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Author: Hannah Gantt, LPCC
Social media has become an integral part of modern life, providing a way to connect, share, and access information instantly. While it offers many benefits, excessive or unhealthy social media use can significantly impact mental health. It can contribute to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and addictive behaviors. Understanding these effects and implementing strategies to use social media mindfully can help protect mental well-being. Additionally, for those undergoing ketamine therapy, it is especially important to limit social media use, as it can interfere with the healing process.
Social media platforms often present highly curated and filtered versions of people’s lives, making it easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Seeing images of others' successes, vacations, and picture-perfect relationships can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth. This comparison can fuel negative self-perception and increase depressive symptoms.
Research has linked excessive social media use to increased rates of anxiety and depression. Doomscrolling, endlessly consuming negative news and content, can heighten stress and feelings of helplessness. Social media can also create pressure to present a perfect life, leading to heightened anxiety and self-doubt.
The blue light from screens interferes with melatonin production, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. Additionally, engaging with stimulating content before bed can keep the mind active and restless, leading to poor sleep quality and fatigue, which can exacerbate mental health issues.
Social media is designed to be engaging, often triggering dopamine release, the brain’s reward chemical. This can lead to compulsive checking, endless scrolling, and an inability to step away, reinforcing addictive behaviors that can disrupt daily life and mental well-being.
While social media connects people, it can also create a false sense of social engagement. Many users report feeling lonelier despite spending hours online. The lack of real-life interaction can contribute to social isolation and increase feelings of loneliness.
To reduce the negative effects of social media while still benefiting from its positive aspects, consider the following strategies:
Use built-in app timers or third-party apps to limit daily screen time. Allocating specific time blocks for social media use can prevent mindless scrolling and help maintain a healthy balance.
Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you rather than those that trigger negative emotions. Unfollow or mute content that makes you feel anxious, insecure, or overwhelmed.
Instead of passively scrolling, engage meaningfully by interacting with close friends, joining supportive communities, and sharing positive or informative content.
Periodic digital detoxes, whether for a few hours, a weekend, or longer, can reset your relationship with social media and improve mental clarity.
Make an effort to engage in face-to-face interactions, phone calls, or outdoor activities to strengthen real-world relationships.
Before opening a social media app, ask yourself why you are doing so. Are you bored, anxious, or avoiding something? Bringing awareness to your motivations can help break unhealthy patterns.
Ketamine therapy has emerged as a powerful treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. However, engaging with social media immediately after a session can interfere with the therapy’s benefits. Here’s why:
Ketamine therapy can leave individuals in a vulnerable and emotionally open state. Exposure to negative or overwhelming content on social media can disrupt the healing process and trigger distress.
After ketamine therapy, the brain enters a period of heightened neuroplasticity, meaning it is more open to forming new thought patterns. Engaging with social media can reinforce old, negative mental loops instead of fostering healthier perspectives.
Ketamine therapy often provides deep insights and emotional breakthroughs. Spending time in introspection, journaling, or engaging in calming activities allows these insights to integrate fully, while social media distractions can dilute their impact.
The brain is in a delicate state after ketamine therapy, and excessive stimulation from scrolling, notifications, and digital noise can be overwhelming. A calm environment supports the therapy’s effectiveness.
For individuals struggling with compulsive social media use, ketamine therapy can provide relief in the following ways:
Ketamine therapy can help reset the brain’s reward system, reducing the compulsive need to seek short-term gratification from social media.
Many individuals report a heightened sense of awareness and presence after ketamine therapy, which can help them recognize and change unhealthy habits, including excessive social media use.
Since social media often exacerbates anxiety and depression, the mood-stabilizing effects of ketamine can reduce the emotional need to seek validation or distraction online.
Ketamine therapy can shift focus toward deeper, more meaningful connections and activities, making social media feel less essential for fulfillment.
Social media has the power to enhance or harm mental well-being, depending on how it is used. Mindful strategies can help maintain a healthier relationship with social platforms. For those undergoing ketamine therapy, avoiding social media post-session is crucial to maximize its benefits. Furthermore, ketamine therapy itself can help lessen social media dependence by addressing underlying emotional and neurological patterns. Prioritizing mental health over digital engagement can lead to a more balanced, fulfilling life.
