Hopelessness is the feeling that nothing can be done by anyone to make the situation better. People may accept that a threat is real, but that threat may loom so large that they feel the situation is hopeless. Helplessness is the feeling that they themselves have no power to improve their situation.
You may believe that your mood will never changeβthat you will always feel depressed. Or you may feel hopeless about ever finding a rewarding relationship or about achieving other goals that you think are essential.