Feeling hopelessness about current events, sure nothing will ever improve? Read how pessimism is fuelled and how to rebuild a realistic sense of hope.
"Nothing ever changes in this country." How many times in the past month have you heard this sentence, or said it yourself? At the office tea point, over dinner, when meeting friends, the conversation somehow ends up in the same place: the cost of living, unemployment, injustice, endless polarisation. When the conversation is over, what remains is not a solution but a heavy silence. After a while that silence comes home with you and wakes up with you in the morning. You start putting off your plans and thinking, "What's the point?" Hopelessness about current events is when intense pessimism about the direction of the country or the world spreads into a person's own life, decisions and mood. In this article we look at how this feeling is fuelled, when it reaches a point that needs attention, and how you can rebuild hope without losing your sense of realism.
What Kind of Feeling Is Hopelessness About Current Events?
Hopelessness is a deep belief that the future will be bad and that nothing can be done about it. It is different from anxiety: anxiety says "Something bad might happen" and keeps a person on alert. Hopelessness says "Bad things will happen and there's nothing I can do" and brings the person to a halt.
Hopelessness related to current events usually shows itself through thoughts like these:
- "Whatever I do, nothing is going to change."
- "There's no point in working, saving or making plans."
- "We won't be able to leave our children a better future."
- "There's no hope for those who stay here; the only way out is to leave."
- "Everyone only thinks of themselves; nobody can be trusted."
Some of these thoughts are grounded in real hardships. The high cost of living, job insecurity and social tensions are not imaginary. The problem is when the mind ties these real hardships to a single conclusion: "Nothing will ever get better." That conclusion expresses certainty rather than possibility, and the mind is all too inclined to believe pessimistic thoughts that claim certainty.
The Cycle That Feeds Hopelessness
Hopelessness usually grows not from a single event but from a self-reinforcing cycle.
First link: a real hardship. A salary that doesn't cover the rent, a loved one who can't find work, an injustice watched on the news.
Second link: generalisation. The mind does not keep this hardship confined to one area. The thought "The rent is high" turns into the thought "Nothing in this country is right."
Third link: withdrawal. A person who feels hopeless makes fewer plans, tries fewer new things and spends less time with others. Thinking "Nothing will change anyway", they stop making an effort.
Fourth link: confirmation. As effort decreases, positive things in life decrease too. This seems to confirm the thought "You see, nothing ever gets better."
Shared pessimism is added to this cycle. In Turkey many conversations can, without anyone noticing, turn into a competition of complaints. These conversations, in which everyone adds their own piece of bad news, on the one hand give a sense that "I'm not alone"; on the other, they make pessimism feel more real and inevitable for everyone. Settings where only problems are discussed and not a single small way out is ever voiced make hopelessness contagious.
Who Is Most Affected by Hopelessness About Current Events?
This feeling can affect anyone, but it is more frequent and intense in certain groups:
- Young people and young adults. For young people who have finished university but cannot find work, who cannot even dream of owning a home, and who cannot afford to move out of their parents' house, the future can look uncertain and threatening. We discussed this in detail in our article on worry about the future.
- Middle-aged parents. Those trying to cover their own living costs as well as the needs of their children and ageing parents may feel trapped.
- Retirees. People who worked and saved all their lives but find that their pension is not enough may feel betrayed and helpless.
- Those deeply interested in social issues. People sensitive to politics, human rights or the environment may experience developments that clash with their values more deeply.
- Those who have experienced depression before. A negative news agenda can trigger an existing vulnerability.
The Marks Hopelessness Leaves on Daily Life
Hopelessness about current events does not remain an abstract thought; it turns into concrete behaviour:
Postponed decisions. Decisions such as getting married, having children, changing jobs or starting a course are constantly put off with "Let things settle down first." But because the expected improvement never quite arrives, life feels as if it is on hold.
The fantasy of leaving. The thought "If I moved abroad, everything would be fine" is sometimes a realistic plan and sometimes a way of escaping hopelessness. A real plan requires research and concrete steps; an escape fantasy stops you investing in your current life but doesn't take you anywhere either.
Inability to enjoy things. Even when something good happens, a person may think, "How can I be happy in this climate?" Small joys start to seem meaningless.
Tension in relationships. Hopelessness can turn into anger towards those who think differently. Family members with different views are declared "guilty", and family meals become a battleground.
Physical fatigue. Constant lack of motivation, difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, changes in appetite and sleep.
Let's say a father in his forties, after watching the news every evening, tells his children: "Study, but what's the use? In this country even graduates are unemployed." He sees this as telling the truth. Yet his fifteen-year-old son concludes that studying is pointless and loses interest entirely after the LGS (Turkey's national high-school entrance exam). Adults' hopelessness shapes children's sense of the future too. This does not mean parents should hide difficulties; but in a child's world there is a big difference between saying "Yes, it's hard; still, your effort will pay off" and saying "Nothing means anything."
Rebuilding Hope While Staying Realistic
Rebuilding hope does not mean assuming everything is fine or ignoring problems. Realistic hope is being able to acknowledge difficulties while still seeing that something can be done.
Break the big picture into small pieces
The question "Will the country get better?" is too big for anyone to answer alone. Instead, ask yourself: "What can I do a little better in my own life this month? What small step can I take over the next six months?" Questions on a personal scale like these invite action rather than helplessness.
