Understanding How Social Media Affects Mental Health

Although there are a lot of great benefits to using social media (e.g., sharing and connecting with people you might not get to otherwise, sharing news and information, and meeting new people), there’s also a downside to it. The main one is the fact that social media use near Clearwater can result in mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness) for which you may need psychiatric therapy. 

One recent study conducted by The Child Mind Institute in partnership with The National Center for Health Research suggests that people who spend a lot of time using social media feel less happy and more depressed than those who spend the majority of their leisure time enjoying non-screen-related activities. Many people have already heard about this, though. So, in what other ways may excessive social media usage lead to the need for psychiatric therapy near Clearwater today?

How Social Media Can Negatively Impact Your Mental Health

Surprisingly, there are numerous ways in which social media can have a negative impact on your mental health. It’s important to know what some of these are so you can understand why some people are seeking psychiatric therapy near Clearwater to help them manage their social media usage.

It’s almost addictive.

It’s interesting to note that social media has an effect on your brain that’s similar to playing casino slot machines. Since you don’t know what content you’ll see until you open the platform, spontaneity results in the release of dopamine, which is the same thing that happens when you’re “rewarded” for something.

You’re focusing on the wrong types of interactions.

A large part of social media has to do with whether you receive any type of interaction on the content you share. For instance, if you post a picture that you hope will receive comments or likes but you don’t get any feedback, you may feel invalidated or disappointed.

You may suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out).

This is another reason why it’s so enticing to continually scroll through a social media platform near Clearwater. After all, you don’t want to miss out on what your friends are saying or doing because then you may start feeling disconnected.

How to Stop Unhealthy Social Media Behaviors

According to a study from the University of Pennsylvania, those who use less social media are less likely to need psychiatric therapy for things like loneliness and depression. So, while you probably won’t completely stop using social media, you should become self-aware of those signs that point out that you’re using it too much. They include things like:

• Experiencing an increasing amount of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. 
• Feeling jealous because you frequently compare yourself to other people on social media.
• Spending more time on social media than you spend with your friends and family “in real life” and thus these relationships start suffering.

If you do find yourself experiencing any of these things, it’s time to decrease your social media usage and seek psychiatric therapy. There are various ways in which you can do this (e.g., setting screen time limits, allocating designated hours for checking your social media accounts, setting time restrictions for your phone’s apps), but even with an occasional social media “detox,” you’ll be better able to focus on your mental health and relationships near Clearwater. 

Where to Turn for Help with Your Social Media Addiction

Advantage Mental Health Center near Clearwater, FL, is a leading mental health center that offers a wide range of comprehensive services to individuals of all ages. With a team of highly skilled and compassionate professionals, they’re dedicated to providing personalized care and support to help their clients achieve optimal mental well-being. Whether you are seeking psychiatric therapy, medication management, or specialized treatment programs, they’re committed to delivering top-notch care in a comfortable and welcoming environment.