topic Re: Lost hope in Depression

Lost hope

Hopeless — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 19:39:58 GMT

When you lose everything hope is the last thing to lose.

At 55 lost my career after nearly 16years

Isolated myself from friends and family for 2years now. Too embarrassed for my friends and family to see me like this so ive retreated here. Have panic attacks around this time and struggle to get my breathe i think from bad thoughts and not going outside. Dont leave the flat often dont do anything my body feels terrible as my head does, tight hips tight quads and hamstrings

Rarely sleep often find myself sobbing , dont want to be around people dont feel comfortable. Have absolutely no energy.

Too cowardly to hurt myself.

Find myself having conversations with google and i dont even like online or have any social media,so pathetic . Tells me to ring lifeline like what can that possibly do?

I cant even belive this is my life now after working nearly 40years raising a big family and being social and sports and fitness orientated..how am i even being on here writing this shit in tears

Re: Lost hope

Shoganai — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 23:07:57 GMT

I think when you've worked so hard your entire life, done all of the things you're 'supposed' to do, you will feel extremely lost when those disappear. Your body is starting to feel it by the sounds of things. That's okay that you don't want to leave your flat, could you possibly find a cheap walking pad? You said you were fitness orientated, could walking help you gain some control over things once again?

Isolation is hard, especially when self inflicted. But, you're self aware enough to come here and post about it all, so you aren't doing as bad as you think you are.

One little step each day.

Re: Lost hope

Tugboat — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:38:23 GMT

Good morning

life can be cruel to us at times. I suffer with health anxiety and I do the same as you do, removing my self from Freind, family etc etc. However I do reach out to them via text message and chat to them sometimes on the phone and just voicing how I feel helps me. I talk to my self a lot and push negative thoughts out, but at times that can be hard. Do you live alone? I’m overweight and trying to do some soft exercise to help me. Have you spoken to your GP? I have chatted with a BBC and found it helped. Be gentle on your self and it good to have a cry xxxxxx

Re: Lost hope

therising — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:12:56 GMT

The warmest of welcomes to you at one of the most challenging times in your life, if not the most challenging time. My heart goes out to you so much.

When speaking of a depression in this case, I'm not speaking of a clinical depression which would require a clinical diagnosis. I'm more so referring to a kind of depression which can still have physical (chemistry) factors and mental factors in play on top of some seriously soul destroying factors. From my own experience, you can't always see exactly how you reached the depths of the depression or deep dark well you're in but you can definitely feel yourself there.

There can be the things that led to an obvious gradual descent and then there can be all the things that aren't so obvious. Sometimes it can be about identifying the less obvious things so as to be more understanding and kinder toward ourself. For example, depressing inner dialogue thrives on us being alone. There is no one to interrupt it, as it worsens, and there is no one to help us make better sense of it or lead us to at least wonder about it. I know, from personal experience, how the dialogue in depression can be so incredibly convincing. The deeper you go, the darker and more convincing it becomes. Another thing that can add to the descent can involve a depressing lack of guidance. While we can have people suggest what we should do (after having lost our career or having lost someone we care deeply about) or have them reassure us 'You'll be right', there is no serious guidance in suggestions or reassurance. There is no solid detailed plan for navigating how to get out of where we are. We're technically not being raised in any positively mind altering way. I'm glad you made the move to come here to the forums, for a start, so as to manage the mental challenges you face while seeking some sense of direction.

While at some point in your life you expanded or opened yourself up to greet a career, a family, friends, various sporting interests etc, it sounds like you've gradually contracted (into yourself). While it may not sound like much and may even sound a bit silly, would you consider beginning to gradually expand again? Regarding the muscle tension/tightness, developing the everyday practice of stretching might make some difference to begin with. Baby steps, nothing big. Something easy, much easier than going for a walk around the block at this stage. While it may sound a bit 'woo woo' (expanding or opening yourself up to life again), stretching is known to also release endorphins, dopamine and serotonin as well as reducing cortisol levels. Plenty of folk out there develop the habit of waking in the morning and stretching their arms out for five seconds and that's it. Stretching more than a few muscles for five minutes makes more of a difference. With a deeply depressing lack of energy, sometimes stretching (while sitting on the couch) is all we can manage and all we can relate to for a start.