A
Professional
Prospective:
Social
Media
and
Mental
Health
By
Michele
Leno,
Ph.D.,
LP
Special
to Tell
Us USA
News
Network
FARMINGTON
HILLS,
MI -
What
would
you be
doing
right
now if
social
media
did not
exist?
There
are
still
some
that
have not
succumbed
to the
dynamic
world of
relationship
building,
sharing,
following,
messaging,
promoting
etc. via
social
media.
However,
the vast
majority
(roughly
81
percent)
of the
U.S.
population
has at
least
one
social
media
account,
and
Facebook
alone
has
about
1.94
billion
monthly
active
users
worldwide.
In fact,
many
people
have
come to
prefer
this
method
of
interacting
over
traditional,
in-person,
face-to-face
socializing.
As a
psychologist
and
social
media
user, I
question
the
overwhelming
fascination
with
social
media.
Some of
us
remember
life
before
social
media,
though
recollections
may be
murky at
best.
When
I
consider
the
basis
for the
seemingly
instinctual
drive
toward
social
media,
two
words
come to
mind:
“emotional
tug.”
Most
humans
establish
connections
on a
visceral
level;
sure we
are in
contact
with new
people
and
places
daily,
but
certainly
not
every
single
encounter
moves
us.
We
appreciate
things
that
make us
feel:
Comedians
make us
laugh;
music
motivates
us;
haunted
houses
elicit
fear.
Social
media is
more
like the
roller
coaster
of
emotions,
possessing
the
ability
to
create
laughter,
love,
inspiration,
sadness
and fear
all in a
matter
of
minutes.
Have
you ever
experienced
an
abrupt
change
in mood
for
better
or worse
after
scrolling
through
your
feed?
Have you
ever
dedicated
way too
much
time
arguing
with
someone
over a
parasocial
relationship
(a
one-sided
relationship
that
exists
only on
social
media
and
generally
with a
celebrity)?
If so,
you are
well
aware of
the
social
media
effect.
Not
every
social
media
user has
the same
agenda,
but it
is
likely
that
every
user is
looking
to
connect,
share
and/or
learn,
all of
which
require
some
type of
emotional
involvement.
The
limbic
system,
often
referred
to as
the
emotional
brain,
is an
area of
our
brain
thought
to house
the
amygdala,
otherwise
known as
the
center
for
emotions,
behavior
and
motivation.
Because
of this,
it is
reasonable
to
believe
that
social
media
has the
ability
to
activate
the
amygdala.
Understanding
the
connection
between
emotion
and
events
could
significantly
improve
your
social
media
experience.
Specifically,
social
media
has the
ability
to evoke
happiness,
sadness
and
excitement
as well
as
anxiety,
depression,
envy,
frustration
etc. and
essentially
dictate
our
moods.
If the
only
emotions
you ever
experience
as you
browse
social
media
are
inspiration,
love and
happiness,
then you
are
probably
an
anomaly
and able
to teach
a lesson
or two
in
social
media
management
and
engagement.
However,
most
social
media
users
experience
a more
diverse
set of
emotions.
You have
probably
heard
someone
say in
reference
to a
social
media
connection,
“I am so
tired of
blank.”
It is
far less
common
to hear,
“I am so
tired of
hearing
about
his/her
vacations
and
success
because
it makes
me feel
jealous
and
frustrated
with my
own
life.”
People
generally
do not
share
the
deeper
negative
feelings
that
emerge
due to
either
lack of
insight
or shame
about
the
feeling
itself.
To
clarify,
if you
experience
not so
desirable
feelings
while
noticing
someone
else’s
success
on
Facebook,
this
does not
mean
that you
are
someone
who
wants
other
people
to fail;
it just
means
that you
are
having a
narcissistic
moment
that
compels
you to
make
another
person’s
post or
journey
all
about
you.
The
depression
and
anxiety
that
arise as
a result
of your
unpleasant
social
media
experience
do not
merely
vanish
after
you
exit,
but
linger,
affecting
you
consciously
or
subconsciously.
Depression
and
anxiety
surface
when we
anticipate
a threat
to our
wellbeing;
persistent
focus on
what one
perceives
as
negative
stimuli
feeds
depression
and
anxiety.
Is
it
possible
to use
social
media
and have
a
healthy
state of
mind?
Yes,
though
balance
is key.
It is
essential
to
manage
and
check
yourself
often.
Practice
metacognition
(think
about
your
thinking)
to
recognize
irrational
versus
rational
thoughts.
All are
vulnerable
to
subconscious
influence
and
awareness
takes
practice.
Replace
your
passive
scrolling
and
engaging
with
focus
and
intent,
understanding
that
connecting
is
optional.
A
diverse
network
generally
comes
with a
diverse
set of
opinions,
and if
your
tolerance
is not
yet up
for the
challenge,
it may
be best
to
connect
only
with
like-minded
individuals.
About:
Dr. Leno
is the
owner of
DML
Psychological
Services,
PLLC,
and is a
native
of
Detroit
and
licensed
psychologist
in the
state of
Michigan.
She
completed
her
undergraduate
studies
at
Marygrove
College
and
later
attended
the
Michigan
School
of
Professional
Psychology,
and
obtained
her M.A.
in
clinical
psychology.
She
completed
her
doctoral
degree
at
Saybrook
University
in
California.