What is the difference between despairing of Allah's mercy and despairing of Allah's Spirit, and which of them is more severe?

Scholars differ on the distinction between al-ya's (despair) and al-qunut (despondency). Some believe that al-ya's is more severe than al-qunut, citing that the Quran describes those with al-ya's as disbelievers (kufr), while describing those with al-qunut as astray (ḍalāl). Others hold that there is no difference between them, as misguidance and disbelief can coalesce. Some scholars are of the view that the difference lies in their attributes, not in their core meaning; thus, al-qunut from God's mercy is broader than al-ya's from God's spirit. The preponderant opinion is that there is a difference between al-ya's and al-qunut when they are mentioned together in wording: al-ya's is the absence of hope in the heart, while al-qunut is intense despair that manifests in a person's demeanor. However, when they are mentioned separately in wording, it appears they carry the same meaning.