Social Media and Your Mental Health
Today, we are sharing this blog space with Alexia Eller, LMSW. Alexia is a mental health advocate, passionate about helping others live healthy and full lives. Today she is taking the time to discuss the impact of social media on the mental health of both teens and adults. Let’s learn with Alexia!
How often do you use a device, whether your phone, tablet, or computer where you go to a social media site or application to get updates on whatever you are interested in? You may go straight to Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, or TikTok and those are where you get your news on how to make the best seasonal recipes and watch animal videos that have you laughing on the floor, but you may also come across what awful things happen in the world on news sites promoting those things.
According to the American Psychological Association, social media use has skyrocketed in the past 15 years of adults who use social media 5% to 70% of adults (1). That is a huge increase and that is not even including the children who have access to that. Some people use it as an outlet for timeless scrolling, decompressing from a hard day, or may utilize it for their work purposes. However, more time spent on social media or our screens has shown a significant impact on our psychological well-being.
Here are some signs of how social media may impact you in a negative way:
Signs of irritability
Constant checking of an update on something you care about
Fatigue
Feeling anxious
Feeling down or sad regarding the information you are consuming (2)
If you find yourself wanting to watch the news after work to have a better understanding of what is happening in the world, that is great, but remember to always give yourself a time restriction on the consumption of news or social media. If you continuously watch natural tragedies or terroristic events happening overseas, your mindset is not in the best spot. If you want to watch a bunch of funny cat videos to make yourself feel better, go for it but take advantage of going outside to get fresh air as well. Your mental health and well-being are a priority and flooding your brain with mindless activities or watching traumatic events can harm your progress or put you in a funk, we don’t want that.
By Alexia Eller, LMSW
If you feel these areas are impacting your life in a negative way and possibly your mental health, our team is ready to help. Whether online therapy, in person at our Arlington, TX base therapy office, or through group therapy, we have options to meet your needs. Connect with a member of our team today.
