The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
By Growth Era Counseling & Wellness
Always Connected — But Still Feeling Drained?
You open an app for a quick break.
Fifteen minutes later, you're comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel, feeling behind, overstimulated, or strangely… lonely.
Sound familiar?
Social media connects us in incredible ways — but it also has a real, measurable impact on how we feel, think, and relate to ourselves and others. At Growth Era Counseling & Wellness, we see this dynamic often in therapy. Clients come in exhausted, anxious, or emotionally dysregulated without realizing that their screen time might be playing a role.
This blog isn’t about quitting social media altogether. Instead, it’s an invitation to understand its effects — and to explore what healthy boundaries might look like for you.
The Mental Health Effects of Social Media
1. Constant Comparison
Social media often acts as a curated gallery of other people’s best moments. It's easy to forget that what we see is filtered, staged, or selectively shared.
The result? You may feel:
Like you’re falling behind in life or career
Less attractive, successful, or “put together”
Pressure to keep up, even when you're burned out
This comparison can quietly erode self-esteem and increase anxiety — especially if you're already navigating insecurity, identity struggles, or low mood.
2. Disrupted Attention and Sleep
Social media is designed to be addictive. Scrolling becomes a reflex — especially during moments of boredom, stress, or emotional discomfort.
You might notice:
Trouble focusing or staying present
Difficulty falling asleep due to late-night scrolling
Feeling more tired even after “resting” on your phone
Over time, this contributes to emotional fatigue and reduced capacity for real-world coping.
3. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
When everyone else seems to be out, thriving, and connected, it can trigger a fear that you're being left behind — even when you're content in your actual life.
FOMO can lead to:
Overcommitting socially
Feelings of loneliness or exclusion
Anxiety about missing experiences, trends, or milestones
In therapy, we often unpack how FOMO is linked to deeper fears of rejection, not-enoughness, or disconnection.
4. Increased Anxiety and Depression
Research shows that excessive social media use — especially passive scrolling — is linked to higher levels of depression and anxiety.
Why? Because social media can:
Trigger comparison and self-doubt
Interrupt rest and reflection
Overwhelm the nervous system with stimulation
Make it harder to process real emotions in real time
If you already struggle with anxiety, depression, or trauma, unfiltered social media use can quietly intensify those symptoms.
5. Emotional Numbing and Avoidance
Sometimes social media becomes a coping strategy. You might scroll to distract yourself from stress, sadness, or overwhelm. While this provides short-term relief, it often numbs rather than soothes.
In therapy, we work with clients to:
Understand what they’re avoiding
Replace numbing habits with supportive ones
Rebuild emotional tolerance and resilience
So, What Does Healthy Social Media Use Look Like?
Here’s what we encourage at Growth Era Counseling & Wellness:
Intentional Engagement
Ask: Why am I opening this app right now?
Choose connection over passive consumption
Follow accounts that uplift, inform, or inspire — and unfollow those that drain you
Digital Boundaries
Set time limits or use app blockers
Avoid scrolling first thing in the morning or before bed
Designate screen-free zones or times during your day
Check in With Your Body
Notice how you feel before, during, and after scrolling. If you’re more anxious, tense, or numb afterward — that’s good information.
Therapy Support
Sometimes social media triggers deeper wounds — around identity, self-worth, belonging, or safety. Therapy can help you:
Explore your emotional responses
Build self-awareness
Develop healthier coping tools
Reconnect with what truly nourishes you
You’re Allowed to Take Up Space Offline
It’s okay to take breaks.
It’s okay to log off.
It’s okay to choose your well-being over staying current.
At Growth Era Counseling & Wellness, we offer compassionate, trauma-informed therapy that honors the impact of modern stressors — including how digital life shapes your emotional health.
Ready to feel more connected to yourself than to your screen?
Book a consultation today!