How Does Social Media Affect Mental Health?

How Does Social Media Affect Mental Health?

Social media is an incredible platform that millions of people rely on to stay connected with friends, family and their community. But it also presents its own set of challenges – one being its potential impact on mental health.

Humans require social interaction for both physical and mental wellbeing. Unfortunately, when people spend too much time on social media instead of connecting with others, their wellbeing may suffer.

One of the major drawbacks to excessive social media use is that it can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. These problems are compounded by FOMO (fear of missing out), or the perception that others are living better lives than you or not achieving what one desires from life.

FOMO can lead to social media addiction and excessive use, which may have detrimental effects on your mental health. It may cause you to check for notifications every few minutes or compulsively respond to them even if that means forgoing sleep, exercising or developing real-world relationships.

If your excessive social media usage is impacting your mental health, reach out for help. Psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals can offer counseling and other treatment options to help manage symptoms.