self-despair
Loathing one's existence
Self-despair is a state of hopelessness directed inward—losing faith in one's own worth, abilities, or future.
It goes beyond ordinary disappointment to a deeper conviction that one is beyond help or improvement: He sank into self-despair after the third rejection.
The term emphasizes that the despair originates from and targets the self rather than external circumstances.
Profound loss of hope
- desolationState of complete emptiness
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
- wretchednessExtreme unhappiness or distress
desperation · bleakness · emptiness · forlornness · dejection · gloom · sorrow · melancholy
Lack of any value
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- inferiorityLower status or quality
inadequacy · regret · remorse · brooding · catastrophizing · spiraling
Lack of purpose
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- defeatVictory over another
surrender · pessimism · fatalism · nihilism · demoralization · discouragement · disheartenment · apathy
Probing one's innermost feelings
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- meditationFocused attention practice
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
- musingReflective contemplation
despondency
Profound loss of hope
- desolationState of complete emptiness
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
wretchedness · desperation · bleakness · emptiness · forlornness · dejection · gloom · sorrow · melancholy · torment
worthlessness
Lack of any value
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
inferiority · inadequacy · regret · remorse · brooding · catastrophizing · spiraling
futility
Lack of purpose
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
defeat · surrender · pessimism · fatalism · nihilism · demoralization · discouragement · disheartenment · apathy · paralysis
soul-searching
Probing one's innermost feelings
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- meditationFocused attention practice
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
self-despairself-confidence
Faith in one's capabilities
self-assurance · self-belief · self-esteem · self-love · self-worth
self-despairself-love
Prioritizing your own worth
self-acceptance · self-compassion · self-satisfaction · self-forgiveness · inner peace
self-despairself-belief
Trust in one's capabilities
self-efficacy · hopefulness · empowerment · inner strength · resilience
self, despair, desperate, selfless, despairing, hopelessness, despaired, selfhood, despairingly