Algorithm of Anxiety

Social media platforms are famous for their use of algorithms. It’s what people talk about when they complain about what is showing up in their news feeds. Although I suspect that if most of us were honest, we’d have no idea how it really works.

But I think there is a legitimate complaint. And the bigger question is – do we end up getting more of the same because we are viewing it, or because there’s just so much of the content available? Or maybe the answer is yes to both as well as a variety of unnamed things. I suspect that is the case.

At any rate, I notice a type of algorithm of anxiety in our society. Go to Youtube. What videos show up in your feed? I’m willing to bet there’s a decent number of videos that have conflict as their foundation. Whether it is people talking about politics (although if we are being honest again, it’s probably more partisan in nature), sports, entertainment, or who knows what, there’s a good amount of conflict going on. Advertisers know that conflict draws attention. Conflict taps into our emotions as well.

I was watching a video of someone hosting a radio show. Someone else called in and right off the bat, you could hear the desire for conflict in the caller’s tone of voice. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but I could feel it. They made their statement and asked the host a question. Although it wasn’t a question learn something. It was a leading question – a question designed to win an argument with the host. And the host picked up on it, turned defensive, addressed the question, and took a similar tone with the caller. Needless to say, the caller and the host ended up being very angry with each other. They were both more interested in defending their position (and themselves) rather than learning anything about the other person or why they believed what they believe. Or for that matter, to better understand what the critique they expressed was really about. No. Defense mechanisms went up and the other became an enemy to be defeated. What was gained by such an interaction? I’m sure both went away feeling vindicated in how they felt about their enemies – those vile jerks who are just rude, interrupt, and don’t listen, etc.

I’m sure you have seen videos of people having conflict in parking lots and stores over who knows what. Someone decides that they are going to enforce some kind of rule that they believe exists, regardless of their authority to do so. And someone raises their defenses in response. All on video. And lots of people watch.

Seen videos of road rage? Same thing. There’s a whole lot of anger and rage out there.

But I don’t often witness any of these things in person. Maybe I’m just too sheltered. Or I don’t get out enough.

I do hear arguments when I’m at the church – out on the street outside of the church. Loud voices, screaming, yelling. I’ll go an look to see what’s going on, if weapons are being pulled, etc. Most often these arguments involve young men – sometimes with each other and sometimes with a young female. Figuring out how to get along with another human being can be difficult. Combine that with a host of stresses and sometimes people pop.

We live in a society that is under the assault of anxiety. So many things done to make us feel angry, or fearful, or uncertain, or something else. A lot of anxiety, layered on top of other untreated anxiety, on top of other layers of untreated anxiety. Our electronic devices feed us an unending tsunami of anxiety at our fingertips, and we willingly shoot up like an addict. Maybe we just want to feel something and anger, fear, and uncertainty are powerful feelings.

Ever since the election last November I have not gone onto a news website. I stay plenty informed with what I need to know. It’s really unavoidable. I’ve never understood how some people have the ability to be completely oblivious to news events, politics, and more. How is that even possible? I have also limited my social media time, with occasional lapses in which I’ll dive in longer without realizing it. And then I notice the anxiety, anger, fear, and uncertainty. And when I become conscious of it, I stop.

We are swimming in anxiety in this culture. So much so that I’m sure many people even have a vision for what life is like without so much anxiety. It reminds me of a saying that I learned some time ago – leaders either respond or react, but they can’t do both. I think there is wisdom in that statement. So many people are caught in loops of reaction – reacting to news stories, reacting to arguments with people, reacting to whatever fire they feel they need to put out, reacting to yet another bill in the mail that they don’t know how they are going to pay, reacting to a health issue that they don’t understand, reacting to a statement by a public figure, reacting…reacting…reacting… Sounds exhausting doesn’t it? I wonder how much of our life is designed to be this. People who are reacting are trapped. An algorithm of anxiety keeps people in bondage.

We really need to just say “time out.” To step back, get our bearings, look at what’s going on, and assess what we really need to respond to. But that means maybe letting a fire burn and we don’t like that. Maybe that means losing an argument. Or letting a bill lay there for a bit, or turning off the phone and TV, or who knows what. It means intentionally not reacting for a time. It means to survey what’s going on to better understand the situation and what resources you have available. It means looking to see a bigger picture. It means laying out a path forward – not the perfect path, but a path that will actually take you somewhere, rather than just running around trying to put out fires and exhausting yourself.

Break the algorithm. Algorithms are designed to get you to keep paying attention to them. So what would it look like to break that? At some level, it means stopping. It means doing things that are not habitual. It means being intentional. It means asking questions. It means praying differently. It means deleting things. It means a variety of things. But it starts with just one thing – you. Stop reacting. Start responding. Break the algorithm of anxiety over your life.

From time to time, I fall into a reacting mode. I slip in ever so gently without realizing it. I’m irritable, tired, feeling uncertain, anxious, etc. My digestion is messed up. My mind is unclear. I have trouble focusing. That’s when I know that I’m caught in the algorithm. It’s time to break it.

For me that happens in a few ways. Running is my go to. I have long said that running keeps me sane. I go out on a run, my body does the work, and my mind can either turn off, or I spend time in prayer.

I change what I listen to. My go to for breaking the algorithm of anxiety is Gregorian Chant. These sacred hymns have a way of connecting me with the divine. They are unrushed. They drag out notes, but in a way that works like a long run. They have a unique sound. And for me, I love hearing non-English voices doing chants so I don’t get stuck on the words being said. The words are more music. I don’t need to make sense of them.

I have other ways that I break out of the algorithm of anxiety. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking the dog for a walk. Sometimes it’s traveling somewhere – a literal change of location. Sometimes it’s just spending time with family where our devices are away. Sometimes it’s a meal with someone talking about deep theological or philosophical topics. Sometimes it’s reading something that speaks to me. Sometimes it’s writing – that’s why I have this blog. The blog allows me to play with ideas without having the answers.

Break the algorithm of anxiety in your life. You are empowered to do so. The world needs more people who do so. Get started. And when it feels difficult, know that you aren’t alone. I’m rooting for you.