A mental or emotional state in which a person willingly sacrifices all hope for their personal dreams and future goals. Often brought on by prolonged disappointment, harsh reality, or existential disillusionment, despartum marks the moment one lets go—not out of laziness, but as an act of surrender to what they perceive as inevitable failure or futility.
"After years of rejection letters, Chris entered a full-on despartum and stopped submitting his novel altogether."
by Gardens.Psyche May 13, 2025