Why social media could exasperate or cause depression and anxiety.

Social media has become the pedestal in regards to how we communicate, build relationships and advertise our businesses, if used for the correct reasons it can have many benefits but unfortunately this is not the case for many individuals.

Individuals have become accustomed to portraying their lives on social media as a way of escaping their reality, a reality which is far from perfect but only a conclusion of misery. Approval and acceptance has become the central point by showcasing our every move on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Long term and excessive use of social media in this manner will be the prologue that will eventually cause or exasperate certain mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Each time you post a selfie or a picture of any kind you are setting yourself up for a spike in dopamine levels, dopamine is a chemical situated in the Ventral Tegmental (a circuit of neurons in the brain which synthesize and release Dopamine) responsible for giving us pleasure and satisfaction. Each time somebody likes or comments on a photo which you have posted, it gives a rise in dopamine levels.

What happens when you eat a slice of your favourite flavoured cake? you will want to consume more because the first slice had provided you with satisfaction and pleasure, the same process starts to occur when you post up a picture, you will continue to post more selfies to receive the reward in this case it is the pleasurable feeling which has been endowed by likes.

There have been studies (currently inconclusive) which have displayed a correlation between depression and dopamine, those whom suffer from depression are more likely to have low dopamine levels and vice versa, hence the reason why depression sufferers find it arduous to get motivated.

If you solely rely on spending majority of your precious time on social media you will eventually have a depletion of dopamine levels as soon as you inhibit the use of social media which can lead to a feeling of solitude that can lead to depression, if you are already feeling depressed and lonely this will exasperate the problem. Instead of looking for approval or acceptance which is your reward (your lying to yourself if this isn’t the reason you continuously post photos) via social media, meet individuals in real life, enjoy time with friends and family, read a book and do exercise as these are much healthier options to increase dopamine levels in your brain!

The internet is not real life, it does and should not represent who you are in real life, approval begins with you first and foremost not by some random stranger or even your friends (yes i just said that). OCD and anxiety have also been linked to profound usages of the internet, your brain is literally being rewired inappropriately.

If you wish to make memories which stand the test of time revert back to using cameras ( and no not the ones on your mobile phones) and possess the photos for your loved ones and yourself, hang them up on your bedroom wall or fridge.

From my personal perspective i have never seen the need to post up a selfie or picture of myself for approval or any other reason, I like to keep my I.G page symbolic for readers and viewers, they can interpret the content i put on there however they wish to, sometimes i will use it to help raise awareness in regards to a cause that needs more attention then a picture of myself or anyone else included in that picture.

There are many causes of depression, one of them is if you do not receive what you want or desire then the outcome of that shall be depression, in this case if you do not receive the approval you desperately want to have via social media the result will be depression.

Comparing your pictures with your favourite celebrity seems to be the norm in this day and age, when you compare yourself with someone this in turn can produce feelings of insecurities and dissatisfaction which will eventually lead to negative feelings and emotions, depression is an accumulation of negative energies and emotions. Remember pictures are just that ….pictures , they should not dictate who we are in real life, they do not represent the person walking down the street with their dog, the individual who is involved in charity projects without taking a picture which they reveal to the whole world.

The satisfaction you may receive by comparing is false, it is a temporary release of dopamine which will start to deplete because sooner or later you will find another favourite celebrity of yours who does not meet your lifestyle or looks, this continuous cycle will lead to depression and anxiety in the long run.

If you are going to use social media, use it for the correct reasons not for the ones where the result will be self harm.

Your friend

Sukhdip

www.instagram.com/sukhdip.chhoker

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