The world has become global to a new level; social media has made things that were once impossible, now possible at the tips of our fingers. Whether that means seeing what your cousin in London had for lunch, doing your Texas history assignment from Japan, or screensharing a movie on video call with your friend who lives on the other side of the country, the pandemic has really helped us recognize the extent of possibilities on social media. There are many adverse side effects as well, however; social media can indeed become an addiction, trigger, or a distraction. Depression and social media are very closely linked, for a variety of reasons, and here is an overview of how that is possible; considering that this article is being written at the closing of 2021, some of the common features of social media will be discussed.
Memories. The ‘memories’ feature on a lot of social media platforms can be particularly triggering. If one is going through a rough patch in life, has had significant changes in their family or friend circle, or has experienced loss in some kind of way, this feature can be troublesome. In my own experience as a mental health therapist, I have had discussions with clients about deactivating their accounts due to being reminded of specific changes in their life, which was causing more depression.
Comparisons. Social media has primarily the positives that are going on in people’s lives; this may include pictures or posts about their vacations, weddings, pregnancy announcements, children's first day of school, and other typically positive aspects of their lives. Oftentimes there are a number of bad days behind each of those posts, just like in any other person’s life. Seeing these things, however, can be a cause for one's own mood to spiral downward and put a timeframe or limit on one’s life. The fact of the matter is, though, that each individual is on his or her own journey on this earth. Society and culture are the only things that dictate being married by a specific age, having children by a particular time in life, or having the resources and time to go on multiple vacations per year.
Distractions. By far, social media can be one of the major obstacles to productivity. The endless scrolling may seem difficult to cease and can affect one’s ability to work on much needed projects, assignments, or even give time to her or his family. Thankfully there are tools current day that can assist with monitoring screen usage, but the constant act of being distracted can cause a disconnect with the real, offline world, and contribute to added feelings of depression.
Social media has its benefits, undoubtedly, but also can be a cause for a negative emotional state of health. Utilizing it within limits is a crucial life skill current day and taking advantage of its benefits can also help to recognize some ways in which it is useful. If you feel that social media, in itself or along with other factors, is affecting your emotions and potentially causing you to experience symptoms of depression, please reach out to us at Niyyah Counseling and allow one of our highly qualified and experienced therapists to walk you through these feelings; we will work together in order to help you come to terms with your emotions and manage your mental health in a positive light.