Catch thoughts that claim certainty
Words such as "nothing", "never", "everyone" and "always" are signs of a hopeless thought. When you catch such a thought, ask yourself: "Do I know this for certain, or is that how I feel?" Try rephrasing the thought in a more balanced way: "We're going through a very difficult period right now, and I don't know when some things will improve."
Choose an area where you can make a difference
The antidote to hopelessness is experiencing that you can change something, however small. Joining a solidarity network in your neighbourhood, supporting a student with a scholarship, doing the shopping for an elderly neighbour in your building, volunteering with a civil society organisation... These steps will not change the direction of the country on their own, but they will change your belief that "There's nothing I can do."
Review the conversations you take part in
Notice how you feel after conversations where the same complaints are repeated over and over. You don't have to stop talking about current affairs with your friends; but adding the question "So what can we do?" at the end of the conversation, or now and then planning get-togethers where current affairs aren't discussed at all, can shift the balance.
Don't put your life on hold
Even in uncertain times it is possible to keep living. Taking up a hobby, learning a language, investing in your health, spending meaningful time with the people you love are not things to be done "once things settle down". They are what make hard times bearable.
Remember the hard times in your own past
Hopelessness locks the mind into the present moment and makes it forget the difficulties that have been overcome before. Yet many of us have had periods in our lives when we thought "This is the end": an economic crisis, a job loss, a move, an illness. On a sheet of paper, write down such periods from your own life or your family's, and next to each one note what kept you going at the time. Perhaps it was a friend's support, perhaps sheer determination, perhaps an unexpected opportunity. Listening to stories about how grandparents got through difficult years has a similar effect. This list does not make today's difficulty smaller, but it makes your capacity to cope visible.
Don't neglect your body
A hopeless mood deepens with irregular sleep, inactivity and an unbalanced diet. Simple steps such as a half-hour walk each day, regular times for going to bed and getting up, and not skipping meals are like the foundation of your mood. These steps won't change the news agenda; but they make the mind that faces it more resilient.
Make room for stories that nourish hope
By its nature, the news feed gives more weight to negative events. Deliberately paying attention to stories of solidarity, small successes, and things that heal and are rebuilt helps restore balance in your mind. This is not distorting reality; it is trying to see the whole picture.
Hope is not being sure that everything will be fine; it is believing that, even amid uncertainty, you can take a meaningful step.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
Pessimism about current events is a feeling many people experience in difficult times. However, the following signs may indicate that hopelessness needs to be addressed with a professional:
- If for more than two weeks you have felt low, unmotivated and hopeless almost every day
- If you can no longer enjoy things you used to enjoy
- If there are marked changes in your sleep, appetite and energy levels
- If you are struggling to keep up with your work, relationships or daily responsibilities
- If thoughts such as "Life has no meaning" or "I'd be better off dead" are crossing your mind
This last point is especially important. If your sense of hopelessness has started to affect your will to live, it is important to share this with someone close to you and to see a professional without delay. If thoughts of harming yourself have intensified or you feel you are in immediate danger, call 112 (emergency services).
When the feeling of hopelessness lasts a long time and affects daily life, this picture may be related to depression. Seeking support in the area of depression and mood allows you to work through these feelings in a safe setting. To understand the feeling of hopelessness more generally, you can also read our article on feelings of hopelessness.
How Is Hopelessness About Current Events Addressed in Therapy?
The aim of therapy is not to belittle a person's real problems or to instil artificial optimism. The aim is to reduce the impact of hopelessness on the person's life and to open up room to move again.
Within cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), hopeless thoughts are identified and examined. What evidence the thought "Nothing will get better" rests on, what evidence it overlooks, and what consequences it has in the person's life are assessed together. The person learns to develop ways of thinking that are realistic but more balanced.
Behavioural activation is one of the effective ways of breaking the cycle of hopelessness. Without waiting for their mood to improve, the person plans small, meaningful activities. Over time these activities increase both energy and hope.
Working on values is also important. The person rediscovers what matters in their life and looks for ways of living in line with those values whatever the external conditions. This creates a space of meaning that the news agenda cannot dictate.
A schema-focused perspective helps some people understand why current events affect them so deeply. Core beliefs learned in childhood, such as "The world is dangerous" or "Whatever I do, nothing changes", can be revived by present-day events. Recognising these beliefs makes it easier for the person to understand their reactions today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is feeling hopeless about the news an overreaction?
No. Feeling pessimistic in the face of difficult social and economic conditions is an understandable reaction. What matters is how much this feeling affects your life. If you have become unable to make decisions, enjoy things or keep up with your daily tasks, you might consider seeking support.
If my hopelessness is based on facts, what can therapy do?
Therapy does not change the facts; but it can change how you relate to them. Under the same difficult conditions, some ways of thinking and acting wear a person down more. In therapy it is possible to recognise these patterns and grow stronger in the areas you can control.
Is thinking about moving abroad a sign of hopelessness?
Not always. Moving abroad can be a researched and planned life decision. But if the thought remains only an escape fantasy and stops you investing in your current life, it is worth addressing the hopelessness underneath.
How should I talk about current events in front of my children?
You don't need to hide the facts, but it is important to avoid pessimistic generalisations. Phrases such as "We're going through a difficult period, but as a family we're doing everything we can" give the child a message that is both honest and reassuring.
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Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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