Fear exposure

Helpless

Strength 3 of 4

Caught in a moment of threat to yourself or someone you care about, with no way to stop it or protect against it, left watching it happen.

In the body

  • Hands stopping mid-movement
  • Eyes fixed on what is happening
  • A tight, trapped feeling in the chest

Needs behind it

When these needs aren’t met

EffectivenessChoiceSupport

Softer and stronger

  1. Shaky
  2. Vulnerable
  3. Fragile
  4. Helpless

Often confused with

Frozen

Frozen is fear locking the body in place in the moment; helpless is the sense that nothing you do could change what is happening.

Powerless

Helpless is being unable to stop or protect against a threat in the moment; powerless is a lasting sense of having no say over what happens.

See also

AfraidPanicked

Faux feelings that can hide this

BulliedManipulatedOverpoweredVictimised