Despair is a very familiar emotion for me. I spent most of my teens and twenties in a place of overwhelming despair, hopelessness, depression, anger, fear, anxiety…

Despair is not like other emotions—with other feelings, I can motivate myself in constructive ways.

Despair is unique in that it lacks energy.

Interestingly, a small but growing segment of the health care world has started to describe some conditions as “diseases of despair.”

This idea suggests that some of the significant drivers of substance abuse, suicide and even certain chronic physical conditions are hopelessness, an absence of opportunity and unrealized desires for belonging.

Yet, I have learned two valuable lessons from the times when I have despaired myself.

I have discovered more profound compassion.

And I have experienced greater resiliency.

There are a few ways to deal with despair that I have found to be very helpful.

And I talk tough this week about despair; it will not be an easy discussion!

But it will be hopeful, practical, and actionable.

No matter how bad life seems, you can find the way out of despair.

We all need time to rejuvenate, so break your pattern. Take time to reflect on what you truly want out of life and what you must do to get back on course.

The answers often are not complicated. They are just hidden because you lost your focus on what’s important under the blanket of despair.