Social Media and Depression

depression can be much worse after using social media

According to some estimates, approximately 4 billion individuals worldwide use social networking sites such as Meta, Instagram, and Twitter.

This usage has spurred mental health professionals to study if social media’s immense popularity has a role in depression.

According to research, those who limit their time spent on social media are happier than those who do not. Other studies revealed that social media could cause a wide range of negative emotions in users, leading to or increasing their depression symptoms.

Defining Depression

depression treatment adolescent. What is depression.

Depression, or major depressive disorder, is a psychological condition that causes a person not to be interested in things they used to enjoy. Depression can be mild or severe, affecting a person’s ability to concentrate, eat properly, sleep well, make decisions, or usually go about their daily activities.

People suffering from depression may consider suicide, feel worthless, develop anxiety, or experience bodily symptoms such as exhaustion or headaches.

Some of the treatments for depression include psychotherapy and medication. Limiting time spent on social media and prioritizing face-to-face interactions might be good for one’s mental health.

Certain studies on mental health and social media revealed a link between social media sites and depression. Another study goes a step further, concluding that social media may promote depression.

The Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology published a study titled “No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression.”

According to the study’s findings, the fewer people utilized social media, the less unhappy and lonely they felt.

The Link between Social Media and Depression (Correlation)

The study suggests a link between less social media use and improved emotional well-being. According to the experts, this is the first time scientific research has proven a causal relationship between these characteristics.

“Previously, all that could be said was that there is a correlation between utilizing social media and having bad results with well-being,” researcher Jordyn Young said in a statement.

To ascertain the link between depression with social media, the researchers randomly assigned 143 University of Pennsylvania students into two groups: A group had unlimited access to social media, while the other was limited to 30 minutes per day on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat for three weeks.

Each participant in the study used an iPhone to browse social media, and the researchers kept track of their phone data to assure compliance. The group with limited social media access reported less severe despair and loneliness than the control group at the start of the trial.

Both groups reported decreased anxiety, depression and fear of missing out (FOMO), presumably because participating in the study made even those with unlimited access to social media more aware of how much time they spent on it.

Less Social Media Means Less FOMO

It’s unclear why participants who spent less time on social media daily experienced less depression. But researchers speculate that these young people were spared from viewing content that could make them feel terrible about themselves, such as a friend’s acceptance letter, beach vacation, or a happy family.

perfection can be impossible. Therapy can help.

On social media, seeing images of “perfect” people can make users feel that their lives aren’t as good as their peers’. It has been revealed that regular Facebook users are more prone to suffer from depression if they experience jealousy on social media networks.

Social media can also cause FOMO, for example, if a user was invited to a friend’s beach vacation but was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.

Alternatively, if the buddy did not invite them on the trip, users may feel wounded and excluded when they see that others in their social circle were. It may cause individuals to doubt their connections or their worth.

FOMO can be experienced by social media users who check an ex’s social media page and see photographs of their former spouse dining a new love interest. They could be perplexed as to why their ex never brought them to such opulent places or spoiled them with presents.

Finally, limiting one’s time on social media can imply spending less time comparing oneself to others. It can include not feeling horrible about oneself and acquiring symptoms that affect mental health like depression.

Young People Are More at Risk

Bullying was a common problem among young people before the internet and social media existed. Whereas the victims of bullying formerly had just one avenue for abuse, social media has now given bullies a second option. Bullies can send out a video of their victim being humiliated, beaten up, or otherwise disgraced with a single click.

People might flood a peer’s social media profile, write unpleasant comments, and spread falsehoods. It has led to many of these victims committing suicide in various situations.

While many colleges have anti-bullying policies and laws governing online student behavior, it can be difficult for administrators and guardians to monitor abusive behavior on social media.

Worse, victims of bullies frequently feel that if they speak to a parent, teacher, or administration about their abuse, the bullying will worsen. It can make youngsters feel even more alone and prevent them from receiving the psychological support they require to deal with a poisonous and potentially violent situation.

Safely Using Social Media

Although mental health hazards are associated with using social media, this does not indicate that it should be avoided entirely. Experts advise using these social networking sites in moderation.

Sands of time can slow down our social media use.

Consider using a timer or a computer or smartphone app to track how much time you spend on social media.

Without these timers or applications, it’s easy to lose track of time on social media. You can also organize real-world activities to help you focus on your local surroundings and situations to restrict your time spent on social media.

Read a book, watch a movie, take a walk, or talk on the phone with a buddy. Make time to appreciate life away from the computer.

