Over the last decade, the use of social media in our everyday lives has impacted us tremendously.
With the continuous development of new social media platforms, our world has become exponentially connected in ways it never has been. And while the importance and influence of social media in our lives have been in the negative spotlight for some time, the truth is that social media can have some really positive impacts on our lives, especially as moms.
If your spouse is in the military and you live far from your family and friends, social media can help you continue to stay connected, invested, and up to date on each other’s lives.
Perhaps your child has food allergies and you utilize specific Facebook groups to ask questions and connect with other moms who have kids struggling with food allergies like yours. Or maybe you have specific accounts on Instagram or TikTok that you know will always make you laugh when you need it.
Yet despite the positives that can come from social media in our lives, many moms (and women in general) find themselves experiencing anxious thoughts after scrolling through different pages and accounts.
The drawbacks of social media
We may find ourselves attracted to a particular Instagram influencer because their account is beautifully curated and their clean and organized home makes us feel calm when we look at their photos. But when we look up from the screen and see our own cluttered, messy house, we might begin to feel critical of ourselves. It is so easy to compare ourselves to the pictures or videos we see on our screens, regardless of if they’re posted by close friends or the “Instagram famous.”
If we find ourselves feeling bad about ourselves after getting on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or whatever other social media platform is hot for the moment, we need to pause and ask ourselves, What is the role social media is playing in my life and how is that affecting my anxiety?
Do we get on social media as a way to connect with people we know?
Are we mindlessly scrolling as a way to numb or avoid other thoughts and feelings?
Maybe, we are trying to connect with specific individuals to grow our business?
Or are we following other people out of curiosity, only to find ourselves sunken into the hole of our inner critic?
Having a social media account or being active on social media shouldn’t make you feel worse about yourself or amplify the voice of your inner critic.
If you want social media to be a part of your life, use it in a way that will support you rather than tear you down. Social media does not need to play a role in actively tearing down your self-esteem, value, and worth.
Here are some tips to avoid that and get the most out of your social media use.
Follow people or accounts that inspire you or motivate you.
Go through the list of people you follow and remove those accounts you know leave you feeling critical toward yourself. Be selective in the people you choose to follow and interact with, and only do so with individuals you know will build you up.
Be mindful of mindless scrolling.
Oftentimes we will just jump on our phones and pull up an app, just to see what’s going on without a real need or purpose to be doing so, and thus begins the mindless scroll. If you find yourself doing this, check in with yourself and ask Why am I doing this? Is it because you’ve got 10 minutes to kill in the carpool line? Or is it because it’s the end of the day and you are trying to numb the anxiety you have been experiencing all day? If you find that your social media use is more of an escape, ask yourself what you could do differently to cope with those feelings.
Utilize the mute and unfollow options.
We all easily fall victim to FOMO (fear of missing out) at times, and social media can heighten that, especially if we are far away from the people we love. We can start to feel anxious when we see that someone we know is tagged in a post and we aren’t there. If you feel like you get anxious when you see certain names or accounts because you know what you’re missing, consider muting them or unfollowing them so your anxiety won’t be triggered by their posts.
Begin Anxiety Treatment in Louisiana
Changing your relationship with social media is much easier said than done. I understand the struggles you may experience and would be happy to offer support via online therapy for anxiety treatment in Louisiana, Colorado, Florida, and Hawaii. If you’re ready to start your anxiety treatment journey, please follow these simple steps:
Schedule a free 15-minute consult via phone or video
Start improving your relationship with social media!
Other Services Offered With Ashley Comegys, LCSW
Anxiety treatment in Louisana isn’t the only mental health support I offer. I’m happy to offer a variety of services for those living in Hawaii, Louisiana, Colorado, and Florida. Other services include therapy for depression, postpartum depression, trauma, and grief. In addition, I also offer online postpartum support, and therapy for military spouses. Learn more by visiting my blog or about page today!