Zoochosis Effect in Humans: Overstimulation and Stress | BySonomare
Discover the zoochosis effect in humans and how overstimulation, screens, stress and modern lifestyles may influence the body and mind.
Laura Roig
9/30/20264 min read
We sleep worse, we live surrounded by stimuli, and many times we need to learn techniques to recover functions as basic as resting, concentrating, moving, or remaining in silence.
We meditate to calm ourselves. We organize our time better. We try to regulate the nervous system. We seek to sleep better and set boundaries.
All of this can be useful. But there is a question that deserves space:
What if part of our discomfort were not only within us, but also in the conditions in which we live?
Perhaps not everything we feel needs to be “fixed”. Sometimes, it is also worth looking at our environment.
What is zoochosis?
The term zoochosis has been used to describe certain abnormal and repetitive behaviors observed in some animals in captivity: repetitive movements, rocking, compulsive pacing, apathy, or self-injurious behaviors.
However, it is important to clarify this: zoochosis is not a scientific diagnosis applicable to humans, nor should it be used to directly equate human behavior with that of animals in captivity.
In this article, we use the concept as a metaphor to reflect on an interesting question: what happens when living conditions move too far away from the organism’s needs?
When we turn every signal into an individual problem
When an animal displays repetitive behavior in captivity, one of the questions we can ask ourselves is:
What is happening in its environment?
However, when it happens to us, the question is often:
What is wrong with me?
Compulsively checking our phones. Needing constant noise. Eating without being hungry. Biting our nails. Moving our legs constantly. Holding tension in our jaw. Feeling unable to rest. Constantly seeking stimulation.
This does not mean that all these behaviors have the same cause. But it may be worth stopping looking at them solely as a “personal problem” and also asking ourselves what our environment is demanding from our nervous system.
We have turned basic abilities into tasks
Resting. Moving. Sleeping. Connecting with others. Playing. Exploring. Being in silence.
Many of these are basic human abilities and, yet, we have reached a point where we set aside specific time to recover them.
We schedule an hour to move a body that has spent eight hours sitting. We use apps to remind ourselves that we need to stop. We try to recover over the weekend the energy we have used throughout the week.
And a paradox appears: we try to repair in a few hours what our everyday conditions continue to produce.
Regulation does not mean learning to tolerate everything
Understanding the nervous system and developing regulation resources can be very useful. The problem arises when regulation becomes another demand.
Breathing better. Meditating. Exercising. Sleeping well. Eating properly. Setting boundaries. Reducing screen time. Managing emotions.
And doing all of it perfectly. Sometimes we need internal resources.
But at other times, the body may be signaling that something in our external conditions needs to change.
Regulation can also mean turning off a notification, going for a walk, asking for help, moving away from noise, getting more sleep, saying no, or changing a routine. Not every regulation resource has to happen within us.
Instead of asking yourself only:
What is wrong with me?
also ask yourself:
What is happening around me?
What demands am I carrying?
What does my body need right now?
Do I need to regulate my response or change something in my environment?
How do we work with this perspective at Sonomare?
At Sonomare, we do not understand regulation as training the body to tolerate everything better.
We integrate education about the nervous system, body awareness, resources inspired by Somatic Experiencing, sound therapy, movement, orientation, boundaries, and silence.
Sound can create a space that is different from the rhythm of everyday life: fewer stimuli, greater body awareness, and an opportunity to observe what happens when we stop demanding a constant response from the organism.
Sometimes, regulation means finding internal resources. At other times, it means recognizing that something external needs to change. And many times, both happen at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does modern life dysregulate the nervous system?
This cannot be stated as a general rule. Stress depends on numerous individual and environmental factors. However, conditions such as lack of sleep, chronic stress, overload, or lack of recovery can affect well-being.
Does constantly needing stimulation mean that I have anxiety?
Not necessarily. It may be related to habits, boredom, stress, reward-seeking, or other factors.
Do humans have zoochosis?
There is no scientific basis for diagnosing humanity with “zoochosis.” In this article, we use the concept as a metaphor to reflect on the relationship between our behavior and the conditions in which we live.
Conclusion
Perhaps the question is not only:
How can I adapt better?
But also:
What am I trying to adapt to?
Personal work matters. But we are still organisms that exist within an environment.
Taking care of ourselves can mean learning resources to regulate ourselves, but also recovering much more basic things:
Movement. Rest. Silence. Connection. Space. Choice.
References: Estela de Castro, projecte «Zoocosis» · Grecia Guzmán Martínez, «Zoochosis: qué es y cómo aparece en animales capturados», Psicología y Mente
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Understanding your body also means looking at your environment.
At Sonomare, we support regulation processes through an approach that integrates the body, nervous system, sound, and context.
We do not seek to teach you to tolerate more, but to understand with you what your body is trying to communicate and which resources may help you.
Book your first individual session and discover the Sonomare approach.