If you or someone you care about is feeling so depressed or perhaps even having suicidal thoughts, you can contact a mental health expert here in Venice, Florida or visit our office in Sarasota, Florida.

Depression and Its Treatment

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest in activities, lethargy, fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, low energy levels, pessimism, or loss of self-esteem.

When you’re suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), your thoughts, feelings, and behavior are all affected.

Fortunately, there is treatment. Depression can leave you feeling sad or having less interest in activities you once liked. In addition, it can cause a wide range of mental and physical issues, as well as a loss in one’s capacity to operate at work and home.

The following are examples of mild to severe depression symptoms:

Having a low mood or feeling depressed
Lack of interest or enjoyment in once-pleasurable activities.
Appetite changes
Sleep issues or sleeping too much are common causes of insomnia.
Decrease in energy or an increase in exhaustion
Slowed movement or speech
Having a sense of shame or guilt
Thinking, focusing, or making decisions is difficult for you.
Suicidal or homicidal thoughts

For a diagnosis of depression, these symptoms must persist for two weeks or more to qualify as a depressive episode.

The symptoms of depression can be similar to medical diseases (e.g., thyroid difficulties, a brain tumor, or a vitamin shortage).

Approximately one in every fifteen adults (6.7 percent) suffers from depression each year. And 16.6% of persons will go through a period of depression throughout their lifetime. Depression can strike anyone at any moment, but it is most common between the ages of late adolescence and mid-twenties.

Depression Is Different From Sadness or Grief

It is challenging to deal with the death or the loss of a relationship. However, experiencing sadness or grief in the wake of such events is quite normal. Grieving people may describe themselves as “depressed” in the wake of a loss.

Being depressed, on the other hand, is a much more severe condition. Nevertheless, grieving is a normal and individual process that shares some characteristics with depression.

Anxiety and retreat from social activities are common features of sadness and depression.

When someone suffers from major depression, their thoughts often turn to taking one’s own life because they believe they are useless or unworthy of living.

Differentiating between grief and depression is critical because it can help people get the help, support, or treatment they require.

How Is Depression Treated?

The good news is that depression is one of the more manageable mental illnesses. Approximately 80% to 90% of patients with depression react favorably to treatment. In addition, the vast majority of people see some improvement in their symptoms.

Before beginning treatment, a complete diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and a physical examination, should be performed licensed health care provider.

Blood tests may be carried out in some circumstances to rule out a medical issue such as a thyroid disorder or a vitamin deficit as the cause of depression.

Medication

Brain chemistry may contribute to depression and may play a role in treatment. As a result, antidepressants may be prescribed to help alter one’s brain chemistry. These are not sedatives, “uppers,” or tranquilizers. They do not form habits. In general, antidepressant medications have no stimulating effect on people who are not depressed.

Although antidepressants may provide some relief within the first week or two of use, full benefits may not be realized for two to three months. Therefore, if a patient shows little or no improvement after a few weeks, their psychiatrist may adjust their dosage or substitute another antidepressant.

Other psychotropic medications may be beneficial in some cases. However, it is critical to notify your doctor if medication fails to work or experience side effects.

Experts typically advise patients to continue taking medication for six or more months after their symptoms have improved.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone to treat mild depression; however, for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with antidepressant medications. In addition, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is effective in treating depression.

CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on problem-solving in the present moment. CBT assists a person in recognizing distorted thinking to change thoughts and behaviors to respond to challenges more positively.

We also use a type of therapy called interpersonal psychodynamic therapy with has proven to be an effective treatment for depression. This therapy approach looks at unhelpful patterns of how we think about and relate to ourselves and others. It works to form more helpful, or adaptive, patterns of relating to others, ourselves, solving problems, and tolerating distress.

Psychotherapy may involve only one person, but it may also involve others. Family or couples therapy, for example, can assist in addressing issues within these close relationships.

Group therapy brings individuals with common illnesses together in a supportive environment, and it can help participants learn how others deal with similar situations.

Treatment can take a few weeks or months, depending on the severity of the depression. However, considerable progress can be made in as few as ten to fifteen sessions in many circumstances.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment that has traditionally been reserved for patients suffering from severe major depression not responding to other treatments. It has to do with a brief electrical stimulation of the patient’s brain while being sedated.

ECT is typically administered two to three times per week for six to twelve treatments. A team of trained medical professionals, including a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant, is usually in charge. This is a treatment option at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and is not offered at Davenport Psychology.

Self-help and Coping

Regular exercise helps many people create positive feelings and improves their mood. Furthermore, a good diet, adequate sleep, and avoiding alcohol (a depressive) might also help alleviate depression symptoms.

