Helplessness

Notes

Claim

Helplessness is when we don't feel any control over our lives, we feel that External influence constrains authentic identity and agency have complete power over us, determining our fate.

Explanation

To make things worse, that fate is filled with Uncertainty creates anxiety when knowledge and control are incomplete because the situation around us is ever changing. We don't know what will happen, we might (and probably will) suffer, and there's nothing we can do about it. We live in constant Fear is a primal survival emotion triggered by perceived danger of what future may bring.

We often get into a Harmful actions reinforce themselves through self-perpetuating feedback loops where we feel like a victim, we don't believe in our ability to change the situation, which leads us to do nothing, which in most cases worsens the situation. It's like wearing a blindfold, only capable of seeing darkness everywhere Optimism is choosing to believe outcomes can improve through action, a sign of despair.

Why it matters

In cases of helplessness, we seek what little control and certainty we can provide for ourselves, which is often a form of Escapism is withdrawing from difficulty through distraction and avoidance, to escape to a different world where things are better, even if they are fake.

Examples

For example, video games, drinking, TV, etc.

Supporters

Too many options can breed this same paralysis — when every path seems possible, none of them feels like ours to actually choose. Pessimism feeds it too, since treating the worst outcome as inevitable removes any reason to try changing it.

Opposers

Proactiveness is the direct rejection of this victim mentality — instead of waiting for circumstances to decide our fate, we take matters into our own hands and do what we can, however small, to change them.

Open questions

Visual