# Exploring the Past: How History's Lessons Can Combat Tech-Induced Mental Struggles
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Chapter 1: The Disconnect of Modern Living
The Cleveland Clinic defines depersonalization-derealization disorder as a mental health condition characterized by feelings of disconnection from one’s body, emotions, and surroundings. This state of being, which can lead to significant distress and anxiety, seems to be prevalent in our society today. Surprisingly, this disconnection is largely fueled by technology—an innovation of our own creation.
Over the years, our collective efforts to simplify life have led to such comfort that we’ve become detached from reality in a unique way. This detachment impacts our perception, almost as if we’ve lost our grasp on how the world truly operates. I came to this realization while watching a documentary from the comfort of my air-conditioned room about an individual grappling with mental health challenges.
In "Hell or High Seas," former Navy rescue diver Taylor Grieger attempts to overcome his PTSD through an ambitious sea voyage, reminiscent of Odysseus's journey after the Trojan War. He sets out to sail from Florida to Cape Horn, a journey I initially thought sounded delightful. With modern conveniences like cruise ships and the internet, how hard could it be? Ironically, I had little understanding of what Cape Horn even was.
Grieger soon reveals that this expedition would span two hundred days and cover ten thousand nautical miles to reach the southern tip of South America, where Cape Horn lies, all while navigating some of the world’s most perilous waters.
Like any gripping documentary, things take unexpected turns. The voyage spans years, filled with conflicts among the crew, life-threatening situations, a pirate attack, and a prolonged GoFundMe campaign to finance repairs for their weather-beaten vessel.
In essence, this narrative serves as a metaphor for our current state of existence. The neatly edited documentaries we enjoy from our cozy chairs represent a life filtered through technology, while Grieger's chaotic, years-long journey embodies the harsh realities that our ancestors faced—full of risk, danger, and the omnipresent threat of death.
Let’s take a step back and explore some historical context.
Section 1.1: Humanity as Explorers and Builders
"Southwest of Cape Horn, the ocean floor rises sharply from 4,020 meters (13,200 feet) to 100 meters (330 feet) within a few kilometers. This sharp difference, combined with potent westerly winds, pushes up massive waves with frightening regularity. The area is known as a graveyard for ships." — Cape Horn: Mariner's Nightmare, NASA Earth Observatory
Humans have always been versatile, acting as both explorers and builders. Cape Horn is a prime example of the latter. Notably, naturalist Charles Darwin embarked on a famous exploration aboard the HMS Beagle in 1833, although his primary role was to keep the captain company due to the high rates of suicide among captains on such treacherous voyages. The ship aimed to chart the dangerous waters surrounding Cape Horn for England's maritime trade, which involved physically measuring the ocean depths—no Google Earth back then.
Speaking of exploration, Alexander the Great is often celebrated as one of history's greatest adventurers. Historian F.S. Naiden highlights that Alexander's campaigns involved mapping territories previously thought only accessible to the gods. His journeys included visits to temples where he learned about local religions, often prioritizing these explorations over military endeavors.
Long before Alexander, the Greeks established colonies in North Africa, France, Spain, Italy, and Ukraine, driven by both curiosity and fear of the unknown. Ancient peoples, such as the Mesopotamians, referred to unfamiliar groups as the "horde from who knows where."
Neolithic communities built fortified settlements in Siberia around eight thousand years ago, while the Romans constructed the Limes Germanicus—a 341-mile-long fortification along their German frontiers, not to mention Hadrian's Wall in Britain. The Sassanid Empire, emerging from the Persian Empire, erected the Great Wall of Gorgan using two hundred million bricks, requiring extensive resources and labor, as the locals deemed it crucial to protect against threats.
While modern society may resonate more with the image of explorers, we are, paradoxically, constructing our most complex barrier—technology. This wall shields us from discomfort and the unknown, ultimately distancing us from risk.
Section 1.2: The Perils of Comfort
In a recent interview, Hudson Institute Fellow Walter Russell Mead discussed the challenges young people face today in adapting to leadership roles. He attributes part of this struggle to their upbringing in an "artificial environment." Many young individuals spend their formative years focused on education rather than engaging with the world directly. As Mead puts it, "They're consumers, not producers, subjects, not actors," which leads to a disconnection from their surroundings.
Consider how Alexander Hamilton participated in a transformative revolution during his twenties and helped structure the fledgling United States in his thirties, all without formal training in advanced economics. Similarly, Neil Armstrong was in his thirties when he landed on the moon—a monumental achievement that, at the time, was fraught with danger.
In Bill Whittle's documentary, "Apollo 11: What We Saw," he describes the lunar landing module, the Eagle, as incredibly fragile. Whittle notes, "The Eagle was essentially a silver and gold soap bubble just barely able to hold 5 PSI of pure oxygen in the 1/6 gravity of the moon." During the landing, a critical malfunction occurred, forcing Armstrong to manually pilot the Eagle, skillfully avoiding rocks and craters.
Furthermore, the Apollo 11 mission carried an unprecedented risk: the lift-off boosters on the Eagle had never been tested in previous missions. A contingency plan existed for a scenario where the astronauts could not return, which included a speech titled "In Case of Moon Disaster," penned for President Nixon. The speech poignantly acknowledged the potential sacrifice of the astronauts, emphasizing the hope their loss would bring to mankind.
This evokes memories of Grieger's journey to Cape Horn.
Chapter 2: The Limitations of Technology
The video titled "Winter 2022 Colloquium - Dr. David Nemer - Technology of the Oppressed" delves into how technology can isolate individuals from genuine human experiences. In it, Dr. Nemer discusses the implications of technology on mental health, emphasizing that it cannot replicate the awe derived from personal struggles.
Nick Cave, a renowned rock star and writer, expressed his thoughts on AI-generated music, stating that it lacks the capacity to create genuine emotion. According to Cave, "Songs arise out of suffering... algorithms don't feel. Data doesn't suffer." This resonates with my observations of Grieger's expedition.
Eventually, Grieger and his crew reach Cape Horn, a site of breathtaking beauty. Yet, amidst this stunning landscape, something remains elusive. The awe radiating from Grieger and his companions is not merely visual; it is a profound sense of triumph stemming from overcoming adversity. This feeling, as Cave notes, cannot be replicated by technology.
Grieger's journey not only involved navigating treacherous seas but also confronting his own demons, driven by a desire to honor his fellow veterans grappling with PTSD. Our technological shield cannot recreate this experience, leading us to further disconnect from the world we seek to protect ourselves from.
While I may not be an expert in medicine or technology, I firmly believe that history holds the key to our salvation. The lessons from our ancestors may guide us in breaking free from the technological barrier we have constructed.
It’s time for exploration and embracing risk. While we need not face life-threatening situations, stepping outside our comfort zones and confronting challenges is essential. Awe can serve as an antidote to the "artificial environment" that Mead warns against, and it is something technology cannot replicate. We must seek it through our human experiences.
If you wish to explore more narratives like this, consider subscribing to my mailing list. For further engagement, feel free to check out my profile page. Additionally, I highly recommend watching the documentary "Hell or High Seas," available on Amazon Prime.