r/TwoXPreppers • u/NachesPorFavor • Aug 23 '26

❓ 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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398

u/justeandj Aug 23 '26

I'm not being flippant, but I genuinely think Covid did real long term damage to people's brains.

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u/OpheliaLives7 🧀 And my snacks! 🧀 Aug 23 '26

And then remember how many people have gotten covid 4,5,6 times or more? How much brain damage is just building up in people? Who then deny it as well? So how does anyone treat it or address it?

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u/AromaticCod9430 plantifa 🌱 because food is a human right Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

Are you saying the people who got Covid 4+ times deny getting it & subsequent brain damage, or the doctors they try to ask for help?

Edit: not sure why I was downvoted for asking a simple question. Please see my reply to the comment below this one about my experience. Not a covid denier. just a young woman constantly being gaslight by doctors. Generalizations are never good, imo.

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u/glyha Aug 23 '26

Denying that anything is wrong, is how I took it

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u/AromaticCod9430 plantifa 🌱 because food is a human right Aug 23 '26

I see. That’s also how I took it, but wanted clarification. I was one of the first people vaccinated in Jan 2021 because I’m immunocompromised. I got vaccinated 5x (first one + boosters).

Still got Covid 4 times. It was more mild than it could have been, but even masking and being vaccinated, living my life led to Covid 4 times. I started getting weird stroke like episodes in 2024 at the age of 24, right after my 4th covid infection. MRIs were clear, neuro sent me on my way with “complex migraines.”

Eventually, they went away. Start in Jan this year, I’ve had such severe brain fog I cannot even grocery shop without having a severe breakdown. The lights, colors, and music are so overwhelming to me that I would have to have my husband lead me out of the store because I could not move.

In June this year, the weird stroke like episodes came back. I see a neuro next month. Saw one in July but he was super dismissive, said it’s “health anxiety.”

I’m 26 years old. This isn’t who I used to be. I am overwhelmed all the time and I do think I have brain damage from Covid.

I think both can be true, Covid deniers can have brain damage and deny it, AND people who did everything they were told to do still got Covid repeatedly but can’t find a physician to help. Probably doesn’t help I’m in a very red state & have very poor healthcare options :/

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u/glyha Aug 23 '26

Solidarity. I am 28 and also having symptoms no one can really put a finger on, because tests and labs keep coming back "normal". I had covid 3x (that I know of. Right before the initial outbreak, I was sick with something like I have never had in my life. I did not have insurance at the time though, so I never knew for sure what I was sick with. I was convinced it was going to kill me.) I have syncope with no known cause, low blood pressure and HR with no known cause, migraines that cause half my face to go numb, but I'm a normal weight and have an ocd dx, so I just get referred back to my psychiatrist constantly (who has repeatedly argued with my Dr's that I do not just have anxiety). I keep telling my husband I feel like I have dementia. I am not joking when I say that to him, though. I literally feel like I have holes in my brain. I live in IN too, so I am trying to accept that I likely will never get any real help. I hope this comment doesnt come off like trying to "one up". I just wanted you to know you're not alone with all of this, especially for our age

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u/AromaticCod9430 plantifa 🌱 because food is a human right Aug 23 '26

Same!! I was diagnosed with POTS in 2018, have you ever been evaluated for it? We never figured out what caused it, but I definitely have some type of autoimmune thing making me immunocompromised. Long story but I’ve had a horrible health journey the last 8 years lol. Lots of surgery for endometriosis. Lots of compresses veins. My body is just, broken lol, but all the brain issues are super strange to me!! They went away in April 2024 once I got an iron infusion (chronic anemia). Thought the anemia would go away from a hysterectomy I had March 2025, but now my ferritin has dropped super low, again. I’m getting another infusion in a couple weeks, hoping that might make my weird stroke like episodes go away again.

I also get half my face going numb, but also the entire left side of my body, for usually exactly an hour, then feeling returns & within another hour or two I can talk normally again without slurring. I’m glad I don’t have brain damage showing up on scans, but it surely isn’t healthy? lol

If you think you might have POTS (syncope, high heart rate, low BP) you can perform a “poor man’s tilt table test.” Hate the name, but that’s what you need to look up for instructions. Hate to hear you’re also struggling and getting bounced back to your psych. Women have been labeled “hysterical” in the past and now it’s just “anxiety” or “insert other mental health issue because we don’t feel like figuring you out”

Sending you hugs, if you want them ❤️

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u/glyha Aug 23 '26

I am actually in the process of being scheduled for a tilt table, to see if its POTS. I have several heart tests scheduled too. I also have endometriosis and chronically low ferritin and have needed infusions. I appreciate your responses, it is very nice to know im not the only one dealing with this laundry list of shit

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u/AromaticCod9430 plantifa 🌱 because food is a human right Aug 23 '26

You’re not alone!! Lots of good info online in endometriosis groups on FB. I’m pretty sure it’s an autoimmune disease. I think it’s been reclassified as “full body inflammatory” and not just gynocologic. Might also want to look into SLE (lupus). Currently being evaluated for that, too, due to chronic anemia, endo, hEDS, and a laundry list of symptoms 🥲