At Recovery Ranch in Tennessee, we treat many clients with depressive disorders, and some of them experience elevated levels of stress after using social media. Learn more about social media and depression and the connection between depression and substance abuse. If you are struggling with depression, reach out to mental health treatment programs in Nashville to get the treatment and therapy you need to help you overcome your symptoms.

Social Media and Depression Connection

At least one study links social media and depression. Social media may have negative effects on your well-being and can result in both loneliness and depression. According to the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, those who rarely use social media are less lonely than those who use it frequently. The study included 143 University of Pennsylvania students, split into two groups. One group remained active on social media and the other group curtailed their social media use significantly. (The second group had just 30 minutes a day to access Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.)

Surprising Outcomes?

The group with limited access to social media had measurably better mental health outcomes. This conclusion was based on measures taken before and after the three-week experiment, including the following:

Depression
Social support
Fear of missing out
Anxiety
Autonomy
Self-acceptance
Self-esteem
Loneliness

At the end of the experiment, those with less social media access reported more positive feelings, especially in regard to depression. This study seems to establish that there is indeed a connection between social media and depression.

Depressive Disorder Treatment

At Recovery Ranch, our depression treatment center provides the tools you need to uncover the cause of your depression. You learn life skills that help you cope with negative feelings in constructive ways. Unfortunately, those who suffer from depression often turn to substance abuse as a way to self-medicate. This often makes the problem worse. For example, alcohol depresses the central nervous system, triggering sadness, lethargy, and hopelessness. If you have depression and a substance use disorder, it is called a dual diagnosis. At Recovery Ranch Tennessee, we treat both disorders at the same time with our dual diagnosis treatment center. Otherwise, you might give in to cravings triggered by untreated depression after you leave our center. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, one-third of adults with substance use disorder also have depression. This is one of the reasons our alcohol addiction treatment center addresses both addiction and depression at the same time. If either condition remains untreated, both conditions may worsen after you complete your treatment program.

Taking the First Step Toward Recovery

Our rigorous rehab admissions process focuses on getting to know you and discussing frankly substance use and mental health disorders that may complicate your recovery. When you contact us, we clarify whether you wish to learn information for yourself or a loved one. All information provided to your therapist or other staff members remains confidential. If you are currently active on social media and often feel upset after reviewing posts, let your therapist know. We can help you determine if social media and depression trigger your substance abuse. If so, our evidence-based treatment approaches provide the life skills needed to reduce your screen time and focus on your sobriety.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Tennessee

Contact Recovery Ranch in Tennessee at [Insert actual contact number] for help refraining from interactions that trigger cravings and feelings of depression. The connection between social media and depression impacts each client in a unique way. Let us help you build a comprehensive substance use disorder treatment plan that can change your life for the better and can help you overcome both depression and substance abuse.

Social Media and Depression