Reply #8: Good question.

[CBHagman]

I don't have a pat answer because I struggle with very deep discouragement (some of it brought on by world events and politics, some not!). And I'm not equipped to play professional here. But the following are helpful to me:

1. Find out which people in your life bring you up and be sure to appreciate them.
2. Watch out for pessimists, even and perhaps especially people you love, because you can absorb their approach and aggravate your sorrow/discouragement.
3. Find something you enjoy and that takes you out of yourself, whether it's movies, a sport, art, your animals, whatever. It will ease the pressure.
4. Google the term "cognitive distortions," read the list of what comes up, and watch for them in your own thoughts. In short, cognitive distortions are all the ways we unnecessarily torture ourselves -- through our own minds. Knowing how you're thinking and what it's doing to you will help.
5. Exercise in whatever way you can. It is one of nature's antidepressants.
6. I wouldn't tell you to avoid the news (I'm an information addict myself), but take a break when necessary.
7. As lame as this sounds, I remind myself of all the tragedies our ancestors went through -- famines, storms, wars, pogroms, expulsion, persecution, financial catastrophe, etc. -- and remind myself that it must have seemed like the end of everything then, too. Courage and resilience and survival are very real and precious things.
8. Harness your anger in the best possible way. Instead of hating, be determined to put your ideals into action. Be determined to survive and thrive.

This is how I'm trying to learn to live.