The COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a mental health crisis as well as a public health crisis. The crippling isolation, the constant fear, the neurological disorders either directly or indirectly brought about. It’s all a little bit too much for even the strongest among us to handle.
Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. Even after the pandemic subsides there will still be plenty of other things to worry about from Climate Change and civil unrest to water shortages and the next pandemic. What we need to get through it all are coping mechanisms. Escapism and easier ways of living that will make what we’re going through more manageable. Thankfully, technological breakthroughs and scientific discoveries may be able to help with that. Here’s a quick look at some of the ways that science and technology can help with anxiety:
- Driverless cars – no more white knuckle driving on curvy mountainside roads. No more fear of death while running errands.
- Reversing the aging process – life is too short. If we can extend our lifespans by a few decades we’ll have the peace of mind to know that we’ll have plenty of time to do everything we’d want to, see everything we’d want to, go everywhere we’d want to.
- Virtual Reality – Feeling anxious about the state of affairs in this reality? Escape to another one where you won’t have anything to worry about. You can even use a VR headset to do yoga or meditate!
- Communicate with deceased loved ones through A.I. chatbots that mimic their personalities. May help people cope with loss or deal with loneliness.
- Wearables. Wristbands, implants, sensors built into clothing, etc. Thanks to the Quantified Self Movement we’ll always have the tools to stay on top of our health and gives ourselves the peace of mind that we’re not actually dying as often as we think we are.
- The Internet of Things will make our lives easier as our refrigerators order our groceries for us, start our coffee pots as soon as wake up, and heat/cool our homes to our exact specifications. With nothing to worry about, not even household chores, we’ll have more free time to meditate and find peace within ourselves.
- As will the Sharing Economy. Ride shares, delivery services, task rabbits, etc. It’s now easier than ever to find what you need and get it quickly without having to do any of the heavy lifting yourself.
- AirBnB. Reduce even more of the anxiety associated with traveling by booking an entire house instead of a hotel room. Especially if you are traveling with kids or will be staying in one place for a while i.e. working remotely.
- Speaking of which all of the tech that goes into working remotely i.e. video conferencing, Internet providers, Wi-Fi, cloud computing, etc. If you’re tired of quarantining in your home it’s never been easier to get a change of scenery.
- YouTube, mobile devices, apps, podcasts, books on tapes, etc. – There’s no shortage of ways that technology has made it easier for us to find entertainment to excite us or guided meditations to calm us down.
- Enchanted Objects. Harry Potter style innovations like a pill bottle that glows when it’s time to take your medication make it super easy to stay on track with your regimen.
- Pharmaceuticals. Anxiety medications, sleeping pills, brain boosting neurotropic vitamins. There are a lot of shortcuts to take.
- Gravity Blanket. Feel like you’re being hugged thanks to this weighted blanket that takes advantage of your body’s pressure points to provide you with comfort while you sleep.
But the #1 way that technology can help cure anxiety is by exciting us about the future. Things may be doom and gloom right now but with so many amazing breakthroughs on the horizon it’s only a matter of time before we’re living in Utopia! Become a futurist and change your mindset and you’ll quick realize that greener pastures are ahead.
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