08/15/2022
LONG POST ALERT BUT IT'S GOING TO HELP SOMEBODY!🙌
Just in time for BACK TO SCHOOL, it's MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY...
🗣Let's talk SOCIAL MEDIA & MENTAL HEALTH!
It’s no big secret that teenagers are drawn to social media these days. Social media dramatically changed the way we communicate, socialize, and make and maintain friendships. While there are benefits to living in a digital world, there are also risks. Today’s youth miss out on critical social skills development when they spend the majority of their free time connected to and interacting through a screen. They can also get lost in a world of unrealistic comparisons, cyberbullying, and feeling left out!
Social media use can cause feelings of missing out and a sense of inadequacy. This can lead to loneliness, anxiety and/or depression. Stepping away from social media may help reduce those feelings of missing out induced anxiety and loneliness. In teenagers and young adults, social media use has been linked to increased depression. Many girls are bombarded with their friends posting the most perfect pictures of themselves, or they’re following celebrities and influencers who do a lot of photoshopping and have makeup and hair teams. If that’s their model for what is normal, it can be very hard on their self-confidence.
Another thing disrupted by social media is the process of doing homework and other tasks that require concentration. It’s become common for teenagers to engage with friends on social media at the same time they are supposed to be studying. They take pride in being able to multi-task, but evidence shows that it cuts down on learning and performance.
🗣It may be time for a person to take a social media break if social media leads to any of the following...
*getting frequently annoyed or frustrated with people’s posts, comments or trending topics on social media
*tending to compare their life, body, career, relationships, well-being or other factors with those of other people on social media
*having the habit of checking social media first thing upon waking up
*noticing an increase in anxiety or depression symptoms
*spending a significant amount of time on social media (Does it consume a big part of your day? Every free moment, do you find yourself scrolling on social media?)
*getting insufficient sleep or having trouble falling asleep
*checking notifications in the company of others or during an activity
*getting into arguments on social media
*feeling overwhelmed by social media posts
*feeling disappointed for not receiving any engagement with a post or comment
*losing focus and missing deadlines or neglecting chores
*feeling tempted to compete with others on social media — for example, for more likes or followers
If a person thinks that they may have a social media addiction, they should consider speaking with a healthcare professional.
Remember, this digital world and what you post is forever!
So, what's the longest you've stayed off of/detoxed from/deactivated social media? It's okay to take a break from it!
🗣🗣🗣 P.S. CHECK ON YOUR CHILDREN and these apps they're using!
~Dr. Bailey
