Yup, recessions are bad, and this is the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression. I presume things pick up from recessions because for each person who loses stuff, and has to sell their assets for cheap, there's someone with some savings who can buy up cheap assets, and make some money out of them later one way or another. Also labour becomes cheaper as supply outstrips demand. Between those two, things pick up.
Of course, most of the developed world is going to have a horrid time coming out of this recession because government and private debt is so high. Governments are going to have to massively hike taxes, and slash spending, either when it's "safer", or when they are forced to do so or default on their debt.