Learning helplessness often carries anxiety and depression. It is also proven that it doesn't come from no where. It's a learned behavior: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness

If the dog knows that it is going to get shocked, but believes it cannot get away it will huddle in the corner and wait for the shock. The dog's anxiety goes up. Anxiety an emotion that is physiological based. Once that fear is there, it is easy to generalize the fear. Any situation that resembles the situation with the shock causes that dog to be scared and for his anxiety to rise. This is a useful device to keep people in line. I agree, LibertyBelle that there are traits in one's personality that would make an individual more susceptible to learning this behavior, though.

However, On did something remarkable. Like the 1/3 dogs that learned they could get away from the shocks, On learned that his previous experiences don't need to define him.

I think this is very hard to struggle with because as you get older the behavior only gets reinforced. It is even harder when you're experiencing delusions that constantly tell you that you're evil, you're bad, etc...But it also shows that it's possible to accept those feelings of inferiority and reshape your cognitive perspective to acknowledge that maybe you aren't the best, but you are valued. (In whatever context that may be)

It's known that quality of life can change depending on how you view yourself. It's also shown that optimists live longer lives. (...but this is hard to pinpoint because there are so many factors that can determine how long you live...the idea is optimists are more willing to be more proactive in their healthcare)

I consider myself a 'recovering pessimist'. I tend to see the worst in situations/very critical of people, but I've stopped myself from worrying about those thoughts.