I was diagnosed with double depression (dysthimia and major depression) about 4 years ago. When I was really at my worst, I was in an Intensive Outpatient Program and in the program had group therapy. Right away I felt different - out of place. Here were all these people who were severely depressed, and yet they had hope - actually looked forward to things - wanted to get better. That was when I understood what was meant by double depression and hopelessness. Even depressed people can have some hope, but when a person has absolutely no hope at all for another day...... Hard to recover from this and I'm still in that place.