Definition: The performative act of refusing assistance in professional or personal settings to project an image of unflappable competence, often resulting in spectacular failure or increased collective workload. Common among recovering micromanagement victims and GenXers raised on “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” rhetoric, this toxic humility masquerades as strength while actually breeding reverse delegation—where others must clean up preventable messes. The Help Hero martyrs themselves on the altar of self-sufficiency, secretly craving praise for struggling unnecessarily. Key traits include dismissing collaborators with “I got this,” then drowning in tasks that would take a team 20 minutes. The habit perpetuates workplace inefficiency and emotional isolation, as admitting need feels like career kryptonite. Victims often view accepting help as moral weakness, turning simple collaboration into a twisted suffering Olympics.