Aspired in a way to helplessness (7)
I believe the answer is:
despair
'helplessness' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both feelings as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'aspired in a way' is the wordplay.
'in a way' indicates an anagram.
'aspired' with letters rearranged gives 'DESPAIR'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for despair that I've seen before include "gloom" , "Complete loss of hope" , "The feeling that nothing will turn out well" , "Lose heart" , "Lose or lack hope" .)