Social Media Depression—A Virtually Real Psychological Condition

Do you get jealous when you see your peers post pictures of their 'good times' on Facebook? Depressed that you 'have nothing to boast about' even once in a while?

Social media depression is real. And it’s becoming more and more prevalent in a fast-paced age where your news feeds is constantly bombarded by glitzy photos of successful peers.

Anxious personality disorder, inferiority complex and extreme depression—these are just a few of the symptoms present widely in people who find it very difficult to handle daily social media inputs. 

Life In A Virtual Bubble

In clinical setups, it’s been found that those who are busy updating their social media statuses are actually very lonely. Social media presents an opportunity for such people to reach out to others without actually having to be physically present. But at the same time, users lose out on 'real friends'; their real-life interaction skills with others are affected and their sympathy and empathy towards situations become more mechanical.

Over-reliance of what’s happening online is leading to an 'existential crisis' in a section of people.

Dr K Srinivas, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at Maxcure Hospitals, explained, "Studies have shown that those who check their social media accounts frequently during the week had a 2.7 times higher likelihood of depression than those who checked them less frequently. 45 percent of adults have indicated that they feel worried or unconformable when they can't access their email or social network sites."

Dr Aftab Ali Khan, Consultant Psychiatrist at Global Hospitals explained, "Most social media addicts have different personalities on social media as compared to the ones they maintain in real life."

Key Indications of Social Media Addiction

An imbalance between virtual and real-time relationships.

Social media related conflicts lead to negative relationship outcomes.

Young adults engage in short-term romantic relationships.

Compulsive users report greater conflict with their partners in addition to lower commitment and feelings of intimacy.

Users often exhibit narcissistic scores

Social Media Rehab

Strike a balance by encouraging positive use and redirecting yourself from problematic use.

Step out and understand a real situation as opposed to a virtual situation.

Parents should talk to their children about healthy social media habits.

In today’s day and age, it’s crucial to spread awareness about the harmful effects of social media addiction. Log off your accounts and strike up a conversation with some real people.