Safeguarding Mental Health from Impacts of Social Media

Safeguarding Mental Health, Mindset, and Overall Wellness from the Various Impacts of Social Media

By Leslie Wells, Social Media Specialist

Hope and Healing Therapy and Wellness Center

Social media platforms are only increasing in prevalence when it comes to communication, marketing, general information gathering, and beyond. In December 2021, TikTok.com officially surpassed Google as the #1 most popular domain on the internet (Forbes, 2021). With billions of current users, and new accounts created every day, an understanding of how our participation/consumption on these platforms can affect our mental health, mindset, and overall wellness is somewhat urgent. The evolution of social media is nothing if not rapid, and maintaining a proactive understanding of these extensive impacts can only benefit our societies in the long term. 

Despite the many societal concerns that typically swirl around social media, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok did not grow to their immense popularity without a number of noteworthy benefits, so let’s start there. Before COVID-19 became a worldwide pandemic in early 2020, social media was already a preferred pastime by many. What seemed like seconds after societies started to undergo the suffrage of physical separation by means of social distancing, research shows that social media usage skyrocketed. According to pennmedicine.org, “social media engagement increased 61 percent during the first wave of the pandemic.” 

As social media screen time went up, the sharing of ideas, entertainment, support, and resources also increased. Creatives and artists who found themselves out of work took to the internet as a means to share and continue to market their crafts and talents. A (safe from COVID) space to create, connect, and express authenticity was appreciated to say the least, but in some cases, a shift towards dependency started leading to some less positive side effects of more time spent on social media. 

The top performing platforms utilize algorithms to organize and distribute content to those most likely to find it relevant. Since much of what is shared on social media platforms is visual, and users are shown the content with which we will resonate most, photos and videos of people we relate to are constantly available. Brief and curated windows into the lives of those whom we see some part of ourselves, can increase our tendencies to compare and calculate our own self worth against our limited perceptions of others. Superficial validation received (or not) via online community engagement ie: “likes,” “views,” and “shares,” become subconscious considerations after sharing a part of our day, mind, or life with the internet. Throughout the day, criticism and praise alike come through with a ping from our pocket, informing us whether or not we have earned the public’s approval at any given moment. Furthermore, mental presence in person is often compromised for the sake of documenting a special or significant moment in our personal lives for the world wide web. In summation, something as seemingly harmless as Snapchat, can have more implications in the long term than we may have ever considered.

So, how do we maintain the effective utilization of social media, and continue to enjoy its many benefits, while safeguarding against the just as numerous negative impacts? Establishing and upholding boundaries with social media platforms is a great place to start. As it turns out, screen time limitations are not exclusively for children. Many social media platforms include a feature that will alert the user once they have surpassed a predetermined “limit” of time on the app, to help users prevent from subconsciously scrolling their hours away. Additionally, implementing intentional selection over the content we are consuming can also reduce the negative impacts of social media by a great deal. For instance, unfollowing accounts that one becomes preoccupied with, and restricting access to one’s own content can preserve a sense of familiarity and trust with online community members. Furthermore, balancing time on social media with other hobbies, interests, and ways of interaction is another important consideration. Finding joy and stimulation from “unplugged” activities such as reading, exercise, cooking, etc. can reduce stress, feelings of loneliness, and provide more opportunities for appreciation and gratitude (silvermaples.org).  If we aren’t mindfully balancing our virtual and in person interactions, we may be setting ourselves up for social anxieties in “real life” situations down the road. 

Like most worthwhile things in life, social media is not without its flaws, but it's likely not going anywhere either. When used mindfully and intentionally, however, the potential of social media platforms to make a positive impact on our quality of life exists, and lies in the hands of each individual user. 

Grief Responses vs. Grief Reactions

By Sherrye Urtz, LCPC, CBCP

Last month I mentioned that grief is a person's emotional response to any type of loss. Often we may hear the terms grief responses and grief reactions used interchangeably, but are they meant to be?

Grief Reactions: Mourning is an outward expression of grief, including cultural and religious customs (in some cases surrounding a death), but it could be divorce, job loss, moving, friendship, demotion, not getting into the college you wanted, etc . It is also the process of adapting to life after loss. Common grief reactions include difficult feelings, thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviors. These all vary from person to person. Although each person's grief is unique, the experience is shaped by his or her society and culture. Each culture has its own set of beliefs and rituals for grief and bereavement. This affects how people experience and express grief. In American culture, most places of employment give 3-5 days of bereavement leave ONLY after the death of an immediate family member. Does this mean we should not grieve any other loss? How are we to turn off our emotional reactions? Should we stop grieving after 3 days for an immediate family member? Unfortunately, this is not how the heart and brain work. Since grief is an individual process with no time restraints, so too are grief reactions.

Grief Responses: Our responses to grief are really about becoming self-aware. WOW! “Aha” moment here, right? Not really. But it is one of the reasons why mindfulness, spirituality, and/or prayer can play such an impactful role in the healing process. As we become more self-aware, we are able to practice making more conscious and deliberate “responses” to our reactions. What’s important is how we respond to the initial difficult feelings, thoughts, physical sensations, etc.

While grieving a loss is an inevitable part of life, there are ways to help cope with the pain and grief and eventually, find a way to find your new normal and continue moving forward in life.

1. Acknowledge your pain.

2. Accept that grief can trigger many different and unexpected emotions.

3. Understand that your grieving process will be unique to you.

4. Seek out face-to-face support from people who care about you.

5. Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically.

6. Recognize the difference between grief and depression.

For more information on grief reaction and grief responses visit:

https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-reactions-vs-grief-responses/

Positive Parenting

By : Jessica Roberson, MSW Intern

There is so much information available to parents regarding raising children that it is easy to become overwhelmed. It is also easy for you to feel lost or as if you are doing wrong by your child. You are not alone in those feelings!

Let’s talk about a positive approach to parenting- one that helps parents meet their child’s emotional needs FIRST to ward off future inappropriate behaviors.

Here’s 5 quick steps for a “positive parenting” approach:

1.) Ensure a safe, healthy, and appealing environment for children:

Pay attention to how often you tell your children “No” or “stop.” Instead of “not until you finish dinner,” try “yes, we can do that after we finish dinner.”

2.) Create a positive learning environment:

Explore and create with your children. Allow any moment to be a learning moment, including discipline. Help them to understand what it wrong about a behavior and how to make a more appropriate choice in the future.

3.) Use assertive, consistent, and non-violent discipline:

Imagine that your child is you as an adult. How do you respond to being yelled at or being punished? Then think about how you would like someone to approach you. Pick a non-violent option, and stick to it each time a negative behavior occurs. Consider natural consequences. For example, if your child refuses to wear a coat, explain to them that they will be cold.

4.) Give both yourself and your child some GRACE:

You are both doing your best at navigating this beautiful and challenging life. Have reasonable expectations of your children and of yourself as a parent.

5.) TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF:

You’ve heard the phrase, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” Parents, we must prioritize ourselves, and our own needs both physically and mentally, because at the end of the day, all children really want is to see you happy. They will mirror that behavior.

Lastly, just focus on being the parent you needed as a child.

For more info like this, click here!