8,295,623,810…
As of 28th May 830 PM KST that is the population of the world!
Even then you will find somebody who is all alone and well, more accurately Lonely. Then again even amongst them you will find those who have reached at such a level of stress in their life that even when they know what to do; they simply do not do anything!
The technical term is called Learned Helplessness…
If you listen to the talk by Robert Sapolsky about Learned Helplessness then you will get the medical version!
Stanford neurobiologist Dr. Robert Sapolsky utilizes the psychological framework of learned helplessness to bridge the gap between chronic environmental stress and the neurological mechanics of major clinical depression!
Sapolsky focuses heavily on the underlying biology and explains how a lack of control and predictability over stressful events fundamentally rewires the brain, destroying motivation and the capacity for joy!
Learned helplessness occurs when an organism is subjected to repeated, uncontrollable stressors.
The subject transitions from trying to cope to realizing that nothing they do alters the outcome! They become so frustrated with a small failure after failure than they simply stop trying!
It becomes a point when the mantra or in this case, the curse becomes’ “What is the point?”
In the novel ‘Why Zebra don’t get ulcers’ Sapolsky translates this psychological state into cellular neuroscience, specifically highlighting how chronic stress damages brain architecture!
Uncontrollable stress causes a massive, sustained release of cortisol (and other glucocorticoids). High levels of these hormones over long periods are toxic to neural structures especially the hippocampus which is responsible for learning and memory.
Prolonged exposure physically atrophies dendrites here. This impairs an individual’s ability to cognitively process new contexts, anchoring them to past helplessness!
You also have Dopamine Depletion and also in a state of learned helpless
ness, the brain depletes its norepinephrine reserves, leading to psychomotor retardation! This is the term where simple physical and cognitive tasks require immense effort!
Sapolsky views major depression as the ultimate pathological extension of learned helplessness. He argues it is a profoundly biological disorder—comparable to juvenile diabetes—rather than a failure of personal willpower!
Now tackling this head on is a complex problem which needs proper and ‘EXPERT’ measure but like how simple small steps can cause it to develop; simple small successes consistently done over a period of time can actually reverse the process!
Robert suggests many methods including exercise and meditation! Even a silent prayer can work wonders!
Or simply watch an old movie! I would recommend Maya Bazaar! Do check out who plays Shri Krishna in the movie!
SHubh ratri…remember as Michael says; “You are not ALONE!”…
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