“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.”

Albert Einstein.

Well, guess what folks, we're already there.... 

In this blog post, we'll explore some of the downsides of our addiction to technology and how it is affecting our mental health and physical well-being. A few times I've had to gently reprimand patients who turn up for a ketamine session still working on their laptops and talking loudly on their phones on a business call. These patients just don't get it - yet. As technology continues to advance and expand its reach, we must take the time to also understand its detrimental effects and learn how to create healthier boundaries. Ketamine therapy, and other upcoming psychedelic medications, can certainly help us through the current mental health crisis and loosen the tightly grasping claws of technology.

The advent of digital media has sparked a profoundly concerning experiment on humanity. Social media, in particular, has the ability to not only consume our time but our attention, distracting us to the point of forfeiting our awareness and our human need for consciousness and connections to a higher source. While neuroscience can help explain the effects of digital media on us, we need to use more traditional terminology like the "soul," "well-being" and "energies" to grasp and safeguard ourselves from its most ominous consequences. 

Our most skilled software techs have worked hand in hand with seasoned mental health professionals and developed influential technology that exhibits the cunning and sophisticated mind control tactics often utilized by secret services for psyops. We are becoming more conscious of the deliberate nature of the impact digital technology has on us as individuals. It is evident that these devices and the applications they offer have been specifically crafted to alter our behavior, thoughts, and even our perceived identity. In response to the fallout from these detrimental psychological manipulations, kudos must be given to Seattle Public Schools for having the backbone to do what is right and bringing a lawsuit against all the main social media tech companies to hold them accountable for their major role in the nationwide mental health crisis.

As technology has become so pervasive in our lives, it's easy to overlook how dependent and addicted we are and how much of a serious impact it has had on our mental and physical well-being. It's difficult to imagine how we ever lived without it back in the day. These oversights often make themselves known at misfortunate times - when we arrive at work and realize we left our cell phones at home, or the internet goes down for a day or two, or we when we have to send our kids to the optometrist due to degrading eyesight from looking at an iPad too closely for too long. From work emails sent outside of office hours to the constant notifications from our phones and social media accounts, the amount of technology we must deal with daily is exhausting, only getting worse and often leads to burnout as well as to visits to the doctor's office for anxiety, sleeping and focus medications, hereby introducing other potentially dangerous addiction habits. It's a vicious cycle that is part of an oppressive, structured system that is designed to keep us distracted and spending more and more of our hard-earned dollars for items that we don't necessarily need and for medications that we shouldn’t have to take. The whole system is designed to mainly benefit the relatively few puppeteers at the top.

We've Become Slaves to Our Devices

From smartphones to laptops, and smart watches to smart home equipment, we are surrounded by devices that have become an integral part of our daily routine. As useful as they are to us, we’ve also become completely reliant on them, unable to imagine surviving even a single day without them as they satisfy our constant need for stimulation and the fear of missing out on important events. Social media and messaging apps have created a culture of constant communication where we feel compelled to respond to messages and notifications immediately, even if it means interrupting work or personal time.

This is because our devices are designed to keep us addicted. The tech giants employ teams of behavioral science experts to assist in the designs and operations of their apps and platforms that exploit the psychology and neurophysiology of the end user to keep them engaged on the screen for extended periods. They have done an outstanding job and as a result, this has contributed to a mental health crisis as we spend more and more time staring at screens than ever before, gazing over unrealistic self-esteem-eroding images and lifestyles, which has led to 57% of high school girls reporting “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.”

Another factor contributing to our enslavement to devices is the widespread belief that we need to be constantly connected and available, even during personal time. This compulsive checking of devices is due to the fear of missing out, or FOMO, which can lead to decreases in self-esteem and increases in depression and loneliness. The fear of not being reachable has also led to the accumulation of unnecessary stress and anxiety, as well as the erosion of work-life balance.

The over-dependence on devices has also had negative effects on our mental and physical health. Staring at screens for long periods has been linked to poor sleep quality, eye strain, and headaches.

Technology Is Changing the Way We Actually Think 

The impact of technology on our cognition cannot be denied. From our attention spans to our memory, technology has reshaped the way we process information and interact with the world around us. One of the most noticeable effects of technology is on our attention spans. Twenty years ago, in 2004, the average time someone was able to focus on one task was two and a half minutes, while today the average attention span is 47 seconds.

We live in a world of constant distractions and interruptions. Our smartphones beep and vibrate with notifications, our email inboxes are never empty, and we have access to a never-ending stream of information at our fingertips. As a result, our ability to concentrate has been severely impacted. We have become accustomed to multitasking and jumping from one task to another, never fully giving anything our complete attention. While some argue that multitasking might be an effective skill, neuroscientists at Stanford University claim it might cause more harm than good.

Technology has altered our memory. In the past, people relied on their memory to recall important information. We store our contact information, schedules, and even our memories in the cloud. This has led to a decline in our ability to remember things as we have become reliant on technology to do the remembering for us.

Finally, our ability to engage in deep thinking has been altered. With the availability of a wealth of information at our fingertips, we have become accustomed to scanning information quickly and superficially. We rarely take the time to delve deep into a topic and really understand it. This has led to a decline in our critical thinking skills, particularly for frequent technology users.

Our Social Skills are Deteriorating

Most of us find ourselves caught up in the web of social media, instant messaging, and online gaming, among others. While these technologies enable us to stay in touch with friends and loved ones quickly, they have changed the way we interact with each other. A global survey of almost 17,000 people found that a third of them communicated with parents, friends, or children less in the real world because they engaged with them online.

