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The Relationship between Social Media and Depression
Jessica Gimeno
2020-10-16T21:58:40Z
Medically reviewed on by
Dr. Geoffrey Grammer
Chief Medical Officer
Among the world's 7.7 billion people, an astonishing
2.4 billion people have Facebook accounts , and internet users spend an average of
144 minutes per day on social networking sites. Yet while social media connects people online, it can also
cause feelings of isolation and loneliness , potentially contributing to or exacerbating depression in many people. Social media's growing presence makes it necessary to explore the relationship between social media and depression.
Social Media and Unhealthy Comparisons
When you're browsing Instagram or Facebook, it's easy to forget that a photo is merely a snapshot of a moment in time—it rarely represents the full picture of a person's life. People on social media often present a filtered image, creating the impression that their lives are better than they really are; they tend to showcase happy milestones while omitting negative ones. For instance, a user is more likely to post after getting engaged than after a breakup. Consciously or unconsciously, you may compare yourself to your peers, which can foster feelings of inadequacy when social feeds are full of curated highlights.
Similarly, social media users also tend to post artfully cropped or edited photos of themselves, which can create unrealistic body image standards. People may feel pressure to live up to these standards when they compare themselves to friends.
Poor body image can contribute to mental health problems , underscoring the relationship between social media and depression.
Fear of Missing Out
Because social media rewards users with "likes" and other forms of external approval, it can motivate people to cast themselves as happier than they really are and create a sense of unhealthy competition. These comparisons can also lead to "FOMO," or fear of missing out, which is the uneasy feeling that there is something more exciting or interesting than what you're currently doing.
FOMO can instill anxiety and depression.
What's more, when you overemphasize social media, you may actually end up missing out on things that would bring you joy. For example, rather than enjoying a good meal and conversation with a friend, you may spend time trying to capture the perfect photo to post on social media. When sharing an experience online becomes more important than the experience itself, you may feel disconnected from your life .
Doomscrolling
Another phenomenon related to social media usage and depression is known as "
doomscrolling ." When a tragic event happens, it's natural to want answers. The problem is when you continue to scroll through news that's saddening, disheartening, or depressing. People assume that getting answers will make them feel better, but doomscrolling through fifteen articles on a recent school shooting or celebrity death, for instance, can make you feel hopeless. Saturating daily feeds with stories on rising case counts, worsening economic impacts, and new but inconclusive research, the
COVID-19 pandemic presents a special risk for doomscrolling and can leave you feeling particularly overwhelmed with bad news.
Social Media Usage and Depression: You're Not Alone
Comparisons, FOMO, and doomscrolling can make you feel lonely and isolated, which is detrimental to your mental health.
Everyone has a need for human connection and feeling part of a community, and
having a support network of people you can rely on is essential to being resilient.
Resilient people can adapt to adversity and protect their mental health.
Social media can be a way to connect with your support network, but if it's contributing to your feelings of depression, remember that you're not alone. There's hope, and treatments are available to you, including talk therapy and antidepressants. If these treatments don't help alleviate symptoms, you can also try
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which stimulates areas of the brain to help with mood regulation. To learn more about TMS therapy,
schedule your no-cost consultation.
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You may feel isolated and alone when you have clinical depression, and depression also affects your relationships with family and friends. While the primary focus of your treatment is to improve your mental health, it’s also essential to understand your loved ones may experience their own issues as they try to support you. An understanding of how depression affects relationships can help everyone maintain healthy connections and navigate problems. Here are some of the ways depression may affect the people in your support network.
We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
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