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People never regret taking a break from social media. Celebrities such as Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, British actress Millie Bobby Brown and American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, who spent several years offline due to poor mental health, have all been struggling with their mental health. and talks about the mental health benefits that are closely related to it. Cast a spell by leaving social media.
So what are the signs that it’s time to log off for a while? And what are the benefits of doing so? Health experts share everything you need to know…
Should people take a break from social media?
Taking a break from social media is a good strategy to protect your mental health.
“Staying away from our devices is important for all of us, but especially for young people. Young brains are still developing, so being exposed to too much content on social media can be harmful and affect their future well-being. It can be damaging,” says psychotherapist and founder Fiona Yassin. She is also the clinical director of The Wave Clinic.
“In addition to the mental health risks from social media, we are all at risk from negative aspects of the internet such as cyberbullying, trolling, and the dark web. ”
What are the signs that it’s time to log off for a while?
It’s important to introspect and be honest about how social media makes you feel. There are many signs that it might be time to take a break from social media.
“Frequently getting irritated or irritated by other people’s content, comparing yourself to others to the detriment of your health, reaching for your phone first thing in the morning, reaching for your phone last thing at night, Things like scrolling through social media when you’re with other people, getting into arguments with people online, feeling depressed because your posts don’t get the reaction you want, or feeling like social media is your job. Sometimes we notice that we are having an impact on people,” Yassin said.
Many young people and teenagers can experience a great deal of anxiety due to social media. You may feel pressured to continually post perfect photos and write ideal posts to match.
“Following the unspoken rules of social media can be difficult, and teenagers can feel high anxiety as a result,” she added.
“Signs that your child or young person is struggling with social media include becoming withdrawn, isolated from friends and family, feeling agitated, having trouble sleeping, experiencing great distress when away from social media, and significant mood changes. , using self-deprecating comments, comparing yourself to others, and more.”
What’s the best way to ensure it’s effective?
For Yassim, social media is addictive. The reason people keep coming back to it is because it always gives them instant gratification.
But Jas Schembri-Stothart, co-founder of the Luna Wellbeing app, advises people to take the following steps:
“Unfollowing or muting accounts (influencers, brands, and even friends and family) that trigger negative emotions and lead to poor mental health. This method involves actively searching for You can only encounter content if you do so,” says Schembri-Stothert.
“Set personal boundaries, such as time limits and guardrails around when you’ll use social media. Reward yourself for sticking to them.
“Delete comments and likes and mute notifications. Hide pop-ups and adjust these settings to reduce the urge to keep refreshing your feed to see updated information.
“Feed (as much as possible). Engage with accounts and content that add value to your life and make you feel good. Social media is a great place to find hacks, creative ideas, and discover new It helps me learn things.”
What are the benefits?
Research shows that limiting social media use may prevent sleep disorders and improve well-being.
“Many people who use social media experience a fear of missing out, which can drive social media use at night and cause sleep problems,” Yassim said. Ta.
“Social media can be very anxiety-provoking for some adults and young people. Staying away from social media can help reduce anxiety at any age.”
It also prevents mental suffering. “While social media has not yet been proven to cause depression, it has been shown to worsen certain symptoms such as social isolation and loneliness,” Yassim added.
“Taking a break from social media and instead investing time to connect with real-life friends, family, and colleagues can help reduce feelings of loneliness.
“Although it has not yet been established whether there is a direct relationship between social media use and health factors, reducing social media use by even just 15 minutes a day can improve your general health. Studies show that immune function can be significantly improved.”
