Hello sinking: I'm sorry you are still in such a dark place. Yes... I agree with you that, while practices such as distraction & mindfulness can certainly be beneficial, there is a limit to their ability to heal. Distraction merely diverts attention from the pain for short periods of time. And mindfulness, while it can be a powerful tool, is a long-term process. It can take years of consistent practice for it to have really serious impact. And when one is at the bottom of the dark pit, summoning the energy to commit to mindfulness practice can be overwhelmingly difficult.

I once read a quote on the internet that said: "Nothing is impossible for the person who doesn't have to do it." I don't have any suggestions to offer you in terms of how to get out of that dark place you're in. I have some sense of what it's like, having been there a few times myself.

There is a quote I love, from a book by author / educator Parker J. Palmer (A Hidden Wholeness- The Journey Toward an Undivided Life): "...there is in life a suffering so unspeakable , a vulnerability so extreme that it goes far beyond words, beyond explanations and even beyond healing. In the face of such suffering all we can do is bear witness so that no one need suffer alone." (Pg. 158) I hope you have persons in real life who are there to bear witness so you need not suffer alone. But if not, please know that there are many members, here on PC, who are here for you.