How Does Social Media Affects Mental Health?

I remember the moment vividly. A client sat across from me, eyes glazed, fingers twitching toward a phone that buzzed silently on the table between us. “I can’t stop scrolling,” she said, half-laughing, half-pleading. “It’s like I’m searching for something… but I don’t even know what.”

In that moment, I understood something profound: we are more connected than ever, and yet—many of us feel painfully alone.

Is Social Media Helping or Harming Our Mental Health?

Social media, in its essence, was created to bring us together—to share stories, celebrate moments, and stay in touch. But in the therapy room, I’ve witnessed the opposite: anxiety, self-doubt, FOMO (fear of missing out), and the slow erosion of self-worth in the face of curated perfection.

In my experience, social media can mirror back unhealed parts of ourselves. It has the power to deepen connection, but just as easily, it can magnify disconnection—from others, and from ourselves.

So, how do we discern whether social media is a lifeline or a landmine?

What Are the Psychological Effects of Social Media?

Let’s break it down.

1. Comparison and Self-Esteem

We are wired for comparison—it’s how we measure progress. But scrolling past filtered images of success, bodies, lifestyles, and relationships often leads to distorted self-perception. We internalise the highlight reels as benchmarks for our own lives.

Over time, this comparison game can lead to:

• Low self-worth
• Imposter syndrome
• Depression symptoms
• Body image dissatisfaction

2. Dopamine and Addiction

Each ‘like’ or notification is a dopamine hit. The brain starts to crave more—more validation, more attention. And when it doesn’t come? We spiral. This cycle mimics behavioural addiction, leaving us anxious when disconnected and restless when connected.

3. Disrupted Sleep and Focus

Blue light disrupts melatonin, and late-night scrolling interrupts natural sleep rhythms. Emotionally charged content can overstimulate the nervous system, leaving you exhausted but unable to rest. Over time, this erodes resilience.

4. Loneliness and Isolation

Paradoxically, being “always online” often deepens a sense of loneliness. Social media offers connection without vulnerability. You can watch someone’s story without being part of their story.

It’s a connection without presence—and that’s not the medicine our hearts need.

How Can You Create a Healthier Relationship With Social Media?

It starts with intention.

• Audit your feed. Follow accounts that nourish your wellbeing, not your insecurity.
• Limit screen time. Use timers or take social media “fasts” to reconnect with the present.
• Prioritise real-life connection. No amount of double taps can replace eye contact or a shared laugh.
• Talk about it in therapy. Explore what social media triggers in you. Often, it reveals unmet needs or old wounds.

At Inner Focus Therapy, we guide clients to reclaim their digital boundaries—not just for the sake of discipline, but for emotional freedom.

Final Reflection: Is Social Media the Problem, or the Mirror?

Social media isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s a tool. But like all powerful tools, it must be wielded with awareness. Ask yourself:

Am I using it to connect, or to escape?

Because the truth is, the most important “feed” is not what shows up on your screen—it’s what shows up in your inner world.

When we bring consciousness to how we scroll, post, compare, or consume, we begin the process of taking our power back.

And that… is where healing begins.