Are Your Social Media Habits Harming Your Psyche?

Most people think of apps and websites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as fun ways to connect with their friends and people around the world. However, many studies consistently show that extended social media use can have a negative effect on your mental health. Many people are not even aware of how their social media habits are harming them.

With social media platforms readily available on our smart phones all the time it is common for people to mindlessly scroll through these apps several times throughout the day. They may spend a few minutes or even hours on these sites without realizing how much time they’ve really spent online. These kinds of apps are purposefully designed to be addictive and unsurprisingly, people find it hard to tear themselves away from social media in spite of how it affects them psychologically.

Children and teens may be affected even more on social media if they become victims of online bullying by their peers. Although adults may be less likely to be bullied, they can still experience significant harm from spending too much time on social media. Psychologists have seen many signs of depression and anxiety related to social media use and recommend that people limit their time on these sites.

Social Media Addiction

Websites like Facebook were created with the intention by designers to get people to keep checking the site multiple times and feel “addicted” to it. This is accomplished by using techniques similar to slot machines in casinos where users don’t know whether a notification they’ve received will be meaningful to them or not. Users will end up constantly checking the app to see if they’ve received a like, comment or message that will make them feel validated.

Although mental health experts haven’t yet agreed that internet addiction is a legitimate illness, there are many signs indicating that social media can produce addiction-like symptoms. Researchers have found that some people show certain symptoms with excessive use of Facebook such as neglect of personal life, escapism, mental preoccupation, tolerance and concealing the addictive behavior.

Interestingly, people who are hooked on social media actually do experience a kind of withdrawal when they don’t have access to their usual apps. They undergo small but measurable physiological effects when they stop using social media that are similar to addiction withdrawal. Because social media is addictive it can cause the same type of negative emotional and mental consequences associated with other addictions.

Depression and Social Media

Research continually proves that the more people use social media, the more unhappy they become. One study showed that Facebook use was linked directly to lower moment to moment happiness and less life satisfaction overall. Experts believe that this is because social media apps like Facebook create a feeling of social isolation rather than the connection that it is supposed to produce.

Studies have revealed that the more time people spend on these websites the more socially isolated they begin to feel. People perceive themselves as isolated because they tend to engage in social comparison with their peers on Facebook as they scroll through their feed. Comparison with others tends to fuel not only feelings of isolation but depression and anxiety.

Social media can also trigger feelings of jealousy and envy which can be very bad for our mental health as well. Research shows that jealous feelings are very common when people use social media can make the sites a breeding ground for resentful feelings. The envy that sites such as Facebook induce can further cause depression among users.

Part of the addictive nature of social media is that people keep coming back to these sites believing that it will make them feel better when it actually worsens their emotional state. People are under the illusion that using Facebook will make them feel more connected, ease their boredom or lift their mood when in reality it triggers many negative feelings. Social media sites also tend to reduce actual social interaction rather than make people more social which can be harmful to their well-being.

Even though social media can be a useful way to connect with old friends, keep in touch with family members or have fun interactions with people you know, too much time on social media can become harmful. Psychologists suggest minimizing the amount of time spent on social media sites like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. Studies have also found that taking a break from these sites can have a beneficial boost on a person’s psychological well-being.

If you find that your social media habits are making you depressed then take some time off and focus on in-person interactions with friends. A healthy social life with plenty of face to face contact is much more likely to boost your mood than any social media interactions online.

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Alcohol Abuse Has Nearly Doubled for Women

Addiction to alcohol is a problem that can affect people from all demographics and all walks of life. In the past alcoholism has traditionally been considered a “man’s problem” because of higher numbers of men with the disease. However, recently the number of women struggling with alcohol abuse has skyrocketed and they are rapidly catching up to the amount of men who develop addiction.

Unfortunately, alcoholism is often under-reported in women because they may worry about the stigma or try to hide their problem from the public. The number of women suffering from an alcohol dependency has grown to 4 million, representing about 2.6 women in the U.S. However, as many as 5.6 million women currently drink alcohol in a way that threatens their health and safety.

Recent studies have shown that the rate of women suffering from alcohol abuse and dependence has increased 83.7 percent between 2003 and 2013. Experts worry that this dramatic increase may represent a public health crisis for women who are engaging in high risk drinking. These historic increases point to a growing problem among women and how they cope with stress.

Working Women and Stress

Experts believe that steady rise in alcohol abuse among women may be related stress and anxiety associated with a work-life balance. Reports show that women who are working today are unhappier than their mothers were 40 years ago. Women also tend to be unhappier than men now when they actually reported being happier than men according to studies in the early 70s.

One reason that stress and unhappiness has increased may correspond with the growing work week among Americans. Between the years of 1979 and 2006, the typical American work week increased by about 11 hours. More recent studies showed that only about 30 percent of American fathers contributed equally to women in child care.

The increasing work hours and lack of support in caring for children at home may have contributed to growing stress levels for modern women. Mothers who work full time may find it hard to balance their career and also care for their family without getting enough help from their spouses or other family members. These added stresses may become overwhelming for women who look for ways to cope with their problems.

In addition to all these stress factors there has also been an increase in marketing from the alcohol industry that is directed toward women. In an effort to gain more customers in the female demographic, alcohol brands have created ads targeting women by persuading them that alcohol is a solution for stress. Sweet flavored and fizzy drinks are often marketed toward women in single serving cocktails.

How Alcohol Affects Women

Part of the reason that the steep rise in alcohol abuse among women is so alarming is that they can experience more health problems related to drinking than men. Women tend to be more prone to alcohol-related health issues because of their different hormones and metabolisms. Women are physiologically different than men and as a result can be more vulnerable to negative consequences from drinking.

One factor is that women tend to have more body fat than men do which can make it harder to dilute alcohol through fluid in the body. It is also harder for women to metabolize and break down alcohol which means that a larger proportion of the drug will enter a woman’s bloodstream compared to a man. Intoxicating effects of alcohol can also set in faster when a woman is experiencing higher estrogen levels.

The rise in alcohol abuse among women has already led to increasing health problems for the female demographic. Alcohol-related emergency room visits among women between ages 25 and 34 have been increasing in large numbers. These types of visits usually occur after years of repeated alcohol misuse which indicates that women in these age groups have severe addictions.

In addition to having more damaging health consequences from drinking, women are also more likely to hide their behavior. There is a much greater cultural stigma for women who drink heavily than for men which may make it difficult for them to come forward and get help. Women’s alcohol problems in general tend to be more hidden and kept underground which is dangerous for their recovery.

Experts are growing more concerned over the steady and continuing rise of alcohol addiction among women. While men still tend to suffer more often from alcoholism, women are quickly approaching similar numbers. It is important for women to have resources for support and feel comfortable in reaching out for help.

If you think that you or someone you love may be suffering from an issue with alcohol abuse or dependency then contact a rehab treatment center in your local area.

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