Is Learned Helplessness A Mental Illness? So technically it's not a mental health condition. It cannot be diagnosed. Rather, learned helplessness could be viewed as a thinking disorder, such as all-or-nothing thinking or distortions. It's a problematic thought pattern that leads to mismatch. Although not a disorder in its own right learned helplessness can occur with or exacerbate other mental illnesses. It is usually associated with anxiety, depression, phobias, and loneliness. Several symptoms of learned helplessness, such as B. low motivation, a sense of loss of control, and low self esteem, overlap with depression and anxiety. For example, if someone is nervous while preparing for an important exam, they can take one of the following points of view: Helpful: This test is difficult, so I'll create a study plan and ask others for advice. Useless: This test is tough, so I'll probably fail no matter what I do. If they get a negative result, they can react in two ways: Helpful: The material was challenging, but now I know. what to expect and how to learn. Useless: I knew I wouldn't pass and now I feel stupid. It was a waste of time, there's no point in taking this exam again. With helpful thoughts, a person is better able to take action. You can look back critically and learn from what happened, which helps to solve problems. However, negative thought patterns have a sneaky way of rendering us powerless. When it's all out of our control or someone else's fault, there's little point in learning and trying again. Related Resource: https://www.bomberleatherjackets.com/product/mens-black-leather-aviator-jacket/