With this mindset, a person may feel trapped and trapped in their situation, resulting in a loss of freedom.
Seligman's aforementioned research has shown that impotence can be learned. In his famous experiment with dogs subjected to electric shocks, dogs who were taught they could do nothing to stop the shock turned into sleeping dogs.
These puppies were put on the power grid, helpless, while receiving the shocks. Later, when dogs were given the opportunity to escape cruelty, only 33% of them learned to escape or avoid it.
Despair Symptoms
Symptoms of impotence include feelings of depression, cognitive deficits in learning, signs of stress in the body, weight loss, norepinephrine depletion, and negativity.
However, in research by Seligman (and many others who have studied impotence), impotence was not as pronounced as initially thought.
Other Impotence Research
In 1974, Hiroto conducted an impotence research experiment with people using exposure to unpleasant sounds. The main finding was that the subjects did not actually need to experience loss of control to feel helpless – they only needed to believe that they were helpless and lacking in control.
Jack Brem added another layer to this phenomenon, which he introduced as interaction theory. In this theory, Brehm stated that when an individual expects freedom in a particular area, the loss of freedom increases a person's motivation to establish freedom.
interactive exploration
This raises the question of why reactivity is not always a person's initial response to helplessness.
First, the person must reasonably expect to be in control and/or to feel free. Invoking greater interaction requires greater certainty towards control/freedom, more strength against threat, importance of threat, ramifications of control/freedom to other realms, and much more.
Second, Wortman and Bremm later concluded that interaction is a person's initial response after losing their sense of control or freedom. Impotence is the result of loss of control/freedom for a prolonged period.
Thus, if we experience an interaction, we can expect to regain control and freedom through motivational reinforcers. However, if exposure to the powerless situation is persistent and persistent, our choices will continue to narrow and confidence in regaining our control/freedom will be lost.
Three strategies to deal with the deficit
Taylor's research on breast cancer patients suggests that three coping strategies help gain greater control and influence against impotence.
1. In search of meaning
Patients searched for an explanation or reason surrounding their condition and tried to understand the "why" behind their suffering.
During this process, patients often reorganize their personal priorities so that their personal lives are more fulfilling and useful.
2. Develop a sense of mastery
In response to cancer, patients have adopted belief systems and developed various psychological techniques that can be used to combat cancer recurrence or at least combat the stress associated with it.
3. Self-improvement
Patients often searched for ways to feel better about themselves, often choosing role models who were "worse" as inspiration.
Have a goal against the handicap
Although not mentioned in the literature, one coping strategy that I found useful (as a caregiver for my parents) was to find something meaningful to do and use that as a goal to reach.
It's not always clear what we do in stressful situations. However, every thought counts, even if it's something as small as repeating a spell in your mind or appreciating your surroundings. There is always "something" you can do.
My personal example
My father had cancer for a little over two years. Since cancer spread to the brain, he often had times when he couldn't really walk.
Before cancer, my dad and I took evening walks on weekdays and early morning walks on weekends. When he started receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy, he often spoke of his desire to return to the mountains.
Even though some days he wasn't even able to get out of bed without me picking him up, getting back into the mountains became a goal that kept our hope alive and had something to defend.
We were focused on what he could do every day to get closer to that goal. When he can get up and walk, we'll take a short walk around the building.
On his worst days, I would massage his legs and help him move and stretch occasionally until he had at least some movement inside them. Even when he was in a wheelchair and had to rely on oxygen, I pushed him in his wheelchair while my partner carried his oxygen cylinder to remind my dad that we had a goal to achieve.
Whatever its position, we will look for a way to get it out or move it.
Ideas and last meals
Viktor Frankl, the author of In Man's Search for Meaning, recounted how Jews in concentration camps often gathered together to pray. They also told each other stories to feel a little comfortable again. They tried to make the best of their situation and you can too.
Feeling helpless can affect our mental, physical and emotional health. It is often linked to depression and other mental health issues.
It's distant and boring. People with chronic illnesses, abuse, poverty, injuries/accidents (and others) are most affected by feelings of helplessness.
Whatever your situation, there is always something in your power, even if this feeling of power is tiny compared to the control/freedom you wish to regain.
Small steps lead to big leaps.
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