Ever felt jealousy or discontentment due to the
seemingly higher standards or jet-set lifestyle of other people on social
media? You are probably suffering from Social Media Anxiety Disorder (SMAD), a
condition described by the Research and Development Unit of Yudala – Nigeria’s
pioneer online and offline e-commerce outfit – as one
afflicting a growing number of young adults. If you are on social media in any
capacity, then you probably must have experienced SMAD, especially after being
exposed to what other persons in your social network are up to.
According to Yudala, social media anxiety disorder
is related to social anxiety, a mental illness which occurs when social media
interferes with the mental and physical health of a person, causing one to feel
inadequate, jealous, incompetent and unsatisfied. Admittedly, seeing a certain standard
on social media can make anyone anxious. This feeling is referred to as social
media anxiety.
Social media has grown in importance and today,
plays a greater role in our daily lives. Indeed, the majority of people rely on
their social media networks for a number of things including lifestyle habits,
trends and social validation. Unfortunately, we are in a world where everybody
tries to put their best image forward online and, as humans, we tend to compare
ourselves to the sometimes make-believe representation of others.
While social media is a useful way of connecting
with people and a remarkable way of bridging the gap between loneliness and
companionship with just a click; it is important to exercise caution.
All that glitters is not gold. This age-long
saying holds true especially on social media where a lot of people are guilty
of excess show of materialism and flaunting fake lifestyles or standards,
leaving the lead to feelings of loneliness, social anxiety and depression.
Yudala shares tips on how to cope with social media
anxiety:
1.Admit the
problem: Social Media Anxiety Disorder
can be difficult to treat, considering the emphasis on social media networking
as a model of success, especially in business. The first step in treating
social media anxiety is to identify the problem, admit it, understand it and
try to solve it. Be honest about your social media usage and manage what you
put on social media; avoid putting self-sabotaging comments of yourself in the
hope of getting positive response to build your self-esteem.
2.Stop comparing
yourself: Constant visits to social media
platforms can make you feel like you haven’t accomplished a lot especially when
you see the make-believe lifestyle of your social network. Humans are
insatiable and comparing yourself is inevitable but always try to do you as
opposed to studying others. The most important thing is to look back on your
journey and compare with your current state; this will make you feel good about
how far you’ve come because there will always be someone out there who is
better than you.
3.Socialize more
in real life: Nowadays, people are
so addicted to social media that they focus more on holding their phones than
talking and sharing their thoughts in person. But when your social media
friends aren’t as responsive as normal, you may become anxious and start to
feel lonely and that’s when social media anxiety sets in. It is important to
strengthen your real-life relationships because your social media friends won’t
be there to make lemonades for you when life hands you lemons.
4.Take a break: It is okay to take a social media break
especially when you realize you are battling social media anxiety. Often, it is
advisable to disengage from your social media platforms. Setting a specific
social media time limit for yourself daily or weekly can be very helpful. By doing
this, you can then gradually shut off from it completely until you feel
comfortable. While this may not be easy initially because of the attachment you
may have, you will find an alternative way to keep yourself occupied over time.
5.Embrace Some
Alone-Time: Having a quiet and relaxing
time by yourself doesn’t mean you’re a loner or a sad person. Being lonely is
different from wanting to be alone which can actually be quite healthy. Going
for a walk and being by yourself sometimes, with no distraction from your
mobile phone or social media, actually gives you the chance to clear your mind,
focus and think more clearly.
6.Focus on your
Passion: We all know social media can be
distracting. What starts as a check in on Facebook or Instagram can all of a
sudden turn to a 2- 3-hour waste of time. Instead of that, you can develop your
hobbies. Find something you are really passionate about and focus on them, rather
than spending time on social media and thinking someone else is doing better
than you. This may even help give you a sense of direction and fulfillment.
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