Anosmia. A temporary or permanent inability to perceive odors.
For example: When you enter a restaurant you can smell all the food. But half way your meal you are no longer aware of all the smells.
This phenomenon is called neutral adaptation. So if this can happen with smells and odors. It seems very likely also to be possible with the input we, humans, receive every day from the way other people act and make decisions, social media and news reports. We keep hearing and seeing the same things over and over… and over again. We become numb. So might this be one of the reasons people like me don’t seem to care about the world and my own life anymore.
Has my brain changed so much..?
2 comments
Sounds possible to me!
It’s a coping mechanism. Everything would be too confusing or traumatic otherwise. Our senses are constantly stimulated, so we learn to adapt, and only take in that which is necessary. The brain has a very efficient system when ‘working properly.’ However, when people are faced with too much, all at once, the brain can begin to shut down, in order to protect itself. Nature is actually a great counter to this problem. Spending time in nature causes one to unwind, losing the stress from all that stimuli, and can rejuvenate the senses.
Will it make you ‘care more’ about what’s going on around you? Maybe, maybe not. But there is only so much we can do, in our own ‘communities,’ our microcosm. If we cannot help those far away who are suffering, it does not really matter if you care or not.
You should try to care about your life. If you can, do things for yourself that you can enjoy. It is no use to live only for others when they may not appreciate you, so always put yourself first. If you like yourself, then you can start to care about others.