Since social media has replaced face-to-face conversations, phone calls, and real-life interactions, this has led to a significant decline in our social skills. Asking to meet someone for a coffee is now seen as bizarre by many of the younger generations. The ability to read facial expressions, respond appropriately to social cues, and interpret verbal and non-verbal communication is crucial to our social development. Unfortunately, technology has made it easier for us to miss out on these critical social cues. We often misinterpret the tone of messages, disregard important social cues, and misread body language when communicating through technology.

The over-dependence on technology is preventing us from developing effective social skills. Social media, gaming, and other online activities are so addictive that they affect our ability to socialize and engage with others in the real world. This might be why we have become less empathetic, less sensitive, and less tolerant of different points of view.

Our Sleeping Patterns are Being Affected

The blue light emitted by electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets can interfere with the body's production of the sleep hormone melatonin. This makes it harder to fall asleep at night or get good quality sleep when we do. The constant stimulation from notifications and social media can also make it difficult to wind down and relax before bed. These disruptions in the hours leading up to bedtime can change our natural sleep-wake cycle or also known as our circadian rhythm. This can result in difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep quality, and daytime fatigue, all contributing to negative mental health effects such as anxiety, depression, lack of focus, grogginess and burnout.

To combat this, developers have come up with technological solutions that aim to improve our sleep, such as smart alarm clocks, sleep-inducing and tracking apps, and white noise machines. It’s important to find a balance between making use of technology for our benefit while also being mindful if it’s potential negative impacts on our sleep.

It's important that we prioritize our sleep, and establish boundaries around technology use in the evening hours. Whether that means shutting off our phones an hour before bed or setting a strict bedtime for ourselves, we need to make sure we're doing what's best for our mental and physical well-being. By taking control of our technology use, we can improve our sleep patterns and wake up feeling refreshed and energized each day.

Technology Distracts Us From Spirituality and Connecting to A Higher Source

Through the constant barrage of notifications and updates, it's become almost impossible to unplug and tune out, leading to a constant sense of being controlled by our devices. This phenomenon has even been compared to the "matrix," where we're all plugged into a virtual world that's designed to keep us distracted and disconnected from our true selves. Furthermore, many of us are turning to technology as a substitute for true spiritual connection. Meditation and mindfulness practices have become popular topics in recent years, but many of us are using apps and videos to guide us rather than seeking out real-life experiences with teachers and communities.

Many have even gone as far as to use performance-enhancing drugs like Adderall to keep up with the demands of a technology-driven society. But while these drugs may help us stay focused in the short term, they ultimately distract us from our true selves, life purpose and our connection to something greater.

To truly connect with our spiritual selves, we must disconnect from the distractions of technology and seek out authentic experiences. Whether it's through meditation, nature walks, or engaging with a spiritual community, connecting with ourselves, as well as to a higher divine source, is a sure way of achieving a sense of inner peace, sense of fulfillment and elevated wellbeing.

What Can We Do About Too Much Technology?

Without genuine interactions, the nation is becoming more lonely, anxious, and depressed. I see this more and more every week at our ketamine clinic. This disconnection from the world can also lead to an overwhelming sense of boredom. Instead of interacting with our surroundings, performing physical exercise, making time for hobbies, and appreciating the natural beauty of the world, we find ourselves mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds or watching endless streams of online content. This sense of disconnect is causing an increase in anxiety, depression, and even suicide rates. Being constantly connected and accessible can lead to burnout and exhaustion; it is wise to just disconnect, go dark and allow ourselves to recharge. 

 It’s clear that technology is negatively impacting us in numerous ways. For those who are seeking out ketamine-assisted therapy or other ways to lower their depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, decreasing the use of technology seems to be a great start.

In 2020, a small study found that when participants stopped using social media for seven days, their fear of missing out decreased.

If abstaining from entire apps seems too much at this time, then you can also tailor what you allow into your technological space by muting, unfollowing, and unfriending what you no longer need. This is especially true if certain profiles or people make you feel worse about your life instead of inspired by them.  

Decreasing technology use is especially important for kids. Steve Jobs, who owned Apple, Google CEO Sichar Pichai, and Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel all limit their kids’ screen time each day. The best thing parents can do for their children is to set a good example.

Knowing that too much technology use leads to such negative consequences might be inspiration enough to help us to put our phones down and be present by enjoying the scenery around us or having a meaningful conversation with someone nearby.  

If you can connect with the above write up, are curious and need some guidance, psychedelic medicines such as Ketamine can really help in this process of self discovery and purpose. Click here to find out more. CTA

If you connected with the above write-up, are curious, and need some guidance, psychedelic medicines such as Ketamine can really support this process of healing, self-discovery, and purpose. Click below to find out more.

Author: Dane Jackman

The Brazen Word is the personal blog of Dane Jackman that was born out of the fascinating insights gained from patients undergoing ketamine therapy at the Ketamine Lounge in Miami Beach and from noticing a very broken healthcare system firsthand. He focuses on changing the narrative about the superior benefits of ketamine medicine and other psychedelic drugs for mood disorders and other conditions. He brings a new perspective to the Western medical world by promoting spirituality as an equally effective and often overlooked therapeutic component in ketamine therapy.

Dane is now on a mission to share these stories and perspectives with the public and encourage everyone to question everything they have been taught in mainstream life.