!Possible Trigger Warning!

Recently, I had deleted Facebook from my phone and I spend limited time on my personal Instagram page. I know some people my think that having social media is not that bad but, for me it’s really mentally and physically exhausting. As I’m scrolling down my timeline on Facebook and Instagram. I find myself comparing my life to others. This may sound silly but sometimes I feel like the people have on social media their life is better than mine. Seeing certain post triggers my depression and anxiety. So I thought it would be best to take a break from social media and focus more on my mental health. I did some research about how can social media make a negative impact on people’s mental health.

I came across some important reasons how social media affects mental health…

Comparing yourself to others.

Certain post triggers you, causes depression and anxiety.

Exhausting.

Loneliness.

Self-harm.

Suicidal thoughts.

New research reveals how social media platforms like Facebook can affect your mental health. Studies have linked the use of social media to depression, anxiety, poorer sleep quality, lower self-esteem, inattention and hyperactivity often in teens and adolescents.

Negative Aspects:

Inadequacy about you life or appearance: Even if you know that images you’re viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what’s going on in your own life.

Fear of missing out (FOMO): Social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram seem to exacerbate feelings that others are having more fun or living better lives that you are. The idea that you’re missing out on certain things can impact your self-esteem, trigger anxiety, and fuel even greater social media use.

Depression and anxiety: We need to face-to-face contact to be mentally healthy. Nothing reduces stress and boosts your mood faster or more effectively than eye-to eye contact with someone who cares about you. The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationship, the more you’re at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Self-absorption: Sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create an unhealthy self-contentedness and distance you from real-life connections.

Excessive Social Media use can create a Negative, Self-Perpetuating Cycle:

1. When you feel lonely, depressed, anxious, or stressed. You use social media more often-as a way to relieve boredom or feel connected to others.
2. Using social media more often, though increases FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation.
3. In turn, these feelings negatively affect your mood and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
4. These worsening symptoms causes you to use social media even more, and so the downward spiral continues.

Indicators that social media may be adversely affecting your mental health:

Spending more time on Social Media than with Real World Friends: Even if you’re out with friends, you still feel the need to constantly check social media, often driven by feelings that others may be having more fun than you.

Being distracted at school or work: You feel pressure to post regular content about yourself, get comments or likes on your posts, or respond quickly and enthusiastically to friends’ posts.

Its okay to have social media but, I try not to get lost in it. Meaning not spending so much of my time scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. When I feel like its affecting my mental health, I take a break or limit my time on social media. Its important to take some time to reflect and do some self-care.

Do you feel like social media is bad for mental health?