Social Media and Mental Health

Habits

I do not know the number of times I pick up my phone and scroll through my social media platforms, out of habit.

I start my day by reaching for my phone and I end the day by reaching for my phone.

If I can’t sleep I reach for the bastard. If I am bored or in between breaks there I am scrolling away to a bunch of BS and nonsense.

I google MD questions from fear and anxiety, to researching everything and anything.

I become obsessive on home decor or get sucked into Tik-tok videos of people chopping vegetables.

What is healthy vs. potentially problematic social media use?

One study found, “That routine social media use for example, using social media as part of everyday routine and responding to content that others share is positively associated with all three health outcomes. Emotional connection to social media for example, checking apps excessively out of fear of missing out (FOMO), being disappointed about or feeling disconnected from friends when not logged into social media is negatively associated with all three outcomes.”

In more general terms

These findings suggest that as long as we are mindful users, routine use may not in itself be a problem.

Indeed, it could be beneficial.

For those with unhealthy social media use, behavioral interventions may help.

For example, programs that develop “effortful control” skills—the ability to self-regulate behavior—have been widely shown to be useful in dealing with problematic Internet and social media use.

Some negative outcomes of over excessive social media use:

• Your symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness are increasing.
• You are spending more time on social media than with your real-world friends and family members.
• You tend to compare yourself unfavorably with others on social media or you find that you are frequently jealous of others.
• You are being trolled or cyberbullied by others online.

How to get rid of ‘social networking addiction’?

Tips and Tricks:

• Uninstall all social networking apps from your smartphones.
• Use websites like Facebook Limiter and Cold Turkey.
• Appoint someone to keep a check on you as to how much time you are spending on the social networking websites.
• Deactivate your account a few times and activate it once you have controlled your addiction.
• Talk to a psychiatrist if nothing works.

Maybe it’s society telling us if we scroll too much we will endure problematic mental clarity.

I feel that this is a real catch 22.

The world today is filled with ground breaking news that is shown first through social media, we work through social media with our jobs, our loneliness can not be justified based upon self isolating from scrolling.

Regular use of social media and the internet can improve the mental health of adults and ward off depression and anxiety, many reports have addressed.

Communication technologies and social media platforms can not only help build self esteem they can also keep us in contact with family, friends and new contacts.

What do you think?

 

This post was written by Lauren K., and published by Convenient Counseling Services.

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