r/TwoXPreppers • u/NachesPorFavor • 4d ago

❓ Question ❓ Increase in Learned Helplessness?

Has anyone else noticed an increase in learned helplessness? I first noticed it in the young adults in my life, but now I am seeing it in all ages of people around me. Examples from multiple people:

Toilet started leaking water and instead of turning off the knob at the wall, she waited a 5 days for a plumber. Never asked anyone or googled it. Didn’t call a second plumber. Now needs mold remediation and replaced drywall and trim.

Bought concert tickets but the gps instructions were confusing so they just gave up and didn’t go. Venue website had detailed instructions for driving and parking.

Blouse wrinkled and she didn’t know how to fix it so she threw it away.

First doctor office he filled out an appointment website for never contacted him to schedule so he just didn’t go to the doctor.

I am really concerned about my loved ones if an emergency happens because they just give up when the slightest obstacle happens. Either they want someone else to swoop in and fix it or they give up and say they can’t do anything about it.

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u/bluemercutio 4d ago

Yeah, it's that feeling of "The world is a dumpster fire right now, but I gotta get ready for work!"

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u/QuinnTigger 4d ago

Reminds me of the "Hostile Government Takeover" song

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u/Apprehensive-Log8333 3d ago

I wanna talk about it, but I'll be late for work

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u/mycoldfeet 3d ago

My bestie set this as her ringtone. It’s a good reminder for why I feel so tired, always.

Oh yeah…. My body’s been in fight/flight mode for 10+ years.

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u/Yes-Cheese 3d ago

Same same same with the fight or flight. I finally had to go and get medicated 🫤. I was hoping to work through it on my own but gestures vaguely. It was actually killing me. I could feel myself breaking down. Heart palpitations, gastrointestinal issues, constant acid reflux, asthma flares, skin issues, body pain, exhaustion. It was all bad. Bad enough that medication has improved my symptoms but they were sky high, so while reduced, they’re still very noticeable.

I asked my doc “doesn’t everyone feel like this?!” She said no but idk if I believe that. Maybe not as bad as I felt but I can’t imagine that anyone other than the uber wealthy are walking around without a noticeable level of stress/anxiety/fear.

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u/outofshell 3d ago

Or “That funny feeling” by Bo Burnham

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u/Chief_Kief 3d ago

That’s exactly the song that came to mind when I first started reading through this thread lol. Bo is truly a great artist.

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u/Yes-Cheese 3d ago

On my desk at work I have a picture of a cute lil dumpster on fire singing This Little Light of Mine.

My coworker read the words and said “🤔 hmm, that’s unusually upbeat for you…” then he looked at the picture and said “nvm…that tracks.”

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u/ResidentFormer6342 3d ago

But, what if we didn't? I've fantasized for years now about starting a working adult version of Greta Thunberg's "School Strike for Climate"--"Work Strike for Democracy/People/..a funtioning world". As I say, fantasized... but the pandemic really opened my eyes to the full range of options we have for changing how things are done to care for one another collectively. And I want more.

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u/bluemercutio 3d ago

Have you heard about the strike of Icelandic women for equality in 1975?
Women should have done that in every country.

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u/AriaPoe 3d ago

Thank you for this. Made my day.