If we’re honest, most of us would admit we look at some form of digital screen more than we do the faces of our friends and loved ones. From our phones to iPads, laptops, and flatscreen TVs the size of an entire wall, screen time for most people is definitely on the rise. But what exactly are the mental health effects of excessive screen time?
Sleep Deprivation
Without realizing it, many of us are hampering our natural sleep cycle with excessive screen time. Our electronic devices emit a blue light that interferes with our production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Screen time before bed will make it very hard to fall asleep. A lack of quality sleep can cause our mood to dip and make it hard for us to deal with everyday stressors.
Impaired Social Skills
There is a bit of irony when it comes to screen time. We’re on our devices more and more as a way to connect with others. And yet, in reality, we are alone when socializing digitally. Fewer real-life social interactions can lead to social anxiety and loneliness.
Poorer Emotional Regulation
Excessive screen time on our devices affects our ability to register and process our emotions. Exposure to aggressive or violent media, for example, can impair our emotional judgment of real-life events. It can also trigger our own aggressive tendencies.
Lower Self-Esteem
Social media platforms are where we go to compare ourselves to others. Often when scrolling through our timelines, we perceive everyone else to have their act together, to be happier, healthier, and more successful. Doing this day after day can take a real toll on our self-esteem.
Finding Healthier Alternatives
If you think you’re spending too much time in front of your screens, there are some steps you can take.
- First, make a commitment to keep TVs and all other devices out of your bedroom so you can ensure a good night’s rest.
- Make dinner time with the family a “screen-free zone.”
- And finally, take up some new hobbies, connect with old friends, and try to get outdoors more. Your mental health will thank you.
Start Working With An Online Therapist in Wilmington, NC
Are you ready to address your social media usage? We know this can be hard. You may have been debating seeking help for months if not years. However, our team of caring therapists is so glad you found us and have taken the courageous first step to learn more about online therapy and the support it can provide. To start your therapy journey with Evolution Wellness, follow these simple steps:
- Contact our Wilmington, NC-based counseling center
- Get matched with one of our skilled therapists.
- Start addressing the health effects of social media!
Other Services Offered With Evolution Wellness
Our team is here to support you with in-person and online mental health services. We are happy to also offer grief counseling, EMDR, anxiety treatment, disordered eating, CBT, substance abuse, trauma, depression, and Covid counseling. We are also happy to offer therapy for a variety of issues including LGBTQIA+ issues, women’s issues, men’s issues, therapy for vicarious trauma, and therapy for military families. Our trained clinicians know that family concerns can require unique care, so we are happy to also offer couples therapy, family therapy, divorce counseling, and sex therapy, in addition to therapy for young adults and teens.
SOURCES:
https://www.adventhealth.com/blog/how-screen-time-affects-mental-health