Have You Ever Felt Emptiness? Maybe We Living with An Autopilot Mode

Kaleidoscope, — We often lose awareness when our mental state is flat. Maybe peaceful—maybe, yes. Lately, it seems like everything is going on as usual, but without any overt feelings. Without full awareness. Like a repetitive cycle in mechanical mode. Everything is default. Automatic. 

I read an article on the Verywell Mind website and discovered that this might be what’s called autopilot mode. In psychology, this mode involves the collaboration of several nervous systems and cognitive processes that allow the brain to automate routine tasks. Just like a machine. It’s pretty crazy, but also quite impressive.

This is about the automatic mode that sometimes makes us move, walk, but without full awareness of what we’re doing. Feelings feel flat, and peace comes as an illusion.

In autopilot mode, actions are automatic, driven by habit, expectation, and instinct, not by conscious and deliberate choice. This phenomenon is also known by other terms, such as mindlessness or automaticity. Spiritually, this feels strange and illogical.

How can you do everything precisely, yet you’re not even aware of it, as if it all just happened? In some circumstances, we often read an activity as habitual. Consciousness is significantly absent.

Have you ever driven a motorcycle while not fully conscious, yet still arrived safely at your destination?

Autopilot mode works like that.

The mind isn’t focused on the activity at hand, but spontaneously wanders to other topics. We might not remember small details of recent activities, such as the route taken to get to the office or the conversations that took place. Sometimes we feel empty or disconnected from the emotions and experiences that are taking place.

We give patterned emotional or verbal responses without assessing the current situation. For example, responding “fine” when asked how we are, when in fact we’re tired. Days feel the same and boring, so we lose our enthusiasm for each new day. These kinds of behaviors can be signs that we’re on autopilot.

Autopilot itself works like a double-edged sword. I’ve experienced some benefits, to be honest. It’s also a warning sign of excessive emotional distress.

I feel a sense of efficiency in routine, where my brain seems to save energy when performing repetitive, well-known tasks, like driving the same road every day. Without having to remember, at intersections, I can immediately decide which way to go to my destination. It brakes automatically when a car stops in front of me, and all sorts of other defaults. I also feel automaticity, like when I gather clothes and put them away in the closet, quickly and accurately.

However, if it’s too frequent and sustained, it seems autopilot can pose risks. We can lose control of our lives, not having control over our own lives because we’re constantly operating based on unconscious patterns. We can also regret missing moments because we weren’t fully present. We might miss important moments that can’t be repeated.

The worst part, I think, is mental exhaustion.

Constant autopilot mode can be a symptom of chronic stress fatigue or even indicate deep grief.

According to neuroscience research, autopilot mode is influenced by a brain system called the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is a group of brain areas that become active when the brain is at rest or not focused on the outside world. These areas include the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus. When a person is in autopilot mode, the DMN takes over, causing the mind to wander.

The DMN works in opposition to the brain network that is active when we focus and engage in tasks that require full attention, such as the central control network. When we focus on a task, DMN activity is suppressed. Conversely, when we divert attention from an external task, the DMN reactivates.

In short, autopilot mode is the result of a shift in behavioral control from the energy-intensive prefrontal cortex to the basal ganglia, which relies on habits and procedural memory. During this process, the DMN takes over, allowing the mind to wander while the body maintains its routine.

Many studies have shown that mindfulness meditation can help regulate DMN activity. By practicing focusing on the breath or bodily sensations, one can reduce the DMN’s dominance as an autopilot trigger and increase present-moment awareness.

I’ve read some literature, and it turns out the STOP technique is quite widely used. The STOP technique is a method for raising awareness with several steps. If you feel your mind starting to wander or stress increasing, you can try Stop: Pause from any activity, Take a breath: Take a deep breath, Observe: Observe your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, and Proceed: Resume the activity with full awareness.

In this case, it turns out dopamine plays a crucial role in restoring awareness. Dopamine plays a central role in mediating awareness, particularly as it relates to motivation, attention, and decision-making. This chemical doesn’t directly “create” awareness, but rather regulates it by influencing how the brain processes information and responds to the environment.

Dopamine can be produced by the brain through various activities that induce feelings of happiness, such as listening to music or telling stories. Additionally, increasing dopamine can also be achieved through regular exercise combined with quality sleep.

Consciousness is the most important thing a human being can achieve.

Therefore, I believe it’s crucial for us to find a state of consciousness that can be fully controlled by the brain. It’s nothing special, but living in an unconscious state can be like being lost in the throes of alcohol, causing us to make choices that aren’t based on careful consideration.