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Bozo · 05-21-2006, 05:49 PM

Well I found out my Tae Kwon Do(TKD) master is also a counselor.

Here is what happened. Friday was a very rainy day. As I was driving around doing my repair work, I noticed there was a TKD class being taught at the dojang(training hall). I've only been once in the last 4 months and I have really been isolating again.

So I decided I would pop in for 10 minutes and say hi. I couldnt do it. I had all these fears and anxieties, ie. what will people say, will they make fun of me? What if I am not welcomed? What if I am ignored? An on and on.

I talked myself out of visiting people that care about me. I know intellectually that this is crazy thinking on my part, but my emotionally charged side dictated to me how I was going to handle the moment, and I could not bring myself to stop for a visit.

This upset me to the point that I emailed the Master and told him what happened. He emailed me back and said I have something called Learned Helplessness. He said it is very common with people that suffer from clinical depression. As I do.

I am totally blown away. All the years I have talked to counselors, therapists, psychologists about how I feel and deal with situations not one of them ever mentioned Learned Helplessness.

Well I Googled Learned Helplessness and now I finally feel I have a specific item and goal I can go to therapy for.

What is this? When the student is ready, the teacher will appear?

05-21-2006, 05:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bozo On The Bus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brattleboro, Vt. Posts: 475	"Learned Helplessness" Well I found out my Tae Kwon Do(TKD) master is also a counselor. Here is what happened. Friday was a very rainy day. As I was driving around doing my repair work, I noticed there was a TKD class being taught at the dojang(training hall). I've only been once in the last 4 months and I have really been isolating again. So I decided I would pop in for 10 minutes and say hi. I couldnt do it. I had all these fears and anxieties, ie. what will people say, will they make fun of me? What if I am not welcomed? What if I am ignored? An on and on. I talked myself out of visiting people that care about me. I know intellectually that this is crazy thinking on my part, but my emotionally charged side dictated to me how I was going to handle the moment, and I could not bring myself to stop for a visit. This upset me to the point that I emailed the Master and told him what happened. He emailed me back and said I have something called Learned Helplessness. He said it is very common with people that suffer from clinical depression. As I do. I am totally blown away. All the years I have talked to counselors, therapists, psychologists about how I feel and deal with situations not one of them ever mentioned Learned Helplessness. Well I Googled Learned Helplessness and now I finally feel I have a specific item and goal I can go to therapy for. What is this? When the student is ready, the teacher will appear? __________________ Signature made by my son Alex.