The control society is burning out — and that’s good news

We live in a time in which we are overwhelmed by impressions. Everything we do seems to be measured against what others expect of us: work, performance, appearance, health, money, possessions. That we often go along with this is part of our human need to belong and to be accepted. Being alone is one of the greatest threats for humans, something deeply rooted in our biology. We are constantly, often unconsciously, oriented toward connection; after all, we cannot survive in isolation. Yet that is exactly what happens in today’s overstretched society: other people increasingly feel like possible sources of rejection.

Our societal systems are built on predictability and control. Everywhere, there are rules, protocols, and expectations that individuals must meet. For a long time, that helped keep our shared world organised, but we are now running up against the limits of this constant control. People need structure, but within that, they especially need freedom to grow and to be themselves. This tension between control and freedom leaves many feeling less and less free, and increasingly convinced that they can never quite get it right.

Overstimulation

The fatigue that emerges from this is growing. Many people experience a continuous sense of pressure and a longing to escape—to a cabin in the woods, or simply behind a closed door. Overstimulation is no exception anymore; it’s a logical reaction to far too many impressions.

Every day, the brain processes billions of pieces of information: images, sounds, words, smells, thoughts, faces. Only a fraction reaches conscious awareness. Around 99% is filtered out to prevent overload, but it doesn’t disappear. These impressions remain somewhere in the neurobiology, as tension stored in the body and in the deeper layers of the brain. That is how the sense of overload arises: there is simply no room left for more.

The amount of stimulation we receive daily is far beyond what a human being can consciously tolerate. Yet society expects us to keep up. This works for a while—until the neurobiology steps in and pulls the plug. We call that burnout, now extremely common. The outside world often sees this as individual failure, while it is actually a logical outcome of structural overload.

Collective experience

More and more people are recognising that the constant pressure to perform is not sustainable. Changing course is difficult in a world that keeps accelerating and expects you to do the same. Social media adds another layer, intensifying the sense of being watched and evaluated. That makes contact with others more stressful, which in turn reduces genuine connection. The belief that “something is wrong with me” is, in reality, a collective experience. Knowing this alone can soften something inside: it isn’t you. It’s a natural response to a society demanding more than our biology can adapt to.

Fortunately, this awareness is growing, and changes are becoming visible. Schools are banning phones and making room for play again. Support services are shifting from diagnosis to safety. In workplaces, people increasingly focus on cooperation rather than competition. And many are trying to take more distance from social media, even if that’s not easy.

What strengthens this shift is knowledge. We now understand much more about how the brain works, how safety develops, and that we are built to live together, not in isolation. The idea that you should be able to do everything alone is biologically unrealistic. Connection is the foundation for a free life.

Individualism to connection

So how do we return from individualism to connection? It begins with presence—not in a spiritual sense, but as the simple ability to be here: in this moment, in this place, with the person in front of you. Many people live largely on autopilot, lost in thoughts and feelings.

How often in a day are you truly present?

If this year felt heavy or lonely, it may help to remember that this is not a personal failure but a shared reaction of a species pushed beyond its limits. The end of the year might be a good moment to explore how things could be different. Less control, more cooperation. Less pressure, more humanity. More presence.

Take care of yourself.