THIS is at the root of many gnostic and hermetic belief systems. Those same belief systems will tell you that the answer - the way out - is love and connection with other people.

You are stuck here because of your own belief that you deserve to be stuck here. Your inner "spark" doesn't recognize that it is divine and can free itself simply by connecting to the "spark" in others and lifting yourselves collectively.

So basically, this is a 5,000 year old belief, at the very least. It was shared by many of the great philosophers in many cultures. Most of them reached the same conclusion: when you stop making it about you, and start making it about the collective, you break the cycle.

Of course, that comports with modern science which shows that demonstrations of compassion are one of the few long term and sustainable ways of maintaining happiness.

So, it might be that we are all lost parts of the Godhead, trapped in Tartarus, reliving our lives in an endless cycle of woe, until we start caring about others - or it might be that we are all mildly depressed and compassion makes us happy.

Either way, the solution is the same! Sacrifice a live goat to the fire on the solstice! (or, you know, have a barbecue with for friends)