Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. It’s estimated that nearly 40 million people over the age of 18 are plagued with anxiety. This number has greatly increased in recent years due to the surge in media accessibility and use. While the use of social media and digital platforms is a great way to keep in contact with friends and family, it often causes more harm than good.
Nearly 30% of social media users spend more than 15 hours per week online. Some spend much more than this, engrossing themselves with posts and pictures of their friends. This amount of time is considered excessive, as it prevents the user from living in the present. Instead, those who spend an excessive amount of time on the web often suffer from both anxiety and depression. The more disconnected they become with reality, the more likely they are to suffer.
The digital era has created a constant pressure to answer messages, respond to comments, and gain followers. The need to remain relevant increases anxiety. Users are constantly searching for post-worthy content, whether that be in photo or text form. If a specific post doesn’t garner the expected response, feelings of anxiety, worthless, and depression may set in.
Because more and more young adults, teens, and children are using digital devices, cyberbullying has also increased. Suddenly, it’s much easier for bullies to share their negative opinions or cruel words. For the victims, this kind of shaming can be devastating, increasing depression and anxiety even more.
If your social media use is impacting your daily life or causing anxiety, it’s time to regain control. Kinder in the Keys is a treatment center designed to reduce anxious symptoms. Through meditation, exercise, counseling, nutrition, and other practices, Kinder in the Keys helps patients to address the root of the anxiety and combat it in a healthy way. We create a safe space for healing to occur and supply each patient with the keys needed to continue living life to the fullest.
Learn more about our anxiety treatment program here.
