I was pondering this today and hope someone can help or I'll feel totally useless.
A scientist conducts an experiment, he puts a dog in a cage, starts poaking him with an electric prong, The poor old dog puts up a fight at first but when he discovers he's getting no where he gives up, The scientist keeps poaking the poor old dog but the poor old dog doesn't even try any more..
Compare this to life, If you are in a relationship/career that isn't working or have an illness like Anxiety or Depression, at first you give it a try, you discover its not working, you maybe try again, still no joy, you eventually give up and just accept feeling totally helpless,depressed,frustrated etc you may eventually be able to summon up the courage to try again using the likes of this programme but the attempt is doomed from the start because the subconcious is in control, it is automatically expecting failure due to the previous attempts, so you sabotage the attempt by not giving it your all, the attempt fails thus strengthening the subconcious and thus leading to a greater learned helplessness.
I need help to get my life on track again.
Learned Helplessness?
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Guest
I can relate to how you feel. Been there, done that, however, We can re program our thought process. It happens every day. Our brains can only concentrate on one thing at a time. If we keep telling it that everything is bad, we actually act in a way that attracts sad and gloomy events. Example: If you don't think someone likes you. your body language, facial expressions and actions are totally different than when you feel someone does like you. Think about how you feel and act during those good moments and act that way towards the people you don't think like you. You will find that they are kinder to you, because you are kinder to them and they feel safe with you. Hope this helps.
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Guest
Hey Pear -
I understand your metaphor, and certainly think that we've all gone through times where we felt this way. That said, none of us are helpless. Whether it's this program, or therapy or medication, or all of the above, we have options.
We can turn our lives around.
Right now, I'm unemployed and waiting to hear about a new job. That's making me anxious. Then there's a consulting job that I'm doing, which is making me anxious. Plus, my OCD is acting up. All of these things are difficult to deal with but I am consciously choosing to not give in to the anxiety.
The danger with most anxiety disorders is that the more you give in to your symptoms, the smaller your life becomes. I see myself as maintaining the boundaries of my life and giving into fear - though it happens to all of sometimes - would be to give up territory.
I hope you feel better.
I understand your metaphor, and certainly think that we've all gone through times where we felt this way. That said, none of us are helpless. Whether it's this program, or therapy or medication, or all of the above, we have options.
We can turn our lives around.
Right now, I'm unemployed and waiting to hear about a new job. That's making me anxious. Then there's a consulting job that I'm doing, which is making me anxious. Plus, my OCD is acting up. All of these things are difficult to deal with but I am consciously choosing to not give in to the anxiety.
The danger with most anxiety disorders is that the more you give in to your symptoms, the smaller your life becomes. I see myself as maintaining the boundaries of my life and giving into fear - though it happens to all of sometimes - would be to give up territory.
I hope you feel better.