Social media works to connect people, bring people together, share news, and create new ideas. Yet, social media and anxiety tend to go hand-in-hand. Because of the constant influx of information, both good and bad, it is very easy for someone to feel overwhelmed, especially if they are already struggling with other mental health disorders. If you’re facing these struggles, Crestview Recovery can offer guidance to you.
Social Media and Anxiety – What’s the Link?
Social media is a constant amount of information being thrown at you. Instead of having a conversation with one person or a group of people, there are sometimes hundreds of people tossing information at you. Your brain has to process that information, make decisions about it, and then allow you to react properly. Sometimes it gets to be too much. When that happens, it is clear that there are limitations that can be reached.
Why Does Social Media Do This?
There are numerous examples of how social media use can be problematic. It is always important for you to consider the wide range of things happening to you:
- Conversations with friends and family
- Political opinions that range considerably
- Constant negative information from all directions
- Things that make you worry about how well you are doing to manage life
- Insights about all of the things you could or should be doing
What Happens When All of That Info Comes Flooding In?
When you are faced with constant information like this, the brain cannot handle it. The brain doesn’t have the coping skills it needs to manage this. For some people, especially those with underlying mental health issues already, this type of negative information can lead to depression and anxiety. You may feel so overwhelmed you can’t get through all of it without help from a mental health treatment center.
Imagine a simple scenario. You use social media to connect with friends. You see them posting images of all the things they are doing and accomplishing. You feel unable to achieve those goals. You try to make changes, but it’s not easy to do. You become overwhelmed and resentful. As you are trying to keep up with other people, it becomes harder and harder for you to achieve your own goals. Your anxiety grows.
For some people, this directly leads to drug and alcohol use. Depression and anxiety fueled by social media use can become too hard to manage. You may simply feel like there’s too much information. What’s more, a lot of people go through this, and in most cases, those images are only a snapshot of someone’s life. Most are not accurate representations of what people are experiencing.
Investing in Your Future Is Important
If you are struggling with mental health disorders or you are using drugs and alcohol on a routine basis, you may find yourself simply unable to move forward without help. Our team can help you. Social media and anxiety may be components of your drug addiction or mental health disorder, but there is help. You can continue to use social media, but you also need to have other outlets to find enjoyment and satisfaction with life.
Our team offers comprehensive treatment that may help you. All you have to do is to invest in our services by giving us a call.
- Individual therapy programs
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Group counseling programs
- Family therapy programs
- Holistic drug therapy programs
When It’s Time to Get Help, Call Crestview Recovery
Social media and anxiety can make life hard to manage. If you are facing the complexities of social media use along with day to day life and struggling with drug and alcohol use, it is time to get help. Our team at Crestview Recovery can help you. Call our recovery center at 866.262.0531 to learn more.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
