How Social Media Negatively Impacts Mental Health and Ways to Counteract It

All of us are social creatures. We surround ourselves with others in order to grow and thrive. Our social environment gives us courage and hope when we lack them both. Most notably, having lots of friends and being close to your family reduces stress and prevents depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, being social doesn’t always lead to positive results. Engaging with others on social media, in particular, can pose a major risk to your emotional and mental well-being. This is why we need to be very careful when using these networks and limit our time online.

Signs of Negative Social Media Impact

If you wish to stay safe and healthy, you should pay attention to signs of negative social media impact. “Each of us has a different mental resilience,” warns Belleisle Clinics, an Ottawa online therapy. “So, it is hard to determine what’s optimal time you should spend online.”

Instead, you should be looking for real-world indicators such as:

• Don’t spend more time on social media than with your friends. Although social media can help you get in touch with people living in other cities, you still have to maintain normal, healthy relationships with those in your vicinity.

• Many people suffer depression as they start comparing themselves with others on social media. Always remember that other users show the highlights of their lives, even though they might not be living a lavishing lifestyle.

• Be careful of cyberbullying. Exposing yourself too much to others and running a successful channel will increase the amount of negative feedback that might affect your confidence.

• Social media and video games pose a major distraction. They can prevent you from doing your chores, going to work, or performing at school.

• Overusing social media might prevent you from having “me time.” Instead of forming your own opinion about yourself, you’ll start listening to others. This is why it’s vital that you disconnect from time to time and properly analyze your habits and daily life.

• Many people fall into risky behaviors. This is especially true for content creators who are willing to go to extreme lengths just to get some likes and shares on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

• Sleep deprivation might not be as common, but it does appear in people who overuse these networks. Blue light emitted from phones is especially troublesome as it prevents you from relaxing.

Pay close attention to all these issues. If you’re suffering from two of them, this is a clear indication that you should go “cold turkey.”

4 Solutions for Social Media Overuse

Social media can singlehandedly alter your life, leading to all sorts of mental disturbances. If you determine that these platforms are causing issues to your well-being, you should take the following steps:

1. Reduce Usage

The best and simplest solution is to stop or reduce the amount of social media usage. We even have several studies that show us how limiting social media use will reduce symptoms of depression, insomnia, anxiety, and FOMO.

Perhaps even more important is having a strategy to minimize the negative impact on your mood. You shouldn’t be overly focused on what other people are doing. Don’t be jealous that someone is having a good time on their vacation, as this will only deteriorate your mental well-being.

You should also be mindful of how you’re engaging with others. Some people become extremely sensitive when they receive negative feedback, the chance of which increases as you comment on others’ posts.

2. Alter Your Focus

One of the worst things about social media is that it will become a habit after a while. Even if you stop enjoying the activity, you might unconsciously open one of the apps as soon as you wake up. The action is completely unconscious, and, in some cases, it lulls us into a false sense of security and comfort.

Every once in a while, you should revise your reasons for using social media. Are you bored and there’s nothing better to do? Perhaps you’re looking to connect with friends and family? Whatever the reason might be, try to find a better alternative to it.

Instead of endlessly scrolling through viral posts, you should consider doing something more productive. Introduce hobbies into your life or join communities where you can connect with others. You should also be aware of the negative impact on your mental and physical health and find routines that will help you alter your daily routine.

3. Spend Time With Real Friends

Saying that you can’t form friendships online is a bit farfetched. Nevertheless, spending time with people offline is much more fulfilling. It eliminates the feeling of isolation while reducing stress. If there’s a physical activity involved, you’ll also experience numerous physical benefits.

We recommend that you create a schedule and try to go out with your friends at least once a week. While going outside, turn off your phones so you can enjoy the moment. And if your friends are too busy with work or family, you might as well join a club or community where you’ll connect with people who have extra time.

4. Feel Gratitude

Many psychologists connect good health with positive religious and spiritual practices. It is important that you find your peace of mind without social media. Feel grateful for everything you have and find solace in your life as well as the people surrounding you.

Every day, take some time to reflect on your actions and situations in life. Create a virtual diary with all your memories and think about all the positives instead of focusing on the negative aspects. Praying also helps, as it reduces the feeling of stress and anxiety. If you’re not religious, you can try meditation and yoga.

Conclusion

Although social media might be fun, it can lead you down a rabbit hole of addiction. Spending too much time increases the feeling of isolation and boosts your stress levels. This is why you should develop positive habits outside social media and surround yourself with friends and family.