De Spair

And just like that, they were lining up. 

The many doubts about the future, driven by far too many threats. 
Doubts about the positive sides of people. 
Doubts about hope — which, as everyone knows, dies last. 
At least in theory.

But when these doubts join hands and block the entrance, emotions start to churn, and chaos theory takes over.

Despair is real. 
The body's reaction is more than merely unpleasant.
Despair is also understandable. 
Because it is a collection of crises that can turn more than one life upside down.

A serious illness, or the death of a loved one — these are acute crises. 
The end of an important relationship can tip you over the edge just as easily. 
Fear about the future rises when the job is gone, when the financial pressure becomes unbearable, or when depression grabs the steering wheel.
Those are just a few of the crises that become more than personal.

That's when despair laces up its shoes and comes running. 
To me. 
To you.

Fortunately, many of us live in countries that offer real support for those in despair. 
That's what a social nation is for. 
And let's not forget the circle of friends and family who are usually the first to offer a hand.

Yes, there are millions of reasons to open the door to despair.
There are even more reasons to fight back.

Support groups, psychotherapy, and medication can be more than just helpful.

Despair is no shame. 
Despair is a cry for help.
Despair can reach any one of us.
Despair is not the end of the railing.

Sure, easy for me to say. 
I've come through it.
How? 
Well — a small dose of fighting spirit, a large dose of family and friends, and a bathtub full of joie de vivre and hope made up what I'd call the opti-cocktail.

To everyone in despair right now: I hope you find the turn, rediscover hope, and reactivate the joy of being alive.
And there's always the tried-and-true formula: “With a little help from a friend.” 
For example.