By The Covid-19 pandemic and consequent lock down has activated the lives of many on the social media and now that we ‘live’ on our phones, it is normal to associate most of our feelings to the things we do with it. People make life-long friends, meet life partners, and have the best connections online. But there is a critical question that begs for an answer – when do you draw the line for the sake of your mental health?
The benefits of social media is hardly disputable. Talk of the ease of communication, networking, and information sourcing and so on. Nonetheless, we also tend to underrate the downsides that social media begets, and become oblivious of its negative impacts on our mental well-being.
Below is a highlight of how the use of the social media affects our mental health:
Picture perfect
From the audio success stories of your friends, to the colorful pictures on the gram and expensive trips that makes you feel left out. These and more, tiptoe into your subconscious and cause psychological stress. You begin to mount pressure on yourself, drifting in and out of feelings of inadequacy, and of not being good enough. Then you wonder why your life is not exciting since it all looks like you are yet to be among
Cyber bullying
The social media has a way of giving power to the power-hungry and giving a voice to the voiceless despite having nothing to say. Hiding behind the internet makes it convenient for them to make hurtful comments. While some are able to ignore such mischief, others are drowned by it, hence a threat to their mental health.
Validation
The urge to post everything in one’s life can cause anxiety. The desperation to chase clout and seek online relevance in a seemingly awkward fashion has become the trend. This puts one under the pressure of packaging – speaking or appearing in a way that makes you feel among. Hence, not realizing the desired outcome sinks people into the abyss of disappointments and feeling of failure .
Do the following to prevent social media induced mental stress:
Select your audience
Assess and decide what gives you psychological stress on social media, then avoid them. That way, you can be wary of information you put out and be careful of the information you take in.
Reduce the amount of time online:
Too much of everything is terrible. Reducing your time on social media not only gives you time for other things, but reduces your exposure to triggers. It also helps reduce one’s vulnerability to addiction.
Unplug:
Lastly, take a breather occasionally. Log out of your most toxic platform and plan to come back after a while, say one month. Take the time to improve your physical interactions, talking to the right person reduces stress and leaves you happy.
Taking care of your mental health is a considerable aspect of self-care. Creating boundaries and doing things in moderation is vital.
Written by:
Bertha B. Agoha.
Art lover, music lover, mental health enthusiast and all round love giver.
Contact Bertha: bibie.agoha@gmail.com
Edited by:
MCF Editorial
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