Having Hope!

An Electronic Mental Health Newsletter from Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D., P.A. & Associates                              Volume 19, Number 1

Having Hope!

One of my patients very recently told me in her session that “hope is back”. She was referring to President Trump’s inauguration and plans for the country. This led me to think about what she really meant.

We have lived in a very anxious and divided society and many of our patients have expressed pessimism, anger, and frustration. We have been exhausted emotionally, and the high stress levels have affected us physically.

One of the best ways to overcome these feelings is to have hope. While this may sound very simple, those who survive and excel are those who are optimistic and believe that things will turn out for the better.

Hopefulness can be found even in the worst of circumstances. Viktor Frankl, a neurologist and psychiatrist, wrote the seminal book “Man’s Search for Meaning”. Frankl was a medical student in the 1920s and over the years treated thousands of patients.

Frankl was arrested with his family when the Nazis came to power and was sent to four concentration camps. While in the camps, he tried to address the despondency and prevent suicide attempts by encouraging other inmates to visualize good past memories and have positive thoughts.

Frankl believed that even in the worst conditions, life had meaning, and people could escape these conditions through searching for meaning in their lives. This path allows people to be hopeful and tolerate negative situations.

Dr. Kimmel’s latest blog, Thoughts About Self-Care, can be found here.

We hope you find the enclosed information helpful and interesting. We also thank you for reading our e-Letters and for the comments and messages of support we’ve received.

KimmelPsychology is available for anyone in need of support, counseling, professional coaching, and psychological assessments. We practice telehealth and safe, in-office visits. For an appointment, call us at 954 755-2885. Se Habla Español.

We offer the following information:

HAVING HOPE!

We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed… Viktor Frankl

WHAT TO KNOW!

Hope has been described as the expectation that one will have positive experiences or that a negative situation will result in something favorable

Hope can be a defense against developing anxiety and depression

Despite how adverse situations may be, hope can often endure

Belief and expectation are the key elements of hope; they can actually block pain in patients suffering from chronic illness by releasing endorphins

Hopefulness can give a person a sense of control when feeling powerless and can motivate a person to be successful in whatever they do

People with high hopes tend to view stressful situations as challenging rather than threatening, thereby lessening stress

The biggest risks to being hopeful is the inability to achieve the desired goals and ruminating over past unsuccessful endeavors

WHAT TO DO!

Eat better and get enough sleep

Don’t take situations that do not affect you personally

Stop watching the news and depressing movies

Actively change your thinking to view life as good and worthwhile

Use mindfulness exercises to reduce overall stress

Add physical exercise to improve brain functioning which also decreases stress

Create enough time in your day as people who have free time report feeling happier

Recognize your negative thinking and replace it with positive self-statements

See friends and family to prevent loneliness and increase happiness

Seek professional help if you have difficulty finding hope

 
WE PRACTICE BOTH IN-OFFICE AND TELEHEALTH; WE CAN HELP!
Call us at 954 755-2885 or email us at [email protected]
                               Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D. P.A. and Associates
                                5551 N University Drive, Suite 202
                                Coral Springs FL 33067

As always, we are interested in your thoughts. If you would like to respond to this e-Letter, email your comments to [email protected] and we will publish them next month.

Till February…

The information provided in this electronic newsletter is not a substitute for professional treatment. It is the opinions of the writers and is provided solely for educational purposes. For mental health care, seek a qualified professional.

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Copyright © 2025 by Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D. P.A. and Associates.