Feeling Wheel
What feeling helpless is like
Feeling helpless means you can't act, change things or protect yourself or someone you care about. It's common in illness, crises and situations outside your control.
If this feeling has stayed with you for a while, or you feel unsafe, please talk to someone you trust or a doctor. If you're in danger right now, contact your local emergency services.
Helpless or vulnerable?
Vulnerable is feeling open to harm. Helpless is feeling unable to do anything about it. Read more about feeling vulnerable.
Finding helpless on the feelings wheel
On the Feeling Wheel, helpless sits in the Afraid group. Start in the middle of the wheel with afraid, then move outwards to helpless. If it's close but not quite right, the other afraid words below may fit better. It's also normal to feel more than one thing at once.
Other words in the Afraid group
Afraid words cover the whole range of fear, from a flicker of doubt to real danger.
- Scared Feeling frightened
- Shocked Feeling sudden and intense surprise
- Anxious Feeling worried or uneasy
- Nervous Feeling uneasy about something uncertain
- Frightened Feeling afraid due to danger
- Worried Feeling troubled by real or potential problems
- Threatened Feeling in danger or at risk
- Hesitant Feeling unsure or slow to act
- Horrified Feeling extreme shock or disgust
- Cautious Feeling careful to avoid problems or danger
- Doubtful Feeling uncertain about something
- Exposed Feeling vulnerable or unprotected
Name what you're feeling
Feeling Wheel puts all 118 of these words on one wheel. Tap the ones that fit, add a note if you like, and see your patterns over time. Free on iPhone and Android.