Are You A Victim Of Learned Helplessness?

Today's post is a little different..exploring the idea of "learned helplessness." This behavior phenomenon was discovered by two psychologists who conducted a series of experiments in animals a few decades ago. There were three groups of dogs in the study; two of the groups were trained to overcome a painful stimulus by different means, while the third group did not receive any of this training. In the next phase of the testing, all of the dogs were subject to this stimulus while in a confined environment. The first two groups of dogs used the skills they had learned previously, while the third group did nothing because they believed that there was nothing they could do to prevent this unpleasantry.

This behavior can be observed in humans as well--those who try to quit smoking, lose weight, go back to school, get a new job, etc. Some people have the skills to overcome the obstacles and succeed in these ventures, while others just sulk in their "learned helplessness" because they believe there is nothing they can do to overcome their struggles.

In the world of chronic pain, we sometimes see people fall victim to their respective circumstances in this way. My mother used to say "Quitters never win...but winners never quit." And all I can say to sum it up is...she was right!

So I say to the same to you today...don't give up. It's not easy to feel optimistic after failed therapies or progression of disease. Keep fighting the good fight, and don't lose hope. 😍😍😍

Sources: VeryWell.com;Pixabay

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