When Enough Becomes Enough

We live in a world where never before have I seen such a disconnection between people. I know it sounds like the organ grinder spouting the same old rhetoric again and again, but I truly do believe the past was simpler and less demanding. If you ask a group of people, “how many people think they cannot be hypnotised” I would say at least half would say that they could not be hypnotised. However I would challenge this and say that we can all and are all hypnotised on a daily basis. The difference between going to a hypnotherapist, is one is conscious and the other is not.

From the minute you wake up, whether it’s an advert on the radio, or a poster you pass every day, we are being subtly hypnotised. This is now compounded by mobile phones, giving us 24/7 instant access to instant gratification. Our phones never leave our side, and even snuggle next to us at night as we fall asleep. Then we wake and check if we have missed any important email, Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. As we do so the hypnosis starts—buy this, buy that, more more more more. Are you feeling stressed yet?

While travelling on the train today, I counted thirteen people in my carriage, twelve of which where heads bent down in worship to their phones, tablets, and melodic manufactured music. Twenty five years in health care has given me an insight into the light and dark of the human psyche, and when it comes to pain and pleasure, often, and surprisingly, people choose pain.

In this case the stress placed on the neck from constantly looking down. So you may ask, are you suggesting we throw away all technology? Of course not, but I am suggesting that we learn to use technology and not let technology use us.

When I help people to stop smoking, I first have to help them understand that smoking is not addictive, but rather a very powerful habit. This also applies to mobile phones, which prevent us from making eye contact, talking, and generally interacting with our fellow human beings. Is it any wonder we have seen an explosion in internet dating sites, where we can have a virtual conversation, with a virtual person, in a virtual house, and yes we can even have virtual sex. The problem with the virtual world is that it’s just that, virtual. So when exposed to reality, I believe that the technology generation lack the rules of engagement.

As a father I know that there are some battles you can win, and some that no matter what you say or do, you will never win. What’s important to understand is that children have grown up with mobile phones and computers, so they have no reference point prior to this.

However I am now seeing more and more people suffering with anxiety and panic attacks and I believe there is a connection with technology, or rather the disproportionate use of it.

As humans, much of the way in which we communicate is with subtle visual cues. We all know that a dog is happy when it wags its tail, so can you imagine if we could consciously learn the more subtle signs? We would all be world class dog trainers. So it may surprise you to know that 93 percent of human communication is nonverbal, and this is where I believe that technology is doing us no favours.

From the comfort of your sitting room you can order food, do your banking, buy clothes, swipe left or right depending if you like Jane, John or both. All of this requires no human interaction, and we fail to see any of the ninety three percent nonverbal cues. You miss that toss of the hair, that subtle smile, the slight raise of the eyebrows, all letting us know if someone really likes us or not.

So, I am saying enough is enough. Put down your phone. Step outside, and discover real people and real emotions. We are in the middle of an environmental crisis, because we have immersed our minds, bodies, and some would say even our souls in a virtual world. By doing so we have become disconnected from reality and the fragile environment that is crying out for us to take care of it.