In an interview with the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Gorzelańczyk explained that humans are not evolutionarily equipped to handle the overwhelming amount of information we are now exposed to, leading to a dangerous state of overstimulation.
“We are not evolutionarily adapted to process such an immense volume of information—we are overstimulated,” Gorzelańczyk said. “Our minds are overheating as a result.”
The information overload problem
Today's fast-paced world, with its constant influx of stimuli from social media, news, and technology, is putting unprecedented strain on our mental health, the professor explained. Human beings evolved in environments where sensory input was limited and manageable. Now, we are constantly bombarded by new information, much of which is emotionally charged or demands immediate attention.
"We evolved with a certain number of stimuli, and our adaptive resources are finite. The cultural and technological revolution has overwhelmed us with more information than we are biologically prepared to process," Gorzelańczyk said. "As a result, more and more people are struggling to cope."
He likened the phenomenon to the Baldwin Effect—a theory in evolutionary biology that describes how learned behaviors influence evolutionary development. While humans are undergoing a cultural and technological evolution, our biological evolution simply cannot keep up with the rapid changes, leaving us vulnerable to mental health challenges.
A struggle for mental equilibrium
For many, the strain of overstimulation is resulting in chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout. This issue is especially prevalent among young people, whose developing minds are often ill-equipped to handle the immense pressure. Gorzelańczyk pointed out that the rapid technological changes and shifts in food quality are accelerating puberty, causing a significant gap between physical and emotional maturity.
“Thirteen-year-old girls often look like adult women today, but their intellectual and emotional development lags far behind. This mismatch is one of the reasons why so many young people are struggling with mental health issues,” Gorzelańczyk explained. “It is a concerning trend, and the number of psychiatric patients will only continue to grow.”
An overstimulated society
Gorzelańczyk’s concerns extend beyond social media and news cycles. He believes that our consumer-driven world exacerbates the problem, with industries constantly pushing for “more”—more intense flavors in food, more powerful sensory experiences in entertainment, and even stronger stimuli in areas like pornography.
“The global economy is in a race to sell more of everything, so everything has to be ‘more.’ Music is louder, food is sweeter or spicier, and even our natural stimuli are being replaced with hyper-charged alternatives,” he said. “We can’t defend ourselves against this en masse.”
Can we protect ourselves?
According to Gorzelańczyk, escaping this overstimulation is extremely difficult. While some people may try to limit their exposure to stimuli, others struggle to adapt to the relentless demands of modern communication, technology, and culture. However, the psychiatrist insists that moments of withdrawal and mental rest are essential for maintaining mental health.
"Every once in a while, we all need to escape to our own mental sanctuary, to retreat from the excess and recharge," he said. "For the sake of our mental health, we need to slow down, quiet our minds, and shield ourselves from the flood of stimuli if we want to avoid developing mental health disorders."
As we observe World Mental Health Day, Professor Gorzelańczyk advises finding time to engage in simple, grounding activities such as hiking, fishing, or foraging. “We are still, at heart, gatherers. Perhaps it’s time we reconnect with that side of ourselves.”
(jh)
Source: PAP, IAR