Have you been feeling a bit low lately, but you can’t quite put your finger on why? It may have something to do with your social media habits. According to a recent study, social media use can increase depression and loneliness.
For years people have suspected that networking websites use might have an ability to negatively impact our mental well-being. After all, it’s hard not to feel inadequate or jealous when looking at photos of people whose lives seem so much more perfect than ours. But now research is actually making a definitive link between spending time on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and a sense of loneliness and isolation.
It May be Time for a Social Media Detox
We encourage our clients to take a social media detox every now and then to gain a more positive sense of reality. They often report back to me that the detox offered some amazing and unexpected benefits such as:
Improved Self-Esteem
When you take a break from comparing yourself to other people, you can start to look at how great you and your own life really are.
New Interests and Hobbies
When you spend less time trying to get that social approval in the form of ‘likes’, ‘retweets’, and ‘upvotes’, you suddenly find you have a lot of time on your hands for other things.
Improves Your Mood
Trading in online friendships for real face-to-face ones makes us feel more grounded and connected to people. This can drastically improve our mood and sense of well-being.
Better Sleep
Better SleepMany people are on their mobile phones in bed, checking their social media accounts. The blue light from these devices disrupts our sleep patterns. When we put these devices away, we inevitably sleep better.
Able to Enjoy the Moment More
Evolution Wellness is a big proponent of daily mindfulness. By being present in our lives, we feel an increased sense of peace and joy. That’s priceless.
So how do you perform a social media detox?
Follow these 4 steps:
- Temporarily deactivate your accounts. Don’t worry, you can reactivate them again in the future should you choose.
- Remove all Social Media Apps and notification pathways from your devices.
- Use a web filtering tool to block social media sites. (Why tempt yourself?)
- Be prepared for some withdrawal symptoms and have other activities ready to replace the void.
Start Working With An Online Therapist in North Carolina
If you follow these steps and take a break from social media, chances are you will find you feel a whole lot better! If you are interested in talking with an experienced Mental Health Counselor in Wilmington, NC, please reach out to our care coordination team. Evolution Wellness will be happy to help you start your therapeutic journey! Follow these steps to get started:
- Reach out to us or call 910-202-4326
- Meet with a caring therapist
- Start addressing your social media use!
Other Services Offered with Evolution Wellness
Evolution Wellness understands that you may encounter concerns that need different types of support, which is why we are happy to offer multiple in-person and online mental health services. These services include depression treatment, EMDR, anxiety treatment, disordered eating, CBT, substance abuse, trauma, 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.