This is part of the connection we need for our mental health. It’s not clear that AI tools can provide this. It’s not human. It’s the illusion of connection when our humanity deserves the real thing. AI can supplement; it is always available and provides access to a wealth of information, but it can’t provide a real human connection.
Our natural stress and anxiety about the state of our country and our individual futures is not a disorder. It’s our nervous system detecting a clear danger and responding.
The question isn’t always about how to be more resilient; sometimes it’s about how to make it less dangerous for everyone.
Think of it this way, we don’t ask trauma survivors to try healing from their trauma when their current situation is unsafe. That would be silly. We get them into a safe situation first, before they can even begin to heal. The same goes here. Kids who are safe and feel secure in their parents’ love and support look forward beyond the trauma.
Kids who are unsafe and not secure in the love and support of parents relive their trauma on a daily basis. It’s no wonder they are slightly more likely to immediately think of it when surveyed.
Perhaps if we all focused on connecting with individuals and creating for one another, and less on consumption, we wouldn’t need to enact laws that prevent people from accessing the opportunities that the internet makes available to us.
Mental health advocates like me can talk all day about the importance of community and the life-saving value of human connection, but who are we if we take that away from anyone?
Having people in my life who I can talk to has been a massive support in my healing. Being able to tell my story with my voice has been a huge blessing for me.
I’m also acutely aware of the downside when it goes wrong, however. I know too many survivors who’ve been further damaged when trying to share their story as opposed to getting the support they were desperately seeking. Please, be careful with your story and yourself.
