It can be all consuming at first. If you have any activities that you like that are physical (even just walking), they can help clear your mind and allow you to keep your focus when you need it (mostly).
Hope is a positive thing. If you truly have no hope for your life (not specifically your M) you may as well stop breathing. I will tell you that early on all my hope was for my M and that over time that has transformed. That doesn't mean I don't have hope for my M, it just means my focus has changed.
GAL takes time and practice. There were times I didn't really want to get out and do things, yet I went anyway. Funny, some of those were the best times.
