I think I’ve written about this general topic in years past. However, it seems to always be useful to review, and this may be a slightly new application.
My sense of overwhelm–whether it appears as a depression (total lack of hope) or as anxiety–comes most often when I don’t put personal spiritual progression at the top of my priority list.
Better said, when my focus on prayer and scripture study lacks for an extended period of time, my mental distraction goes absolutely bonkers.
It’s interesting to consider what the non-religious solution to this type of thing are (excessive anxiety, etc.): meditation (a God-less version of prayer, although arguably it could be considered self-apotheosis (rather than God-less), which would be extremely premature (and immature)).
Is there value to meditation, yes. But can you get more out of prayer? Arguably yes (and in less time). For an explanation of this, see 1 Kings 18: 17-39. A God who answers is infinitely more useful than a god (or plural, as the -im in Baalim suggests) who doesn’t.
So, when it comes to living what I know, I have to (regardless of how hectic my life seems (or how hectic I’ve made it) focus on prayer and study first in the day, or I lose the plot and focus of the day, and I break down and become a disaster.
Does this work in every case, for everyone? Maybe not.
But it’s been true for me every time I start falling apart.