If you've ever learned to swim, you've heard the expression "trust the process." When you first start learning to swim, you dive into the pool and try your hardest to keep your head above the water's surface.
When you are helpless, you may believe that everything is working against you; nothing you try seems to have any effect, and you may feel trapped in your life. It is a very typical experience that many people go through at least once throughout their lives.