How Our Experts Can Help

Davenport Psychology takes a more integrative approach to treatment, taking your body, mind, and spirit into account. We believe each of these areas is crucial for healing from depression. As a result, our doctors have helped countless patients beat their depression—and we’d love to help you do the same.

Schedule an appointment with one of our experts, Dr. Charles R. Davenport. We are committed to helping people with all stages of life, so we understand what you’re going through. You don’t have to face your mental health concerns alone. Let us help you find change.

Languishing, Try Behavioral Activation

Stress anxiety treatment in Sarasota and Venice, FL at Davenport Psychology

Behavioral Activation and Anxiety

growth and anxiety can help you feel better.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems in the United States, with around one-third of people reporting some form of anxiety.

When left untreated, anxiety can lead to many problems, including relationship issues, poor job performance, substance abuse, and more.

Luckily, some new research suggests that behavioral activation —a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—may help people with anxiety find productive ways to manage their negative emotions and feel more in control of their lives.

Here’s what you need to know about behavioral activation and how it helps with anxiety.

What is Behavioral Activation?

Behavioral activation is a treatment for depression and anxiety that encourages patients to change their emotions. It is used as an alternative to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which often focuses on challenging negative or distorted thoughts through practice.

BA was developed by clinical psychologist Steven C. Hayes, who treats people with various conditions at his private practice. But, Hayes said, “we’re not just trying to think our way out of things; behavior matters.”

You have to act your way into new ways of thinking about yourself and feeling about yourself. This approach can be beneficial when someone has become trapped in destructive thought patterns and struggles with low self-esteem.

For example, one common scenario might involve someone avoiding interactions because they anticipate rejection. They aren’t able to get out of bed because they don’t want anyone judging them; they spend more time doing housework than engaging friends because it gives them something productive to do; and so on.

Behavioral Activation in Combating Anxiety

There are several theories on how to best approach anxiety. However, clinical treatment through counseling and medication may be required for those who suffer from a generalized, long-term anxiety disorder (like PTSD or GAD).

However, for people struggling with situational anxiety—that is, when they experience high levels of anxiety in a particular situation (for example, social situations, test-taking, flying)—it can be helpful to learn some effective coping strategies. This could include behavioral activation techniques to combat anxiety.

One strategy that can be helpful for those experiencing situational anxiety is behavioral activation. For example, many anxious people don’t want to leave their homes or interact with others because they think these situations will make them more anxious.

But in fact, there is some evidence to suggest that being around others and doing activities you enjoy may reduce your level of anxiety overall. There’s a lot of evidence that behavioral activation (BA) is an effective treatment for anxiety and depression therapy.

BA tries to help people identify activities that will make them feel happy and then suggests they do more of those things to combat their negative emotions. It seems like common sense: we all know that some activities can make us feel better when we’re down. So why not try to do more of those? That’s referred to as behavioral activation.

Creating an Anxiety Plan

How do you create an anxiety plan? First, start by figuring out what causes your anxiety. Is it a particular situation, place, or person? Once you’ve pinpointed what triggers your anxiety, you can start to create solutions.

While some people work more effectively under pressure, others have no choice but to prepare ahead of time. The key is to create a plan that works for you and gives you confidence.

The most important thing is to find something that helps reduce your fears and then stick with it! You should also seek support from family members or friends who love and care about you so they can encourage you along the way.

Changing Your Thoughts

Psychologists have recently discovered that one of the most powerful ways to overcome anxiety is simply changing your thoughts.

For example, if you constantly worry about an upcoming job interview, ask yourself: What’s the worst outcome for my interview? Perhaps not getting hired or getting hired and failing spectacularly? Most people realize that it’s far better to get hired and fail than not get hired at all.

Changing your thought patterns with the help of behavioral activation by using positive affirmations can help eliminate feelings of fear and anxiety—making it easier to face new situations and handle complex tasks.

Understanding Feelings

Psychologists typically divide feelings into two categories: emotions and moods. Emotions are intense feelings that can be defined, while moods are more subtle and longer-lasting. Feelings vary in intensity, frequency, and duration.

Feeling fearful one day does not necessarily mean you have clinical anxiety; most people will feel sad from time to time, but if these feelings don’t go away and start interfering with your work or relationships, it may be worth talking to a psychologist about treatment options.

In addition to medication, psychologists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders—the gold standard of treatment—and other therapies such as hypnosis, counseling, and mindfulness.

Ending Bad Habits

get therapy for stress at davenport psychology

We all have bad habits we would be happy to break. And we all have ways we beat ourselves up when they start to creep back in. One approach that can help you stop negative habits or start positive ones is behavioral activation (BA).

