A state of giving up on oneself, often leading to reckless or self-destructive behavior. Commonly used in the phrase 自棄になる.
He is in despair after being rejected in love.
It's not good to turn to alcohol out of desperation.
desperation; despair; self-abandonment
From 自 (self) + 棄 (abandon). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji literally mean 'self-abandonment'.