Is Social Media Making Your Mental Health Worse?

It is normal to reach for connection when under stress. People often find themselves unable to unplug from media because they want to be MORE informed and MORE connected with their community during difficult times, but research shows that heavy social media/news consumption is linked to higher rates of stress and anxiety.

With 24/7 access to information, our stress systems stay activated, putting cortisol and adrenaline production into overdrive, and leading to experiences of uncontrollable fear, despair, hyper-arousal, difficulty sleeping, panic, and other symptoms.

Most people feel a sense of comfort and control when they gather information. Our brains interpret information seeking as a helpful strategy to make an uncertain, unpredictable, and scary situation more understandable, predictable, and manageable.

So it makes sense that people are more likely to reach for their phone and plug in rather than unplug in these situations, AND it is likely contributing to poorer mental health.

Here are four resilience strategies that experts agree can help you to remain resilient to stress overwhelm while remaining connected and informed during a difficult time:

• Avoid overexposure to media by setting limits.

• Check with intentionality and unplug when you’ve accomplished that goal.

• Balance exposure with pleasant activities.

• Refrain from engaging in contentious, negative, or unproductive conversations online.

-Dr. Jena Casas, Ph.D.