So I was recently asked what my biggest fear was, and I honestly couldn't think of anything. Sure I get spooked at stuff every once in a while, but nothing like a fear.
So after a while I got to thinking about it, and finally realize that what i'm most afraid of is being helpless. Not helpless like you usually think and being helpless for yourself, but being helpless to do anything for other people.

Imagine something like you're with friends or family, and you leave for a minute, and while you're gone someone breaks in and starts hurting them. Imagine you know this is going on, but you can't do anything to stop it.
So is there a name for this? Does anyone else have this?
Any opinions would be great.

---

Oh and btw, this doesn't just apply to a break-in, it can be anything from a car accident to a natural disaster.

Well I have no idea if it has a certain scientific name or anything, but your post made me think that it's human nature to avoid being helpless. I mean this feeling of helplessness is not pleasant at all but I never got the chance to think about it, and honestly I think other things frighten me more than this. So your concern might have an explanation if it is that severe. But perhaps it's just because you love your family and friends so much? Or maybe because your loved ones are your weakness, and this fact is making you believe that the idea of helplessness can be that bad and because of this, if anything ever happens it would be your fault if you couldn't do anything about it. But in fact it wouldn't, I don't think you should take it this personal. Just take a moment and think of the reasons behind this fear.

Keep us updated.
Best of luck!

(07-16-2012 05:26 AM)nour Wrote:  Well I have no idea if it has a certain scientific name or anything, but your post made me think that it's human nature to avoid being helpless.

Thanks for your reply nour,
the thing about this, is that i've never had that fear of my own helplessness. It's always been for others. And not just my family and friends, but anybody. It's just if i were to see something happening, but be completely unable to intervene, and come out just fine myself, but the others wouldn't be ok. That's what it is.

So you feel guilty if you and other people were in the same situation and they got hurt but you didn't? But you know sometimes you got to save yourself first, so I guess you're just afraid of being selfish if you were ever put in a situation like that and then the feeling of guilt will always haunt you. I'm not sure what is the reason, but whatever it is i think many people feel the same way and maybe some haven't thought about it yet that's why it's not talked about much.

(07-16-2012 05:54 AM)nour Wrote:  So you feel guilty if you and other people were in the same situation and they got hurt but you didn't? But you know sometimes you got to save yourself first, so I guess you're just afraid of being selfish if you were ever put in a situation like that and then the feeling of guilt will always haunt you. I'm not sure what is the reason, but whatever it is i think many people feel the same way and maybe some haven't thought about it yet that's why it's not talked about much.

Thanks again, that may be it, but honestly, i don't know. but the main reason i posted this was just to find out if anybody else had ever felt this, and preferably a name, but i guess i'll just see what time will tell.

I can remember having thoughts like that but not to the extent that it caused me concern.

I will search around and see if that fear has a name