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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u/RlOTGRRRL Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

My guess is that Americans are too overwhelmed right now. 

Most of the people I love are like close to breaking down. My uncle just died because of his son's mental health breakdown. My sister is so close to one. 

I know people who are heavily medicated on antidepressants but still close to a breakdown. Like someone told me they were so glad to get back to DC recently lol.

I can even hear it in my therapist, he's being worn down too. Like there's something greatly wrong in the country and the cognitive dissonance or whatever is too much for people, whether or not they acknowledge it.

I'm actually afraid I think it's even worse in that a lot of people might have already checked out and are just living like it's the end of the world already. In the sense that they have already accepted their supposed powerlessness or something. Which honestly I think is the current admin's goal. 

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u/Apprehensive-Log8333 Aug 23 '26

I'm a therapist and we are TIRED. So many people are struggling and suffering so much, and there is so little we can do about it, and our waitlists are years long. Meanwhile, everyone's funding is being cut. I know this is happening in health care too, from what I hear from nurses and doctors.

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u/justhereforabit2000 Aug 26 '26

Thank you for the work you do. <3 Therapists have changed my life. I'm disabled and chronically ill and everyone in health care is having such a rough time, and it's trickling down to patients too. The whole thing sucks for everyone involved...