The feeling of helplessness was achieved by the restrained rats and they were less capable of surviving further stress. These rats had lost their feeling of helplessness and regained their survivalist instinct. Studies have also shown in humans that a helplessness attitude caused by stress contributes to poor health. It has also been shown that poor health and a poor attitude contribute to increasingly poor health. This is why it is so important to keep a positive mental attitude during times of stress and illness.
Attitude is everything when it comes to fighting disease and depression.
Depression does not cause disease, it merely decreases effectiveness of the bodies own defenses in fighting disease. Helplessness explains the feeling that often arrives soon after the elderly are placed in nursing homes. Elderly are more likely to be prone to disease states when they have let their advancing age and changing living conditions and capabilities affect the way they look at life. It is difficult for the elderly to remain composed and keep the right attitude when the living environment changes quickly. Helplessness makes one feel as though they have absolutely no control over their own life.