Learned hopelessness

Learned helplessness, also called learned helplessness, is the condition of someone who behaves passively because they have learned it that way. In this way, this person He thinks that he can’t do anything in the face of all types of adverse situations, when he could overcome most of them.

This difficulty has been related to depression and other mental disorders that lead the patient to reaffirm the idea that there is no solution to your problemsdespite the fact that the real scenario is different.

What is learned hopelessness?

Learned hopelessness or learned helplessness It is the result of negative or aversive stimuli, generally uncontrollablewhich lead to a lack of initiative on the part of those who suffer from it.

Therefore, it is not stress that causes hopelessness to develop, but rather the inability to control the motor that triggers that stress. This dynamic arises, therefore, often in families with very authoritarian parents, whose children end up accepting all kinds of situations (also outside the home), because they feel that it will not be worth trying to control them.

This endurance of negative situations not only generates the inability to take initiative; We often encounter people who are not able to learn new behaviors. Their state will be demotivated and relaxed, even if they are not mentally calm.

What causes learned hopelessness?

As its name indicates, this state is “learned”; As humans, we tend to cautiously study the consequences of our actions, discarding behaviors that lead to negative consequences and embracing those that lead to positive consequences.

This may seem beneficial, but it is not always. For example, when a child fails a math test and knows that a good reprimand awaits him at home, that will not mean he will begin to pass; Instead, he will begin to look for ways to avoid attending exams, and will believe that he is not skilled in that subject.

If the situation persists, the child would be exposing himself to a continuous loop of anxiety and sadness, a condition closely related to depression (and possibly leading to it).

How to address the symptoms?

To try to control and cure this disorder, It is very important to go to a specialist to advise us on what is happening to us and how we can address it.. We should never self-diagnose, no matter how obvious the symptoms are.

As a complement to a treatment or exercises recommended by a psychologist or psychiatrist, we can help ourselves progress by following some guidelines:

Involve your loved ones: If you suspect that you or a loved one suffers from learned hopelessness, don’t hide it. They may be the cause of your problem, and you need joint therapy; If they are not, they will certainly support you on your path to a cure.Put your emotions in writing: You can write a diary, or simply write down in a note on your phone how you feel in specific situations. Rereading those lines can make you discern between a reasonable and unreasonable cause of stress.Take on challenges that you know are solvable: Given the uncertainty that can be suffered due to the uncontrollable consequences of some actions, consider challenges whose resolution you know is possible. It may seem ridiculous, but your self-esteem and initiative will improve.Always ask yourself three things when faced with a problem: How can I avoid it? What have I learned from this situation? Are there other solutions that I haven’t considered? Faced with a problem that has already occurred and ended, it is useful to imagine a scenario in which it has not yet ended, to think without stress about the solutions we would give it.think of you: many times, people are learned helplessness, they have disconnected from themselves and have neglected themselves, thinking more about the consequences of their actions and pleasing others. It is important to reflect on yourself and take a moment to be alone every day.

It is essential to be patient

Learned helplessness has a cure, and although it seems complex and impossible, we will always have help. Whether it is from a professional, or the support of a family member or friend, we are not alone.

It is important, in turn, to be patient. Understand that a learned behavior, probably since childhood, is not easy to cope with and overcome; Don’t be unfair to yourself and give yourself the time you deserve.

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