Social media has captivated the lives of millions of individuals around the world. Although the convenience and other advantages it offers are worth the time you put in the internet each day, there are also drawbacks to watch out for.
Social media anxiety disorder is one of the problems that can arise if you allow social media to dominate many aspects of your life. In fact, it can go so bad that you develop an addiction, which eventually results in mental problems.
You need to create a proper balance to adequately attend to your needs, as well as have a healthy routine outside the internet.
Signs That You Might Have SMAD
1. You?re inseparable from your mobile phone or device.
Many people today cannot spend more than 30 minutes away from their smart phone or tablet. They constantly check their mobile devices or simply play social media site games when there?s nothing else to do just to use social media. You might find yourself bringing the device with you in the bathroom, the dining table or in other unusual places.
2. You constantly post or send messages.
Some individuals are
constantly tweeting, posting messages and chatting with others online. They send shout-outs constantly just for the sake of posting. They also get worried if they haven?t posted anything in the past 3 to 6 hours. And you don't have to tweet about everywhere you are and whatever you eat.
3. You get upset over lost followers or online friends.
If you constantly monitor how many people are following you each day and then get overly excited if someone adds or follows you, you might have social media anxiety disorder. Worse, you might get depressed when you discover that someone chose to
unfriend or unfollow you online.
4. Constantly checking for updates.
Getting updates is a good thing on social media. However, if you constantly log in your account every 5 to 10 minutes just to check if someone has responded or liked your post, you might be suffering from SMAD.
5. Failing relationships.
Some people are too engrossed with social media that they no longer have time to fulfill other obligations and promises. You might be leaving out important people in your life in exchange for social media time. Some individuals have experienced breaking up with their boyfriend or girlfriend because they no longer have time for the relationship.
6. Spending too much time.
You might have social media anxiety disorder if you?ve been sitting in front of the computer for several hours and no longer remember if you have eaten lunch or taken a bath. You might have a problem if you forgot what else you need to do for the day after spending too much time online.
7. The outdoors doesn?t matter.
Even if you?re out at the beach with family, taking a hike in the forest or taking a run at the park and you constantly stop to check on your mobile phone or device every now and then, you might have SMAD. You should learn how to balance non-internet activities with your social media time.
8. Fear of logging in after a long break.
Some individuals are scared of opening their accounts after they?ve been out for several hours or a day. They fear that there will be too many messages and posts to reply to and items to upload or update.
Social media anxiety disorder may seem silly at first; but when someone you know starts showing signs of a severe problem, it is no longer a laughing matter. It is possible for an individual to get hooked on his or her social accounts so much that any form of face-to-face interaction becomes painful. Seek professional help right away.
