Learned Helplessness

The following quoted paragraphs are interesting explanations of a phenomenon, a term, that hit me in the middle of the night, one of those "aha!!" and "grab your flashlight and go to your journal" type moments.

" Learned helplessness is the condition of a human or animal that has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even though there are opportunities for it to help itself by avoiding unpleasant circumstances or by gaining positive rewards. Learned helplessness theory is the view that clinical depression and related mental illnesses may result from a perceived absence of control over the outcome of a situation.[1] Organisms that have been ineffective and less sensitive in determining the consequences of their behavior are defined as having acquired Learned Helplessness." (wikipedia)

"Learned helplessness has also been associated with several different psychological disorders. Depression, anxiety, phobias, shyness and loneliness can all be exacerbated by learned helplessness. For example, a woman who feels shy in social situations may eventually begin to feel that there is nothing she can do to overcome her symptoms. This sense that her symptoms are out of her direct control may lead her to stop trying to engage herself in social situations, thus making her shyness even more pronounced."(Pschyology.about.com)

ok, so I could just stop right there. The studies speak for themselves. But I'm suddenly realizing how this applies to my own condition in some ways, and how identifying this tendency of mine will help me to resist and overcome it. I don't need to get into details here, but I will simply close with this reminder from a previous post, and a song by Mandisa: I am an Overcomer in Christ Jesus. I can overcome this and many other obstacles. Step by step. Continue the journey, however dark and confusing and painful it may be sometimes. Thank you, Jesus.

 

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