5 Ways to use Social Media and Protect your Mental Health

Social media may be a part of your daily life but have you ever given thought to the impact that social media has on you? Is Social media actually damaging your mental health?

Social media can be a force for good. Raising awareness, highlighting the plights of the disadvantaged, and giving voice to those who have felt silenced. It can create a sense of community for those who are isolated, connecting people from all corners of the earth, for collective learning and growth.

However, some of the issues associated with social media include cyber-bullying, grooming, invasion of privacy, anxiety and depression. The over-use of social media can cause people to become desensitised to what they are viewing, finding themselves constantly comparing themselves to others and addicted to mindlessly scrolling for hours.

So is social media bad for you? Well, it depends on how you are using it. Read on to learn about 5 ways that you can mindfully support your mental health whilst browsing on the socials.

1. Unfollow

Are you following pages that have you purely comparing your physical attributes to others? Or maybe pages that display unrealistic lifestyles or impossibly high standards and expectations of a life that you would currently struggle to maintain? The constant comparison can lead to issues with low self-esteem, lack of confidence and an increase in your stress levels. Remember that often the images you view on social media have been heavily filtered and edited, constant exposure to this can distort your perception of what is real and contribute to body image issues. Consider unfollowing pages that do not support you to have a healthy view of yourself.

Be aware of social influencers who may not have the relevant qualifications or experience in the subject matter that they are posting about, this can be a real concern particularly when it comes to topics around mental health and neurodivergency. Before taking any information as fact, check the credentials of the speaker, do your own research outside of social media and perhaps seek the support of a qualified, experienced and specialised professional in person. Think about unfollowing pages that do not responsibly add disclaimers to the information that they share. A disclaimer will be a statement either warning about possible risks or setting the limits of the information being provided.

2. Follow

What do you want to find out more about? What kind of content gets you moving in the direction that you'd like to move in? Follow pages that can educate and inspire you. Increasing your self-awareness leads to improved relationships and a better ability to regulate your emotions, use social media to contribute to this by following pages that get you thinking and reflecting.

Laughter is great for the nervous system. It can lower stress levels and blood pressure and relieve tension, with a wealth of humorous content online, follow pages that lift your spirits and make you chuckle.

Social media can support you to feel less alone in what you are going through with plenty of relatable content. Some pages will focus on building a sense of community and promote discussions in the comment sections, this can be very beneficial for those who feel isolated. Typically pages that take time to administrate and oversee the comment section make for a healthier and safe environment. Follow pages that foster a sense of togetherness and support you to feel accepted.

3. Explore page

Social media algorithms work to show you more of the content that it thinks you are interested in. The more time you spend looking at or engaging with a specific post or page the more likely it is that content of a similar nature will be shown to you. Social media often has an explore page or feed in which the content will be reflective of the content that you consume the most. Being intentional about what you decide to view and comment on with this in mind will help to minimise seeing content that may be harmful or distressing to you.

4. Check-ins

Reaching for your phone can be instinctive in moments where you find yourself doing less, however taking time to pause between your use of social media and check in with your feelings is an important mindful practice. Some questions to ask yourself might be:

• How do I feel when I first open the app?

• How do I feel when I close the app?

• What thoughts and feelings are generated when I view this specific page/post/influencer?

• Is there particular content that I feel most drawn to at this time?

• What might be happening in my life that makes this type of content more appealing?

5. Time management

Some smartphones can provide a weekly update detailing how much time you are spending on each app, this can help you to keep track of your use. Notice how much time you are spending on social media and ensure that the amount of time you are using the apps is within the range that you feel comfortable with. Another way to support you to manage your time is by setting a timer or alarm on your phone or perhaps setting a reminder to do something that doesn't involve using your phone. This way you can decide how much time you intend to use on social media and you stand a better chance of avoiding monotonous habitual use or potential doom-scrolling: spending a lot of time consuming negative, depressive content.

You're in charge

With endless data at your fingertips it can be easy to fall down the rabbit hole of taking in more information than you actually require. Pay attention to how your body feels and ensure that your basic needs are not being neglected. If you recognise that you are having an issue with your social media use be proactive about practising ways to manage this. Your mental wellbeing is worthy of being prioritised and you can learn to feel more capable in managing this.

Disclaimer: Information and opinions in this blog do not constitute as therapy or personalised professional advice. If you feel that you would like personalised support from a qualified Psychotherapist you are welcome to book a introductory call with me or search for a therapist on online directories such as the Counselling Directory or Psychology Today . Copyright: Content on this website is not to be copied, duplicated or reproduced in any form without the explicit permission from the author.