Social Media and Mental Illness: What You Need to Know!

SunBro Health

Discover how social media use can exacerbate psychiatric symptoms, especially in individuals with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and body dysmorphia. This video summarizes findings from a systematic review of 155 studies, introducing the ‘Delusion Amplification by Social Media’ model. Learn about the psychological effects of online interactions and the need for further research.  References: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evidence-based-living/202503/how-social-media-impacts-psychiatric-symptoms

Transcript

00:00Welcome back Sunbro, we hope you all in great health and great money.

00:04Before we start, please at least subscribe so we can have little money for food and paying bills.

00:09Alright, today we are going to talk about social media and mental illness, what you need to know.

00:15Social media has changed how you connect with people, but it's not all positive,

00:19especially if you're dealing with a psychiatric disorder like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,

00:23body dysmorphia, eating disorders, narcissistic personality disorder, or borderline personality

00:28disorder. A big review of 155 studies found that people with these conditions tend to use social

00:34media more, and not always in healthy ways. Since online interactions lack the usual face-to-face

00:39cues, it can mess with how your brain processes things, sometimes making symptoms worse. For

00:44example, if you have narcissistic traits, you might obsess over likes or followers. If you struggle

00:49with body image, you might compare yourself to others constantly. And if you experience delusions,

00:54social media can fuel feelings of being watched or controlled. Researchers even came up with a

00:59model called delusion amplification by social media. It suggests that people who already have

01:04an unstable sense of self might use social media to shape their identity, but end up spiraling into

01:09obsessive or paranoid behavior instead. Keep in mind, these findings are based on observation,

01:14not proof of cause and effect. But they do point to a clear trend, social media can seriously impact

01:19your mental health, especially if you're already vulnerable. More research is needed, but it's a

01:24good reminder to check in with how these platforms affect you.

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