New Age Therapy & Virtual Living

Words Annabel Gold

The constant advancing world of technology has changed the way we communicate and engage with one another. The speed of technology is getting faster and we no longer have the choice but to keep up, especially if we want to stay in tune with the times. Annabel Gold, provides us with tips on how we can adapt to these changes and she provides us with reasons why we need to monitor our social media activity.

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The Social Media Drug - New Age Therapy? 

Documentaries have shown that the world of social media is powered by not just technology experts but experts who have mastered how to keep the attention of humans, professionals who have made social media addictive. Social media is designed to be addictive. It is suggested to reduce our ability to concentrate. 

Scientific research suggests that when we look at our phones and see a message, notification from a media platform, we release a level of dopamine that is almost equal to the level that is released when an individual takes cocaine. 

The feeds that come up on our media platforms subconsciously tell us and suggest ideas of how we should live and what we should look like - there is a heightened desire to want and chase after the things that people on Instagram/Facebook/Snapchat post. 

Social media interferes with our medium to long-term goals. We often have dreams and goals which take daily steps to fulfil, it would be pretty difficult to fulfil those goals if we spend up to 4 or 5 hours a day scrolling away on social media aimlessly. If there is a lack of something better to do, you will find yourself aimlessly scrolling through the news feed of Instagram or twitter. We’ve all been victims of it. 

The more an individual uses social media, the more likely they’re to feel lonely and isolated, the constant exposure to friends and stranger’s positively portrayed life through filtered pictures and edited videos can leave some others to feel more inadequate and can increase rates of depression. The social dilemma docudrama explains the intentions of social media and its effects on the way we think, perceive and behave. The use of social media on mobile phones was widely adopted around 2008/2009. Around this same time, the rate of suicide increased by 70% among girls aged between 15-19 and by 151% among girls aged 10-14. We now live in a generation that is more fragile, more anxious and more depressed. 

The rapid growth and relevance of social media cannot be stopped, it’s a tool that is needed more than ever, however there is a need to be in control of our media intake instead of it being in control of you. 

For anything that we want to do, it can be done on the laptop, Ipad or smartphone, but just because we have the ability and freedom to do everything via a device, does it mean we should? It is important to take time out from the screen. 

How to Virtually Pause:

● Instead of going to notes on Google Docs or your note app, take a moment to write in a journal - you’ll be surprised how refreshing it will be for you.

● Instead of face-timing, arrange a meet up, especially with your loved ones. 

● Instead of waking up and first picking up your phone, wake up and grab a book or a journal or better yet, take a moment to meditate and think in real time.

● When around others try not to engage on your phone unless it’s absolutely necessary - we are beginning to live in our devices and forgetting to embrace our physical reality. 

Annabel Gold - Mental Health & Well-being Coach