Note: I’m not sure whether the following pages connect to the rest of the blog, or if they’re part of something else. But, I’m keeping them together because this section also deals with fear, just on a more broader scale. 

Unfortunately, we live in a world that is not only impossible to fully disconnect from, society actively discourages people from disconnecting from things they have absolutely zero control over. We didn’t evolve to handle problems outside of our small villages and tribes. And yet, society expects everyone to be aware of every little thing going on in the world, from wars to the global economy, to celebrity drama and things going on between other people that have absolutely nothing to do with us. 

As a result, the world’s experiencing an epidemic of anxiety and loneliness; I’m not at all alone in my struggles with anxiety and fear.  

Mental health issues of all kinds are at an all-time high. Suicide rates are at an all-time high, and are increasing still. Crime rates have also increased dramatically (not quite to the numbers they once were in the 80s and 90s, but the rates do keep going up), along with homelessness and destitution. Overall, the world’s seemingly going to hell in a handbasket, and there’s no signs that it’s gonna get better anytime soon. 

Naturally, as things get scarier and more uncertain, many people turn into political/cultural extremists. Politically speaking, things are more polarized in this country than they have been since the Civil War. I’m not just pulling this out of my ass either; the Pew Research Center has tons and tons of data and articles showing just how bad things in the States have become. 

Long story short, people are scared. There’s a wave of anxiety washing over everyone in the country, and in the world, almost entirely over things that aren’t even happening to them! Personally, I blame social media and the 24/7 news cycle for this unprecedented wave of anxiety plaguing our world. 

Before social media and the 24/7 news cycle, most people only had a vague idea of what was going on outside of their communities (and even what was going on inside their own communities). But as soon as social media and the 24/7 news cycle dominated the world, mental health issues skyrocketed, because people suddenly became instantly aware of literally everything happening in the world at once, in 4k HD no less!

Thanks to that, more and more people are losing touch with reality, and are becoming less tolerant of and resilient towards things that make them uncomfortable. Most growth happens when we’re uncomfortable. Like I mentioned previously, the only way for me to overcome my fear of driving on the highway is to… well… drive on the highway. The only way for me to build muscle is to consistently exercise to the point that I get sore afterwards. The only way for me to maintain a healthy social life and make new friends, is to go outside and interact with people even when I don’t feel like it; even when I’m a little uncomfortable and anxious. 

On the flipside, if I don’t consistently drive on the highway, my fear of the highway will come back with a vengeance (much like my fear of flying has). If I don’t exercise regularly, I’ll lose muscle and energy. If I don’t regularly go outside and interact with other humans, I’ll basically develop the personality of a feral barn cat. These same rules apply to literally every human on earth...