We’ve all felt that weird shift lately. It’s hard to pin down. But honestly, if you look back at the state of consciousness 2022 provided us, it was a weird, frantic, and somehow deeply internal turning point for how we think about being "awake."
People were coming out of lockdowns with fried dopamine receptors. We were collectively exhausted. That year didn’t just change our schedules; it changed how we perceive reality, presence, and the very biology of our thoughts.
The Year Science Got Weird with the Mind
For a long time, talking about "levels of consciousness" was reserved for monks or people doing yoga in Vermont. Then 2022 hit. Suddenly, the mainstream scientific community started dropping papers that felt like science fiction.
One of the biggest moments came from the University of Sussex. Researchers there, including the brilliant Anil Seth, were pushing the idea that our conscious experience is basically a "controlled hallucination." That’s a heavy thought. It means your brain isn't just recording the world like a camera; it’s actively making it up based on best guesses. In 2022, Seth's book Being You was still rippling through the zeitgeist, forcing us to admit that our "normal" state of consciousness is a lot more fragile than we’d like to believe.
It wasn't just theory. We saw massive leaps in Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and Global Neuronal Workspace Theory. These are the two heavy hitters in the "why are we awake?" debate. While they usually fight like cats and dogs, 2022 saw more collaborative adversarial trials. Basically, scientists agreed to stop shouting and start testing their theories against each other in the same labs. That kind of intellectual humility is rare. It also moved the needle on how we define the state of consciousness 2022 era, shifting it from philosophy into hard, measurable data.
The Psychedelic Renaissance Hits a Peak
You can't talk about consciousness in that period without mentioning the mushrooms. Or the acid. Or the ketamine.
By 2022, the "stoner" stigma was dying a fast death. It was replaced by clinical precision. We saw the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research producing data that was frankly hard to ignore. They weren't just looking at "tripping." They were looking at how these substances rewire the Default Mode Network (DMN).
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Think of your DMN as the "ego" center of your brain. It’s the part that ruminates on why your boss looked at you funny or why you’re not as successful as your cousin. In 2022, the research showed that certain states of consciousness could literally "reboot" this system. This wasn't just for people seeking enlightenment. It was for people with treatment-resistant depression who had tried everything else. The state of consciousness 2022 research indicated that "altering" the mind wasn't an escape—it was a medical necessity for some.
Tech is the New Meditation
While some were looking at plants, others were looking at silicon.
Neuralink was all over the news in 2022, for better or worse. Regardless of how you feel about Elon Musk, the conversation changed. We started asking: if a computer chip can change your state of consciousness, what does that say about the "soul"?
We also saw the rise of high-end wearables. Not just step counters. I’m talking about devices that measure Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and brain waves in real-time. People started gamifying their zen. If your Oura ring tells you that you didn't reach "deep sleep," does that change your conscious experience the next day? Usually, yes. Because you start obsessing over the data.
This created a feedback loop. We became more aware of our internal states because our phones were shouting at us about them. It was the year of the "Quantified Self." We weren't just living; we were monitoring the state of consciousness 2022 had forced upon us through screens and sensors.
The Problem with "Always On"
Here is the kicker. While we were getting better at measuring consciousness, we were getting worse at maintaining it.
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The attention economy reached a breaking point. Short-form video—TikTok, Reels, Shorts—completely hijacked the human dopamine system. In 2022, we started seeing the term "popcorn brain" gain traction. It’s that feeling where your mind jumps from thought to thought so fast you can’t actually focus on a single page of a book.
Dr. Gloria Mark, a researcher at UC Irvine, has done incredible work on this. Her data showed that our attention spans have plummeted over the last two decades, but 2022 felt like the year the floor fell out. We were conscious, sure. But it was a fragmented, shattered kind of consciousness. We were awake, but we weren't there.
Sleep as a Radical Act
In a world trying to steal your attention, sleeping became a form of protest.
We saw a massive shift in how we value the "unconscious" state. The 2022 sleep economy was worth billions. People weren't just buying mattresses; they were buying magnesium, blackout curtains, and specialized "sleep hygiene" routines.
Why? Because we realized that consciousness is a battery. If you don't let the brain wash itself out—literally, via the glymphatic system—you end up with a toxic buildup of proteins. The state of consciousness 2022 showed us that being "awake" is only as good as the time you spend "away."
Beyond the Human Mind
We also started looking at other things. Octopuses, for instance.
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In 2022, the UK formally recognized cephalopods (and lobsters) as sentient beings. This was huge. It expanded our definition of consciousness beyond the "human-like" model. It forced us to realize that there are different ways to be "aware." An octopus has brains in its arms. Its state of consciousness is decentralized. It’s alien.
This realization humbled us. We realized we aren't the only ones home. The world is full of "states of consciousness" that we are only just beginning to decode.
Actionable Steps for a Better Mind
So, where does this leave you? If 2022 was the year we realized our brains were under siege, how do we fix it now?
- Protect the Default Mode Network. You don't need psychedelics to do this. Simply sitting in a room without a phone for 20 minutes can help "reset" the rumination cycle. It feels like torture at first. That’s how you know you need it.
- Monitor the "Popcorn Brain." If you find yourself scrolling for more than 15 minutes, your state of consciousness has shifted into a passive, reactive mode. Force a "hard break" by doing something physical. Use a cold plunge, a heavy lift, or even just a brisk walk.
- Audit Your Bio-Data. If you use a wearable, stop looking at it for a week. Re-learn how to "feel" if you are rested rather than letting an app tell you. The goal is internal awareness, not external validation.
- Acknowledge the "Controlled Hallucination." When you’re stressed or angry, remind yourself that your brain is making a "guess" about reality. Most of the time, that guess is tinted by lack of sleep or too much caffeine.
The state of consciousness 2022 wasn't just a moment in time. It was a wake-up call. We learned that being "conscious" isn't a static thing you just have. It’s a skill you have to practice, protect, and occasionally, completely rethink. Stop letting the world dictate your frequency. Start tuning the dial yourself.
Take a breath. Put the phone down. Notice the weight of your feet on the floor. That’s the only state of consciousness that actually matters right now.