MY BRAIN ON MENTAL STEROIDS
Overstimulation, Nostalgia, and the Future of Cognitive Overload
Our brains weren’t built for this pace. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how screen saturation and mental overload shape our emotional health, and why slowing down might be the most radical act of self-care.
Are you on overload? Some form of stimulation assaults your brain every minute of every day. I see people with a device in their hand “ALL THE TIME” and hear parents complain about losing their children to “screens.” This is serious.
I long for the days when screens were unavailable, or it meant piling everyone into the car on a lovely Spring evening and going to the drive-in movies. Remember the drive-in? The car would climb a little hump as you parked in a space so that your seat would be aimed precisely right to see the giant outdoor screen. Then, you would have to wrestle this metal box into the car and hang it on one of the windows so that you could hear what was going on in the movie. With all that settled, someone would be sent to the “canteen” near the front of the lot to buy popcorn and sodas. If you arrive early enough for a good spot, the kids could go to the playground, swing, and climb onto the jungle gym. As the previews started, everyone would scatter back to their cars and settle in for the big show.
I remember my favorite movies were “Ma and Pa Kettle.” Whenever one of those came out, we were guaranteed a trip to the Drive-In. The two main characters were hilarious as they tried to manage a ramshackle farm and a pack of unruly children. Such joy was felt when identifying with the children who could get away with anything. They were so rambunctious that Ma and Pa posted a sign: “Be-ware of childrun” to warn visitors to look out for sling-shot missiles and other things.
The pace in those days was much slower. Sometimes, I long for that slower pace and for the cell phone to be silent. I want to sit on the back porch in my rocking chair and talk with the person sitting next to me rather than texting them to find out what they are thinking.
Yet, I can imagine what my grandchildren will be reminiscing about. They will be longing for the cell phone days when they could carry this shiny box in their hands and choose to text a friend, listen to a song, or watch a movie on that sweet little box. Instead, they will be experiencing their children tapping the sides of their heads to turn on the implant in their brains that will give them the morning news and weather. I suppose we will always need the morning weather report. So, that will be good news for all the meteorologists out there. Your jobs are safe.
Science tells us that our brains have much more capacity than we use, so there may be room for a few different implants to have distinct functions. My great-grandchildren may be able to pull up old movies and watch them in their minds. That would be great fun. Or they could hold the details of their stock investments and have some part of their brain constantly monitoring the market to make the right move at the right time. Everyone will work from home because their brains can connect remotely.
I will stick with the rocking chair on the porch.
Want to explore how screen time and overstimulation affect mental health? Visit Stanford Lifestyle Medicine’s guide to screen time and brain health, Science of Mind’s breakdown of mental overload, and NeuroLaunch’s insights on mental stimulation and brain chemistry.
If you’re reflecting on cognitive health, emotional clarity, or digital balance, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, healing, and mental wellness.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
