The mind of modern man has almost turned into a radio that never stops. Not only the external world, but also the internal world has been muted. Silence is no longer perceived as peace but as a threat. The music that is always in our ears, the background music of series, TikTok videos, YouTube content… Behind all these sounds, there is an escape of the individual from his own thoughts. A kind of mental noise. So why can’t we stay silent? More importantly, why are we so afraid of this silence?
Sensory Blockage and Internal Escape
The brain is a structure hungry for stimuli. However, in modern life, this hunger is met with an artificial satiation. For example, when we are alone at home, our first reflex is to break the silence: Spotify playlists, Netflix plays in the background, the sound of our notifications is on even if no one is calling us. This is not a simple habit; a manifestation of the dysregulated state of our nervous system.
American neurologist Dr. Daniel Levitin says that constant multitasking increases cognitive fatigue in the brain and increases cortisol levels. In other words, mental noise is not only a choice, but also a source of stress for the nervous system in the long term.
Difficulty Staying with Thoughts
The behavior of avoiding mental silence is mostly related to the fear of being alone with repressed thoughts. Anxiety, regret or search for meaning that comes when thoughts start flowing – these disturb the person at an unconscious level. For this reason, we constantly resort to external stimuli. There is an implicit belief that if I am alone, I will think, if I think, I will feel, if I feel, I will get tired.
In many therapeutic processes, it is seen that clients have difficulty enduring inner silence at first. The individual, who is used to living by suppressing his feelings, confronts everything he has suppressed in silence. At this point, silence becomes not only a lack of sound, but also an area where inner contact is forced.
Therapeutic Function of Conscious Silence
Research shows that regular silence practice—for example, mindfulness exercises or time spent alone in nature—increases an individual’s capacity for self-regulation. A study conducted by Harvard Medical School found that 15-20 minute periods of silence daily support both parasympathetic nervous system activation and focus.
When considered therapeutically, silence opens a deep space between the therapist and the client. Those moments without words allow the mind to restructure. It also creates an opportunity to silently feel the “emotional companionship” of the therapist. Conscious silence creates an inner space that allows the mind to reconnect.
Transforming Noise from a Habit to a Tool
It is necessary not to oppose mental noise, but to establish a conscious relationship with it. Listening to music or watching a movie can be enjoyable and necessary actions; but when these actions become constant escapes, the mind loses touch with itself. That’s why it’s recommended to create “self-listening spaces” during the day.
• Quiet 10-minute walks
• A coffee break without a screen
• Moments to try “being with” your thoughts
These allow the mind to turn to itself, not the crowd.
Mental noise may seem to suppress anxiety in the short term, but it deepens inner confusion in the long term. Silence, on the other hand, may seem disturbing at first, but it eventually becomes transformative. The brain only hears its own voice when it is silent.
While the crowd rules our inner world, perhaps the most revolutionary move may be to learn to remain silent.