Social media posting has become an addiction for people worldwide in today’s world. There was a time when people used to prefer enjoying the moments by visualizing them, but now people want to record everything they watch and do. Then they want to post it on social media. The anxiety of posting on social media is a topic worth discussing, and it has been addressed in numerous studies regarding the relationship between anxiety and social media usage. High fear of negative evaluation and a high propensity to hurt feelings. Notably, anxiety about social media posting was a predictor of unwillingness to post on social media platforms.

How to overcome the fear of posting on social media: 

Social media has a lot of appealing features. You have control over what you share when you socialize, and the parts of yourself you don’t like can be deleted or left out. However, interacting online can be difficult for socially anxious people, making them feel as self-conscious as they would in person. But on the other hand, Social anxiety is a common mental health issue that typically begins in adolescence and is defined by a fear of being judged by others. It becomes difficult to stop thinking about how and who will react to my post and what would be the way of them, and whether they would like it. 

Some people are so worried that they avoid social situations entirely. These fears influence how people with social anxiety behave, causing them to withdraw and hide their true selves from others. This adds fuel to their anxious thoughts, making them even more concerned that others will perceive them as dull or quiet.

Symptoms of having social media anxiety

Social media is an integral part of their daily lives for many people. You’re not alone if you wake up in the morning and reach for your phone to check Twitter.

Survey says 

A survey says that approximately 72% of people in the United States now use one social media platform. That’s over 223 million people scrolling through their social media feeds.

Many factors influence how you respond to social media. Social media use may exacerbate your symptoms if you have a mental health condition, such as an anxiety disorder.

In general, if you suffer from social anxiety, some aspects of social media may benefit you. However, it is more likely that some of your symptoms will worsen or intensify.

Symptoms of social media anxiety 

Some social media anxiety symptoms can be found in adults or children. The symptoms might include: 

1. Significant apprehension or anxiety about being judged

2. significant anxiety or fear of being in social situations

3. Avoid social situations or intense fear and anxiety when confronted with them.

4. Fear or anxiety does not correspond to the potential threat posed by the situation.

5. Severe distress or impairment in the occupational, social, and cognitive domains

The link between social media and anxiety:

New followers, “likes,” and enthusiastic comments can all activate your mind’s reward system. These social media boosts can cause dopamine, a “feel good” hormone, to be released in the brain. Feeling rewarded may subconsciously encourage you to keep checking to see if you’ve received new likes, comments, or followers.

In the case of social anxiety, your fear of being judged by others may increase in situations where you can easily compare yourself to others or feel evaluated by alike. If you’ve relied on social media filters to alter your appearance, you may be afraid of being scrutinized by others.

In some cases, these same factors may cause you to experience social anxiety symptoms for the first time. If you feel like you don’t “fit in” in certain social situations, this inadequacy may manifest as social anxiety symptoms. Then you may begin to be afraid of being exposed to or judged by others. 

Adolescents who use social media obsessively may develop social media fatigue. Fear of missing out may account for this fatigue indirectly and may sometimes result in increased anxiety and depression symptoms.

How to get rid of this social media anxiety:

1. Don’t overthink your posts and messages, and don’t put too much stock in the responses you receive.

2. If you constantly watch yourself on video calls, you will feel self-conscious. Concentrate on others and what they are saying rather than on yourself.

3. Comparing yourself to others on social media is unfair and unrealistic, and it will only harm you.

4. You are well aware of all of your human flaws and quirks, but you only see the occasional, carefully airbrushed shot of others. 

5. Recognize when you’re unfairly comparing yourself to others and give yourself a break.

6. You are unlikely to make meaningful connections if you only observe social media without participating. 

7. Try to increase your participation without overthinking it gradually.

8. Take a look around you and notice the colors and shadows in your surroundings. 

9. Play a music track and practice listening to one instrument at a time, switching between tools now and then – for example, try listening for the drums first, then the bass, and finally the singing.

Conclusion

People who suffer from social anxiety may be affected by social media. This is usually caused by comparing yourself to others or your online life to your offline reality. In some cases, it may heighten your fear of being judged based on your choices or appearance.

It is a terrible and unhealthy thing to stick to. Social media can be beneficial to some people’s well-being. But people increase its use so much in their daily lives that it leads to anxiety and other mental health problems. In particular, social support and connectedness gained through social media may compensate for the lack of this in your offline life.

Just be determined, It may take time, but one day will get over this habit; good luck!

Also Read:

7 Best Ways to Treat Anxiety Without Medication 

Difference Between Anxiety and Excitement

How To Become a Mental Health Advocate?

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