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In counselling work, one theme that’s appearing more often—especially as artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life—is epistemological anxiety.
It sounds technical, but the idea is very human and very familiar:
the worry that we can’t always tell what is real.
At the heart of this is something philosophers call epistemic agency. Schlosser (2019) describes this as “the control that agents may exercise over their beliefs.” Put simply, epistemic agency is about how we form our beliefs, how we revise them, and how we decide whom or what to trust.
Everyone experiences moments of uncertainty, because whenever we encounter new information or try to make sense of the world, we face two separate questions:
- What is true?
This points to objective reality: what is actually happening, regardless of our perspective. - What should I trust?
This is about epistemic reliability: choosing sources, evaluating information, and deciding what feels credible.
The first question—what is true—is not something we can ever fully control. Reality is what it is; we can only perceive it in our own way.
The second question—what should I trust—is where we do have some agency. We can build habits, boundaries, and support systems that help us navigate uncertainty in a healthier way.
Why AI Makes the Question “What Is Real?” More Pressing
As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating convincing text, images, audio and video, many people are beginning to ask a once simple question: How do I know what is real anymore?
This question feeds directly into epistemological anxiety.
For most of our lives, we’ve relied—often without thinking—on certain markers of trust:
- I saw it with my own eyes.
- A professional or journalist reported it.
- Everyone else seems to confirm it.
AI can now imitate all of these signals with surprising accuracy. Deepfakes, synthetic voices, and AI-generated writing don’t just mislead us; they also undermine our confidence in the very processes we use to form beliefs. When even our senses and trusted sources can be replicated, it’s natural to feel unsettled.
In the counselling room..
These concerns may show up in several ways. People might describe:
- feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available
- doubting their own judgement or second-guessing their instincts
- struggling to tell trustworthy sources from untrustworthy ones
- a general sense that the world feels less stable or predictable
- becoming hypervigilant around digital content
- constantly checking, researching, or questioning whether something is genuine
- losing confidence in their own senses or interpretations
Clients sometimes put it into words like:
- “I don’t trust my senses anymore.”
- “Anything could be fake.”
- “I can’t tell what to believe.”
These reactions are not signs of personal weakness; they are understandable responses to an environment where the boundaries between the real and the artificial are increasingly blurred. This is not a personal failing. It is a human response to a rapidly changing information landscape in which our old markers of certainty no longer operate as reliably as they once did.
The term “AI psychosis” has recently been coined to summarise some of these feelings and behaviours. While not a clinical diagnosis, it reflects a growing concern among psychologists, who have observed the significant impact that AI-driven confusion can have on people’s sense of reality. This can be especially challenging for clients who are already vulnerable to dissociation, paranoia, or difficulties grounding themselves. For these individuals, the blurring of the real and the artificial can heighten anxiety, mistrust, and disorientation, making sensitive and supportive therapeutic work even more essential.
Finding Steady Ground: Supporting Your Epistemic Agency
Although we cannot control everything we encounter online, we can strengthen the second question: what we choose to trust.
Here are a few gentle grounding principles:
1. Look for provenance, not polish
Instead of judging information solely by how convincing, polished, or realistic it appears, focus on its origin. Ask where it comes from, whether it can be traced, and if the source is accountable. Reliability comes from traceable evidence and accountability, not from how smooth or aesthetically convincing something seems.
2. Favour accountability over confidence
When evaluating information, prioritise sources that can be held accountable. Sources with responsibility and oversight have a stronger incentive to provide accurate, reliable information than those that merely appear confident or persuasive.
3. Slow down the pace of consumption
Continuously scrolling through distressing or sensational content can amplify anxiety and uncertainty. Limit exposure to overwhelming information and create intentional breaks to protect your mental and emotional well-being. Limit the doom-scrolling on social media.
4. Keep a small circle of reliable information sources
You don’t need to follow everything. By curating your sources and focusing on those you trust, you can reduce informational noise and make it easier to distinguish what is credible, helping your thinking feel clearer and more grounded.
5. Allow uncertainty without panic
It’s okay not to know immediately. You can hold beliefs with graded confidence rather than all-or-nothing certainty.
You’re Not Alone in This
If you find yourself wondering “what is real?” more often these days, you’re in good company.
It’s a shared human response to a moment of technological change.
What matters most isn’t perfect certainty—it’s building the tools, boundaries, and supportive relationships that help you navigate uncertainty with confidence and care.
If you would like support or more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