It is an evidence-based treatment method that focuses on changing behaviors and situations linked to depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions.

It identifies what triggers your discomfort or symptoms turning those triggers into motivators for good behavior…instead of excuses for avoiding bad behavior. In other words, figuring out what makes you feel better and then doing more of it.

Wrap up

Anxiety isn’t something that can be cured, per se. But by identifying and targeting triggers, as well as practicing mindfulness and other skills (more on these in a bit), you can ease your stress levels and get back to enjoying life.

It won’t happen overnight, but it can—and will—happen. Behavioral activation can help especially combined with treatment through talking therapies or alternative treatments like acupuncture or yoga, which can help people with anxiety feel calmer and happier in their daily lives.

Stress and Your Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused numerous changes in your life, including uncertainty, disrupted daily routines, financial stress, and social isolation.

You may be concerned about being ill, how long the pandemic will endure, whether your career will be impacted, and what the future holds. Unfortunately, rumors and disinformation can make your life feel out of control and leave you unsure of what to do.

You may suffer tension, worry, fear, despair, and loneliness during the COVID-19 epidemic. And mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, can deteriorate.

Surveys show a significant rise in the number of U.S. people reporting stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia during the epidemic compared to surveys before the pandemic.

Some people have increased their usage of alcohol or drugs to believe that it will help them cope with their pandemic anxieties. But, these substances can exacerbate anxiety and despair.

People with drug use problems, particularly those addicted to nicotine or opioids, are more likely to have negative consequences if given COVID-19.

These addictions can impair lung function and weaken the immune system, resulting in chronic illnesses such as heart disease and lung disease, which raise the chance of catastrophic COVID-19 consequences.

For all of these reasons, it’s critical to learn self-care techniques and get the care you need to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety.

Stress Self-care Techniques

Self-care practices are beneficial to both your emotional and physical health, and they can assist you in taking control of your life. Take care of your body and mind and connect with people to improve your mental health.

1. Take Good Care Of Your Physique

Take care of your physical health:

Get plenty of rest. Every day, go to bed and get up at the same time. Even if you’re staying at home, stick to your regular sleep-wake routine.
Engage in regular physical activity. Physical activity and exercise regularly can help reduce anxiety and enhance mood. Find a movement-based activity, such as dance or fitness applications. Take a walk outside, such as on a nature trail or in your backyard.
Maintain a well-balanced diet and limit your intake of junk food and refined sugar. Caffeine should be consumed in moderation to exacerbate tension, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Unwind and recharge. Make time for yourself. Even a few minutes of quiet time can be rejuvenating and beneficial in calming your thoughts and reducing stress. Deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, and meditation are beneficial practices for many people.

2. Take Good Care Of Your Mind

Concentrate on pleasant thoughts: Instead of obsessing on how horrible you feel, choose to focus on the good things in your life. Also, consider beginning each day by making a list of things you are grateful for overcoming. You should also keep a positive attitude, work to accept changes as they come, and keep concerns in perspective.

Limit your exposure to the news media: Constant coverage of COVID-19, in all forms of media, can make us more anxious. You can decrease your exposure to rumors and misleading information by limiting your use of social media. Limiting your reading, hearing, and seeing news, while staying up to date on national and local suggestions.

Seek help from your moral compass or spiritual life: When you draw strength from your belief system, it can provide you with comfort during complex and uncertain circumstances.

Establish priorities: Don’t get overwhelmed by making a life-changing list of things to accomplish while you’re at home. Instead, each day, set acceptable goals for yourself and detail the activities you will take to achieve those goals. Give yourself credit for every modest move in the right direction. Also, accept that some days will be better than others.

3. Make Good Relationship with People

Avoid social isolation if you work from home or need to distance yourself from others for a long time owing to COVID-19. Instead, make time to communicate virtually via email, SMS, phone, or video chat each day.

Ask your coworkers how they’re doing and offer coping strategies if you work from home. Finally, enjoy virtual mingling and communicating with individuals in your own house.

Recognize What Is Normal and What Is Not

Stress is a normal psychological and physiological response to life’s challenges. Everyone reacts differently to adversity, and it’s natural to feel stressed and worried during a crisis. However, various problems, such as the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic, can overwhelm you.

Many people may experience mental health issues during this time, including anxiety and depression symptoms. And emotions might shift over time.

Regardless of your efforts, you may feel helpless, unhappy, angry, impatient, despairing, nervous, or terrified. You may experience difficulties concentrating on ordinary tasks, changes in appetite, bodily aches, and pains, or difficulty sleeping, or you may struggle to complete routine duties.

