Can we no longer live without the Internet? Without buying a book while traveling on a train? Without booking a hotel while having tea with a friend? Without listening to new songs from around the world before going to sleep? But at the same time, are we aware that not everything is immediately available to see and buy?
Decoupling the machine from the human. Recognizing, exploring and exposing our emotions to the world. Understanding that emotions are not bought or stored as we walk along, like a movie we download to watch while waiting to board a plane.
Technology has revolutionized many aspects of our lives, including how we approach and manage our mental health. In an increasingly digitalized world, technology has proven to be a powerful tool that makes our lives easier. Technology allows us access to all kinds of information, from recipes to the most remote places and cultures in the world, to being able to see our family wherever we are and whenever we want, but it also shows the potential to promote mental health and provide support to those who need it. Below we discuss some of the main advantages that technology offers in the field of mental health.
The benefits of technology in health
First, technology has greatly expanded access to mental health resources and services. Online platforms, mobile applications, and telehealth programs allow people to access therapy, counseling, and self-help resources from the comfort of their own home. This is particularly beneficial for people who live in remote areas or who have difficulty accessing traditional mental health services due to barriers such as travel or lack of funding.
Additionally, technology has made it easier to monitor and track mental health. Wearable devices and mental health tracking apps allow users to record moods, sleep patterns, stress levels, and other relevant factors. This data can be valuable to both individuals and mental health professionals, helping to identify trends, triggers, and areas for improvement.
What's more, easy access to digital communities dedicated to these issues allows people to share their experiences, seek advice, and even receive emotional support from others who understand and empathize with their struggles. This is particularly important for people who feel isolated or stigmatized because of their mental health condition.
Additionally, technology has led to the development of innovative therapeutic interventions such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence-assisted therapy. These therapies that I am learning about are effective in treating disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, and offer patients new ways to explore and address mental challenges in a safe and controlled environment. There is fear exposure therapy, which is a means of gradually overcoming fears and gradually building a healthy relationship with emotions.
My yoga experience
After years of living in the mind of an electronics engineer, I decided to practice yoga and spend a few years thinking about becoming a yoga teacher. It's such an amazing experience to walk into a room with strangers, lie down and relax. Silently immerse yourself in your own thoughts, do poses that push your balance, strength and stamina to their limits and best of all, do it without competing with anyone. Just yourself. I found it harder than studying for a degree, but with perseverance, little by little, my own self is emerging… and with great effort, I am searching for the balance between my two minds.
And it makes me wonder: Can I feel this peace and still be a lover of technology? How can artificial intelligence and the internet help me to stay balanced? I am discovering, but yes, it can. I will tell you about it….
For now, I'm reading a lot and making schedules for my two passions. Something I read as I was writing this was, “If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't move forward, you'll always have it. If you don't move forward, you'll always be in the same place.”
I pursued it, searched for answers, and resolved to take that step. A better place. A place where technology can help me in my pursuit of social and spiritual well-being. A place that can not only help me get what I want, but help me know how I want it. A place that can help me know how I want to live and how I want it to affect me. A place where technology can help me help my colleagues, friends, and family.
Conclusion
In summary, technology plays an increasingly important role in our mental health. It guides us on the path to care for ourselves and others. After all, we live in community, and while technology may seem individualistic, it is in our hands to use it to connect with others and become closer in every way… Sometimes, quality is more important than quantity. Connect with quality. Contribute, build, be open, and enjoy this beautiful world.
Technology offers many benefits that can improve the quality of life for people with mental health conditions, but it is important to use it responsibly and in a balanced way, recognising not only its benefits but also its limitations and potential risks.
I'm going now… because the key is to know that you can have it all if you know how to use it. There is a lot of work to do to achieve this. See you soon.
