Is Social media Contributing to your depression?
Social media is everywhere and it is fair to say it has never been so popular. Recent research undertaken suggests that people who spend less time online engaging with social media, are happier than those who spend more. Studies also suggest that social media can trigger negative thinking and self talk which contribute or worsen the depression many face, So why do we still participate? And how can we make things change?
Here I wanted to share some factual information and supportive tips for anyone who maybe suffering from depression, feeling that they are negatively impacted by social media or to those that are curios and willing to make change.
Know that what we see online is not always a reflection of what is true. Too often we see how well everything is going and how beautiful everyhting seems but in reality the person posting these images has selected their highlights or best bits to share. Understand that our feeds are often curated to show happy moments and are not a true reflection of the full story.
Beware of the rabbit hole!!! Ever gone on Twitter just to check some thing quick ad then got lost in a sea of comments and tweets? Ever wanted to listen to a song on YouTube and suddenly you are lost in ads and targeted videos? This is an all too common occurrence for many of us. The rabbit hole is often never ending and has many twists and turns and unfortunately is often negative. We can get lost in this online world and we become detached from reality and our present and distracted by this other world. Try limiting screen time, remove certain apps from your phone or apply app blockers which limit your time you can use these apps. It is also worth writing down the impact social media has on you after periods of interaction. This awareness allows you to understand what drains your energy and what allows you to shine brighter.
The perfect look and imalge seems to be a continues quest. Filters are something that is now normal across all social media platforms. There is research which supports the damage that applying filters on our images does. It causes us to seek perfection, not accept our true selves and hide our authentic look. Try and ditch the filter, allow yourslef to share images of you. Allow others to feel encouraged and inspired.
Social media can be a toxic place and many keyboard worriers will hide in online chat rooms and social media as they feel they are safe to be cruel behined a screen. Many individuals can experience bullying, abuse and hate crimes online and this will promote anxiety, depression, low self esteem and has been linked with (in a few cases) to suicide.
If you have concerns about the impact social media is having on you then there is help and support out there. Try the above tips, reach out to others and see if things change.