When these signs and symptoms linger for several days in a row, make you unhappy, and cause problems in your everyday life to the point where you find it challenging to carry out usual responsibilities, it’s time to seek medical attention.

Seek Psychological Help

Hoping that mental health issues like stress or depression would go away on their own might worsen it. If you have concerns or your mental health symptoms worsen, seek help when you need it and be honest about how you’re feeling.

We’re here to help. Davenport Psychology has one of the finest Licensed Psychologist Florida & Marriage Counselors in Sarasota, Florida.

Our doctors, Dr. Charles R. Davenport and Dr. Swapnil Gohil have helped many patients from all walks of life beat mental stress and depression – and they would love to help you do the same. You can visit our office today if you reside in Florida for the best psychological services.

Christian Counseling

The word counsel appears a hundred and thirty-three times throughout the Bible. One Bible verse than rings true in my heart comes from Proverbs 13:10,

“By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.”

Psychologist- Swapnil Gohil, Psy.D. Provisional Psychologist Licensee

By: Swapnil Gohil, Psy.D., Provisional Psychologist Licensee- Both the word of God and counseling try to meet individuals where they are spiritually, biologically, psychologically, and sociologically. Before one engages with Christian Integration therapy, one must understand that it is not a competition of thought between these two domains. God has provided science and the knowledge of this world as a tool for us to utilize. The relationship between spiritual integration and psychology is more of dance. During certain moments science will take a lead in explaining our cognitive schemas. However, at other times Christian foundational truths will take the lead in justifying these scientifical resources to apply them to our individual lives. This can be seen in such evidenced based practices as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT educates us to challenge negative thoughts to create a new understanding or appraisal of a current event. Christian Integration uses this same process. In Christian Integration the individual utilizes the word of God to challenge a negative thought to create a new understanding of the event or oneself.

Cross for Christian counseling in Sarasota and Venice FL.

More and more clients are seeking counselors who can honor their faith. This dynamic is not about religious preference and more about respect for what the client considers to be sacred. Interesting enough there are clients who enter therapy and are apprehensive about Christian Integration. It is interesting we take medical advice or direction from a doctor, but question this same process in the therapeutic room. If a medical professional advised us to take medication to address a certain illness we do not think twice to adhere to this sound counsel. Yet we are apprehensive or we may even consider it taboo to see a counselor when we are suffering from depression or anxiety. The important relationship one must attempt to understand is that medicinal services are given as tool to utilize in the presence of sickness. We see in Isaiah 38:21,

“Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”

Similarly, psychological services are of the same nature. The individual diagnosed with an illness and the individual diagnosed with depression both require prayer and professional support. Just as medical provider and or mental health provider take in cultural understandings to disseminate treatment, Christian Integration assimilates scientific date into spiritual understandings. It is a relationship that can be classified as a dance of love, forgiveness, understanding, and hope to provide healing.

Christian integration psychotherapy has been proven to be as effective or even more effective than secular formats of psychotherapy for certain populations (Pearce et al.; 2015).

Cross of hope for Christian counseling with Psychologists.

The goal of religious or spiritual psychotherapy is to build upon the current foundational understanding of the patient’s Christian perspective. Thus, allowing the individual to identify and replace their negative thought cycle. Furthermore, Christian integration allows the individual to challenge their negative beliefs based on their current spiritual understanding. This approach facilitates an environment that emphasizes religious beliefs and practices that can be used to reduce depressive or negative symptoms and facilitate positive emotions.

Some of the major tools of Christian Integration Counseling include scripture memorization to renew one’s mind, contemplative prayer, challenging thoughts using religious teachings, engaging in religious practices (e.g., gratitude, altruism, forgiveness), and involvement in a religious community.

At Davenport Psychology, Dr. Swapnil Gohil has received his doctoral training from the private Christian university known as Regent University. He has received several years of training in Christian Integration and utilized this evidenced based practice in marriage counseling, substance use disorders, and mood disorders. At Davenport Psychology it is the utmost important to us to provide care to our patients taking into consideration their biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual perspectives. Please do contact us to hear more about Christian Integration Counseling and helping us help you for a better tomorrow.

Pearce, M. J., Koenig, H. G., Robins, C. J., Nelson, B., Shaw, S. F., Cohen, H. J., & King, M. B. (2015). Religiously integrated cognitive behavioral therapy: a new method of treatment for major depression in patients with chronic medical illness. Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.), 52(1), 56–66.

Category: Depression Treatment