Social Media: Is It Bad For Your Mental Health?

There aren’t many people these days who aren’t on social media. Even my husband, who just recently (and by recently I mean a few weeks ago) was “trying to figure out what this whole LinkedIn thing is all about”, spends time scrolling through Twitter. It’s everywhere. It’s a news source, a way to communicate with friends and family, and it’s what most of us do when we’re bored.

There are so many benefits of Facebook, Instagram, and the like. First and foremost, it can be fun! I woke up this morning and the first thing I saw was photos of The TODAY Show‘s new guide dog in training. Is there a better way to start your day than with an adorable puppy who’s being trained to change someone’s life? (No. The answer is no.) It’s allowed me to keep in touch with people who otherwise might have fallen by the way side when I re-located across the country. I’ve learned so much from people I would never have had contact with otherwise on a wide variety of topics. It’s a great way to pass the time while I’m forever waiting for a train that will probably be delayed.

Unfortunately, the effects of social media don’t stop with the warm fuzzies we get from seeing cute pictures of animals. Research has shown a large number of negative side effects from social media usage, such as increased jealousy, depression, and perceived social isolation. In other words, after spending an hour reading through your Facebook feed, there’s a good chance you could feel worse about yourself.

So why do so many people continue to log in? It’s also addictive. I’m pretty sure all of us can relate to that one. Remember that time you started looking at fun videos at 10pm and suddenly it’s 2am and you’re wondering where your life has gone?

Those are some pretty scary consequences, but you don’t have to rush to delete all your accounts. It is possible to enjoy all the benefits of social media without it taking a huge toll on your well being.

 

Don’t compare your daily life to someone else’s highlight reel.

This is the big one. What do you usually post on social media? Do you Instagram the day you spent arguing with your spouse and cleaning up after your sick toddler? Do you post on Twitter about the day you got fired after making a mistake at work? Probably not, and neither does anyone else. Remember that while you’re sitting at home on a Friday night and you’re seeing Instagram posts of big, happy groups of people living it up. That’s their highlight reel. You have no idea what went on before someone’s big night out, or what the real circumstances are surrounding the event. Take whatever is posted online with a grain of salt. You’re seeing what people want you to see, rather than the whole picture. Comparing that to what you experience throughout an entire day isn’t a fair comparison. No one’s life is ever as perfect as it looks on social media.

 

Log off.

It’s one thing to spend time while you’re waiting to check out at the grocery store scrolling through those apps. It’s another to be losing sleeping hours trying to figure out if your ex and his new partner are really as happy as they look. If you’re having trouble finding the balance, try to set specific log off times each day. Putting your phone away an hour before bed can help both your sleep hygiene as well as your sanity as you take a break from it all.

Another way to limit your usage is to put the phone away while you’re spending time with others. No Facebooking at dinner. Avoid pulling up Twitter while you’re watching a movie with your roommate, kids, or partner. Let the activity you’re doing be front and center, and save the social media for when you need to kill some time. Not only will you get that mental break that we all need, but you’ll be more present with those who are actually in front of you, which can do wonders for improving your relationships.

 

Check in with yourself.

How are you feeling as you check out the photos of your high school friend’s wedding? Happy? Great! Weddings are pretty great, and wedding photography is often really pretty.

But if you’re feeling lower and lower with each picture of her bridal gown from various angles, then stop looking. There’s no rule that says you have to participate in someone else’s social media posts. If it makes you feel anything other than positive, then don’t do it. It’s not worth it. There’s a lot of negativity in a given day that we can’t avoid. Don’t add more.

Maybe you aren’t exactly thrilled that everyone else around you is having kids, and you’re not. That’s okay. There’s no need to give yourself a reminder of it on a regular basis. It’s already something you struggle with, so why make it harder? Treat yourself like you‘d treat a good friend. Would you show them photos that will make them sad? Probably not. Don’t do it to yourself either.

 

Get out.

It’s easy to think that we’re socially connected if we’ve spent hours exchanging Snapchat photos back and forth, or if we’ve commented on a bunch of our friends’ Facebook statuses. While online communication can be great, it’s no substitute for spending time with someone IRL. Make plans to see a friend or a family member, even if it’s just for a quick cup of coffee. Connecting outside of our phone can reduce a lot of those feelings of isolation that social media can bring up. Aside from that, it’s just fun!

 

Struggling with separating from social media? Talk to us.