ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Learned helplessness

Learned helplessness is when you learn to feel like you can't do anything to make a situation better. It can happen when you are in a difficult situation that seems like it will never end, like a bad relationship or a really hard job. Over time, your brain learns to give up and stops trying to make it better. This means that even when things get better, you may still feel like you can't make any changes.