Why Artificial Intelligence Might Be Fueling Your Stress
When I asked ChatGPT what the purpose of AI is in our lives, it gave me a beautiful answer:
to help humans live better, healthier, safer, and more meaningful lives by extending what we can do.
Magical, right?
And yet… many of us are feeling the exact opposite. Instead of calmer, more balanced lives,
we’re experiencing anxiety, information overload, and good old-fashioned technostress.
In fact, research shows that anxiety symptoms are increasingly tied to how we interact with AI.
Why Our Brains Struggle with AI Overload
Here’s the tricky part: AI is designed to help us. But our brains? They’re still wired the same way they were thousands of years ago.
We need time to process information, make sense of it, and actually remember it.
When we’re bombarded with instant answers, endless content, and faster-than-light data,
it can feel less like support—and more like drowning in noise.
AI Isn’t the Villain—It’s How We Use It
That’s why it’s so important to remember: AI isn’t the villain here.
It’s how we use it that matters. Asking ChatGPT for a quick email draft? Amazing.
Expecting it to solve deeply human dilemmas like which treatment path to take after a diagnosis,
or how to parent your sensitive child? That’s when we need real-life people,
with real experiences and wisdom, by our side.
My Personal SOS Plan for Healthy AI Use
I’ll be honest—I’m one of those people who gets overwhelmed by too much, too fast.
If I don’t step back, the constant flood of information can tip me straight into anxiety and even burnout.
That’s why I’ve created my own little survival plan for using AI in a healthy way.
- 👉 Stop: Notice the signs—racing heart, irritability, scattered thoughts? Hit pause on AI.
- 👉 Outside: Physically step away. Get out from behind the screen and into a different environment.
- 👉 Sense: Ground yourself in the present. What can you see, hear, touch, taste, or smell right now?
Using AI to Build a Calmer Life
The truth is, AI can be a fantastic tool – but only if we stay in the driver’s seat.
Used wisely, it should reduce stress, not pile more on.
At the end of the day, technology should be helping us build lives that simply feel calmer, healthier,
and a whole lot more joyful.