I have been a clinician for over two decades, and one thing has become increasingly clear: boundaries today aren’t just necessary in relationships anymore, they’re about how we relate to information, devices, news, work, and even our own thoughts.

In earlier generations, many boundaries existed naturally. We watched the evening news when it aired; newspapers arrived in the morning and were read at leisure; telephones didn’t interrupt dinner. The latest trends appeared when your favorite magazine released a new issue. For well over a decade, digital devices and platforms have operated 24/7, pushing updates and notifications directly into our awareness at all hours. This constant barrage means that, unlike previous generations, we must work deliberately and consistently to protect our attention and create the boundaries that once existed automatically.

It’s tempting to act like this is happening to us, that the rise of anxiety is a natural side effect of technology. But that’s not the whole story. Smartphones, social media, and constant connectivity have been around for a while, yet anxiety and mental fatigue continue to rise. The issue isn’t simply the presence of technology; it’s how we engage with it, and the boundaries we fail to set for ourselves.

Many clients I see are caught in loops of self-doubt and overthinking, fueled by digital consumption. One client, for example, was constantly back and forth........

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