Jamie Geller, Psy.D.

09/17/2024

Is Social Media Depressing You?

In today’s digital age, social media platforms have transformed the way we communicate, share experiences, and perceive ourselves. While these platforms can foster connections, they can also lead to detrimental comparisons that contribute to feelings of inadequacy and depression. As a psychologist, I want to shed light on this phenomenon and offer strategies to mitigate its effects.

Understanding the Impact of Social Media Comparisons

1. **The Highlight Reel Effect**: Social media often showcases the best moments of people's lives, creating a distorted view of reality. Users may find themselves comparing their everyday struggles to others' curated highlights, which can lead to feelings of inferiority and dissatisfaction.

2. **Unrealistic Standards**: The constant exposure to idealized images and lifestyles can set unattainable standards. This can foster a sense of failure when individuals feel they don’t measure up, leading to low self-esteem and depressive symptoms.

3. **Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)**: Seeing friends or acquaintances engaging in exciting activities can trigger FOMO, a feeling that can exacerbate anxiety and feelings of loneliness when one feels left out.

Strategies to Decrease the Effects of Social Media Comparisons

1. **Limit Social Media Use**: Set specific times for checking social media to avoid mindless scrolling. Consider taking regular breaks or even a complete detox from social media to reset your perspective.

2. **Curate Your Feed**: Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you, and unfollow those that trigger negative feelings. Surrounding yourself with positivity can help shift your mindset.

3. **Practice Gratitude**: Keep a gratitude journal to remind yourself of your accomplishments and the positive aspects of your life. Reflecting on what you appreciate can help counteract feelings of inadequacy.

4. **Engage in Real-Life Connections**: Foster in-person relationships and activities that bring joy and fulfillment. Engaging with friends and family can provide a more balanced perspective on life.

5. **Challenge Negative Thoughts**: When you find yourself comparing, pause and challenge those thoughts. Ask yourself if the comparison is fair or if you’re overlooking your unique qualities and achievements.

6. **Seek Professional Help**: If feelings of depression persist, consider speaking to a mental health professional. Therapy can provide coping strategies and a supportive space to address your feelings.

Conclusion

While social media can be a powerful tool for connection, it can also foster harmful comparisons that impact mental health. By implementing these strategies, individuals can cultivate a healthier relationship with social media and focus on their own journey rather than the perceived successes of others. Remember, your path is uniquely yours, and it is important to celebrate your individual progress.

08/25/2023

Social media can be a great thing in many ways, but it can also do damage or make us feel worse and we don’t even realize it. It helps to be aware of what kind of content makes you feel good and what may trigger a negative response so you can use it more mindfully and in ways that enhance your well being rather than detract from it.

To help guide that awareness consider the questions below:

08/25/2023

What kind of social media posts make you feel good after you see them ?
What kinds make you feel worse?

08/18/2023

Welcome new followers! I’m excited to use this space to post food for thought and reflection, little nuggets of emotional support as well as a chance for discussion on psychological and emotional topics and issues that many of us face in every day life. I’d like this page to be a safe space on social media to let your hair down, take the masks off that we all put in to function every day, and be able to get more in touch with our authentic selves and feelings.In my practice, I see so many people struggling with many of the same things but feeling like no one else does and that they are alone, let’s lift the curtain and support each other. Life is hard enough, we don’t have to do it alone!

08/18/2023

So important to remember when consuming social media! social comparison can be the basis for depression and low self esteem. it’s human nature to do it, but we need to remember that when we compare, we are comparing everything we know about ourselves and our struggles and issues to just the surface of what other people CHOOSE to show us. This is not an apples to apples comparison.Feel free to post thoughts/feelings/reactions in the comments!

12/24/2021

03/27/2020

Some simple ways we can shift our thoughts to be less anxious right now...

11/09/2016

Some coping strategies on a day that is very difficult for many...
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/do-the-right-thing/201611/six-ways-cope-the-2016-presidential-election-results

What You Should Do Wednesday Morning If Your Presidential Candidate Loses

06/30/2016

Mothers who are suffering with postpartum anxiety should know that it is common and treatable. that they have every right to feel better — and most of all, that they are not alone.