that you have a physical illness that requires attention, and that it makes no sense to blame yourself for it.