Our Sanity at Risk

In 1970, Alvin Toffler wrote a bestselling book titled Future Shock. The main point Toffler put forth is that the human mind cannot adapt to such rapid and multiple societal changes in a short period of time, and that continuing to experience rapid change would ultimately drive a human being insane. At the time this book was published, this idea was pretty radical. Whether or not Toffler’s premise is true is still open to debate. However, after 30 years as a mental health professional, I have seen plenty of evidence that being exposed to too much information in too short a time does cause personal stress and often disorientation, which in turn affects one’s decision making ability and sense of wellbeing.

Over the last three years, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans and Canadians have been subjected to incredible disruptions of normal routine (i.e., schools and churches closed; working at home instead of going to the office; suspension of normal social interactions; postponement of travel; etc.) Evidence is mounting that the severe restrictions on social interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic were detrimental to our mental health and also to our overall sense of wellbeing.

Related: 
STAYING SANE IN A WORLD GONE MAD – Part 1
STAYING SANE IN A WORLD GONE MAD – Part 2

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