[annoyedgrunt84]

What does this symptom look like, how does one recognize it in themselves and how does one overcome it?

[Fizzyo]

Hi Annoyedgrunt

In answer to your question, some psychologists say depression is learned helplessness in people and animals. Someone experiences a lot of situations in early life where they have no control so they learn that they can never change anything, even though as an adult, that is not entirely true.

Feel free anyone to shoot this definition down in flames, I'm not sure it's the full picture anyway, and maybe someone else can contribute. ...

Meanwhile I send warm hugs and wishes for whatever you're experiencing now.
Be kind to yourself, you deserve it.

[annoyedgrunt84]

Sometimes I just think that my biggest problem is that I'm to quick to throw up my hands and shout"This is impossible". I felt very strange earlier today I can't describe the feeling just a feeling like all of life is too much is the best way I can describe it.

[BBB2]

I think I have LH when it comes to finding full time work and hobbies. It's easier to think "I've no chance of succeeding, so I won't do anything. If I don't care then nothing can hurt me."
It's like paralysis.

[newday2020]

For me I think it came from being overprotected. I must of got the feeling "I can't do anything." It has taken a long time to overcome the feeling even when I was doing things.
i'm pretty good now and I enjoy doing things and working in my gardens etc.

Break out of the dibilatating feeling !!! You can do it!! Just keep going.

[newday2020]

I would encourage people to do the snap technique vital mentioned. It's simple and effective. You'll feel better when you realize you are doing things.

[annoyedgrunt84]

I'm pretty sure I was overprotected as well. Sometimes though I actually doubt my skills maybe this is where the concept of depressive realism comes in? I'm actually pretty sure I'm not up to the task at hand sometimes.

[annoyedgrunt84]

I also think that I'm growing tired of fighting with myself. It just seems like everything is a huge fight with myself I'm tired of it.

[AbsurdBlackBear]

Learned helplessness is when somebody has been through recurrent negative experiences to the point where they lose the will escape current and future negative experiences which they otherwise could. It is a sense, the breaking of the will.

It was discovered in an experiment with dogs. In the experiment two dogs were being electrically shocked and one dog had the ability to turn off the shock for both of them by hitting a lever while the other dog's lever didn't do anything. The dog that didn't have the ability to stop the shock showed signs of depression and feeling like it didn't have control over the situation.

Then the two dogs were put into an electrical box which they simply had to climb over a low bar to get out of. When it was turned on, the dog that had control in the first test simply got out of the box. The other dog stayed in the box and displayed the same symptoms as it did in the first experiment. They found that rewarding the dog or punishing the dog didn't change its behavior as far as leaving the box and the only way to teach it to leave was to move its legs in a motion that would make it leave and repeating this process a few times until it learned it could escape the box.

So basically when someone has learned helplessness, since they feel like they have no control either way and are use to the situation, they simply give up and allow it to happen to them.

[BBB2]

I felt overprotected at times too...hmm, makes me wonder if it's truly LH or a subconscious expectation that someone will do it all for me...
Is there a difference or am I just being stupid?

[newday2020]

well whatever you call it .......we can learn new ways. I wasn't taught as a child but now as an adult I can do things different. We can educate ourselves, encourage ourselves.

I have parts that need growing.......like in relationships.....
gotta believe it is possible.

Love to you all.......lets encourage one another.

Some physicians are slowly accepting that depression is not always a mental disease but rather a coping mechanism as a barrier of protection against things we cannot handle. Some get treatment never to have it again. Others it is a chemical imbalance in the brain for whatever reason, mostly inherited gene. People with depression, some have experienced great traumas in their life that has affected them to become depressed. And others just do not know the answers why. A good therapist and a Physiciatrist can help you be diagnosed and go from there. Don't be too hard on yourself. It is more frustrating i find to not know why you act a certain way then to know the answer why and then to deal with it. I hope this helps. Blessings.

[Fizzyo]

Originally Posted by BBB2

I felt overprotected at times too...hmm, makes me wonder if it's truly LH or a subconscious expectation that someone will do it all for me...
Is there a difference or am I just being stupid?

Not stupid, just wondering.

[cloudsurfer]

Interesting... I think this is what happens with addiction. The repeated failures eventually break the will to resist..at least, it feels that way.

However, depression is different. It feels like a serious restriction of the will in my case. I was unable naturally relate and no matter how much I "willed it" nothing would come of it. You may be able to will yourself out of the blues or a situational depression, but clinical depression is another beast.

Still, I wonder if after years of alternating depressions, could LH become another factor that further depletes psychic energy resources.

This is a good topic for me because I am exhibiting depression like symptoms (low energy, desire to isolate, cognitive slowness, forgetfulness, suicidal thoughts) yet I dont feel depressed. I have been wondering if I have just become acclimated to depression? Food for thought...