A stuck object or person is fixed in place and can’t move. For example, if your foot is stuck in the mud or your car is stuck in traffic, you can’t get them moving. In addition, a person can be stuck in an unpleasant situation or mindset. For example, a person might be stuck in an unhealthy relationship or a habit of self-doubt.
The word stuck is related to the verb stick, which means to remain fastened or fixed in place. It can also refer to something that is difficult to remove, such as a stuck finger or earworms (musical obsessions). The latter are especially annoying when they are the songs you hate most. Earworms are common for everyone, but they are more pronounced and debilitating in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Being stuck is not a positive feeling, but there are things you can do to move forward and overcome the problem. The first step is to recognize that you are stuck and what’s causing the problem. For example, you may feel stuck in your job because you are dissatisfied with your career but can’t leave for a variety of reasons, such as finances or the job market.
Another reason for feeling stuck is that you want something but talk yourself out of taking steps to achieve it. Alternatively, you can be so overwhelmed by the complexity of the task at hand that you avoid making any progress. The key is to find a deeper purpose that will motivate you through your stuckness and help you overcome the roadblocks.
Getting unstuck can be as simple as changing your perspective or trying a new tactic. For example, you can pretend you are talking to your future self about how to deal with a difficult situation. You can also zoom out and look at your current situation from a different angle, such as pretending you are looking back on this time period in your life from ten years in the future.
In some cases, it is necessary to seek professional help for a psychological problem like stuckness. A therapist can help you identify the root causes of your problems and provide strategies to address them. For example, a therapist can help you learn to appreciate and value setbacks and failures by teaching you to view them as important learning opportunities. They can also teach you to let go of negative thoughts and beliefs that keep you stuck.
A therapist can also teach you to change your response when you get stuck on an academic or work-related task. For instance, a therapist can show you how to use the DRIVE model for reading comprehension when a student is stuck on a difficult word. Similarly, they can teach you how to apply the DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS method when you are stuck on an essay or writing assignment. Using these methods can help you break through your stuckness and reach the next level in your academic or professional career.