Author: Moderator ★

Social Media Can Induce Feelings of Anxiety

Social media can produce high levels of stress and anxiety.  Sharing and posting  aspects of your life with others is the purpose of social media but it can lead to negative outcomes. These negative outcomes can cause a mental health concern or it can exacerbate an existing disorder. Studies show that those with higher levels of self-esteem use social media to creatively express themselves by posting and sharing information.  On the other hand, those with lower levels of self-esteem use the sites differently.  Individuals with lower self-esteem spend a significant amount of time counting likes, making sure there is never an unflattering picture, or negative comment made that would change the image of themselves they are creating.

Photo Credit: Visual Content Flickr via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: Visual Content Flickr via Compfight cc

Continue reading Social Media Can Induce Feelings of Anxiety

Mental Health & Changes in Functioning

In order for mental health concerns to be considered a disorder, the individual usually must present “significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities” (DSM 5). These vast changes in functioning can look different depending on the person, the environment, and the disorder. For this post, we are going to focus on what the impairment in functioning can look like. Usually, it means there is a significant and negative change from how one functioned previously, to now. There are different areas of life that these impairments can show up in like school, social settings, and other important activities.

Big differences in how someone interacts with others can indicate a problem. For example, if someone is really outgoing and generally a happy, positive person and they become withdrawn and start avoiding social situations for an extended period of time -that might indicate a problem. These changes in social functioning can also take place around family members. Big changes in the way someone communicates might mean the individual is experiencing a problem.

Photo Credit: matthewstanley via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: matthewstanley via Compfight cc

Continue reading Mental Health & Changes in Functioning

10 Games to Help You Get Rid of Some Stress

Sometimes we all just need to take a moment and escape from the real world for a second. For many people, games on the internet can be a fun outlet. Lifehack.org has complied a list of 10 fun and relaxing games to play to help you de-stress and stimulate your mind.  Alex Morris from Lifehack.org describes the games as “minor masterpieces of chilled-out enjoyment which can help calm you after a busy day, or hectic morning, by ridding you from the stress of modern life. It’s blissful escapism at its best, and it’s entirely free!”

Photo Credit: Robin Hutton Flickr via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: Robin Hutton Flickr via Compfight cc

There are ten games available on the website. Here’s a description of one of the games: Echogenesis

“Put your headphones on and immerse yourself in the wonders of Echogenesis. The visuals come from nature; swamps, forests, coves, and the like, whilst the sounds are created by interacting with the various life forms come across. It’s an immersive experience, from the beautiful graphics to the luscious stereophonic orchestration. You can’t win or lose; you just experience and influence the worlds you see, making it a relaxing tale of exploration.”

Take at look at what they have to offer and lets now what you think of the games.

Do We Share Too Much On Social Media?

Social Media is all about communicating and sharing your experiences with friends and followers. The question is at what point does it become too much and we begin to overshare? How and what we choose to share on social media will affect how people see us. It is important to be mindful of what information you decide to disclose. Psychology Today has provide some tips to help keep oversharing to a minimum.3333841090_c0d144158e_o

  • Don’t Tell everyone what you ate for breakfast….if you communicate with them a lot 
    • Studies show that when individuals share trivial or superficial information on social media it impacts relationships. Those closely associated with the person find more dissatisfaction in the relationship when told trivial information but it had little effect on those the person had less contact with
  • Don’t whine 
    • Research found that people don’t like viewing negative posts. Also when outside observers, unknown to an individual, evaluated the statuses/posts, the more negative and less positive emotions that are expressed, the less the person is liked by the observers
  • Show, but don’t show off, your romantic relationship 
    • This is not to say don’t talk about your relationships but keep the SUPER “lovely-dovey” posts and statuses to a minimum. People see others in happy and healthy relationship, but just limit some displays of affection to just each other and not the entire internet
  • Show who you are…but do it by being positive 
    • “Disclosing information about yourself in a way that gives people a full impression of the kind of person you are can make a better impression, as long as you keep the tone positive.
  • Don’t be completely self-centered
    • Those that post more self-oriented posts tend to receive fewer posts from others. It can also create a bad impression of who you are when the goals of social media is to connect but you are only posting about yourself.

At the end of the day just keep in mind that social media represents who you are to many people. This is a snapshot of your life and you want it to represent the best of who you are.

Have you overshared or seen others overshare on social media? What was the result?

Symptoms of Depression Are Not Just Changes in Mood

The mind and body have many different ways of expressing depression. Often times the symptoms of depression are mood-based such as hopelessness, feelings that one is unworthy, and suicidal ideation. Although those are symptoms related to mood that are often found with depression, it can also be represented through the physical changes and not just in a person’s mood. The depression symptoms can easily be managed, just as any illness or sickness.

Photo Credit: Tulane Publications via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: Tulane Publications via Compfight cc

Continue reading Symptoms of Depression Are Not Just Changes in Mood

Social Anxiety: The Symptoms and Potential Causes

There are lots of different kinds of anxiety. The general definition of anxiety is an unrealistic, irrational fear or worry of disabling intensity. While fear is the natural response to a serious threat to someone’s well-being, anxiety is a response to a potential threat in the future. People with anxiety can experience it in different situations and in different ways. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone experiences anxiety. When the anxiety gets to a point that it is disabling, it can then be classified as a disorder. For this post we are going to focus on a common type of anxiety: social anxiety disorder.

As we always do before discussing a disorder, it’s important to note that only a professional can diagnose individuals with mental health disorders. We want to warn against the dangers of self-diagnosis, especially relating to mental illness. If you or someone you know is experiencing some of these symptoms, it’s okay to investigate further by educating yourself on the disorder, but important to get a professional opinion before drawing any conclusions.

Continue reading Social Anxiety: The Symptoms and Potential Causes