Does Instagram Posting Give You Anxiety? A Therapist on How to Work Through It—and When to Call It Quits

I lately requested buddy of mine, who additionally occurs to be contemporary off a actuality TV present and up a number of thousand Instagram followers, why he by no means posts something on social media. “I’ve an excessive amount of anxiousness about it,” he mentioned, after which recounted how he’d hesitate over a submit for hours earlier than ultimately pulling the plug on the entire thing. He couldn’t cease interested by what different folks would suppose.

Featured picture from our interview with Ariel Kaye by Teal Thomsen.

Understanding Social Media Nervousness—An Knowledgeable’s Take

I’ve by no means reached that degree of tension, however I can definitely commiserate. I’ve agonized over captions, main photos, and whether or not I used to be being too showy—and even too humble. I keep it up, impressed by Diane von Furstenberg’s philosophy that Instagram must be a private diary to trace your reminiscences. However the truth is, individuals are studying my private diary and approving each entry with a double faucet. I can’t assist however care about what they suppose.

To raised perceive the anxiousness most appear to really feel round posting to social media (and significantly Instagram), I tapped New York-based psychotherapist Kathryn Lee.

Does social anxiousness equate to anxiousness about posting on social media?

Social anxiousness is an intense concern that a person is being judged by others. There are numerous methods through which social anxiousness can manifest, together with a fast coronary heart charge, nausea, GI points, avoiding locations, and anxiousness in anticipation of an occasion.

Experiencing anxiousness about posting on social media could also be symptomatic of social anxiousness, but it surely doesn’t essentially imply that you’ve got social anxiousness and vice versa. When you’ve got anxiousness about posting on social media and really feel that you could have social anxiousness, contemplate different conditions and environments the place you additionally skilled anxious signs.

Even when your anxiousness about posting on social media shouldn’t be symptomatic of social anxiousness, anxiousness about posting on social media could level to different points corresponding to low vanity points, low confidence, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and/or needing exterior validation.

What typically causes anxiousness in relation to posting on one thing like Instagram?

People are social creatures, and we crave to be in group—likes and feedback might be indicators that we’re accepted, wished, and seen. These should not inherently unhealthy issues to need. Nevertheless, in a society that has change into so consumed by bodily appearances and residing a sure way of life, posting can both change into a supply of validation or a supply of dissatisfaction, particularly prior to now few years when lots of our interactions had been on-line and distant.

What are some methods that can assist you transfer previous that anxiousness when posting?

1. Get inquisitive about why you might be posting. Ask your self if you happen to’re posting for validation, likes, consideration, or if you happen to genuinely wish to share this image, increase consciousness, or have a good time one thing that occurred in your life.
2. Publish typically. The extra we expose ourselves to conditions that really feel scary the much less they change into so.
3. Whenever you submit, attempt to not monitor the likes and feedback. Even if you happen to really feel that you’re getting a optimistic response, attempt to not get caught up within the likes. Doing so will solely implement anxious ideas.
4. Be aware of who you might be giving entry to your life. Not everybody can or ought to have entry to you. If potential, it may be useful to do a “detox” to unfollow accounts that gas unhealthy thought patterns and to take away folks that you just may not wish to share issues with.

When do you have to take a break from Instagram as soon as and for all?

Should you’re starting to note that Instagram is a constant set off, that it’s continually fueling anxious ideas, stress, vanity points and is impacting your every day functioning, it could be time to take a break.

Some indicators it could be time to step away:

• in case you are growing an unhealthy relationship with meals or train
• in case you are checking your cellphone extra steadily and it’s pulling you out of your work and relationships
• in case you are struggling to sleep attributable to anxious ideas

Keep in mind that your psychological well being is your accountability. What higher strategy to maintain your self than to separate your self from one thing that’s unhealthy for you?

Should you can’t take a break from social media (for instance, you want it for work), are there different methods to keep away from that anxiousness?

When you may not essentially have the ability to keep away from the anxiousness, you may be taught to handle it and have a more healthy relationship with social media.

1. Remind your self that you’re greater than your job. You will have a lot to supply past your social media abilities! It may be useful to floor your self in what makes you expert in posting on Instagram particularly if it’s for work, like creativity, design, or manufacturing.
2. Have boundaries with social media. Deal with it as if you happen to would with every other job. Create and keep a schedule through which you’ll interact in social media and instances through which you’ll not. It may be useful to sign off of the app or not preserve the app on the principle web page of your cellphone. You may contemplate making a folder for work and placing all purposes associated to work, together with social media there. Lastly, if potential, flip off notifications!
3. Keep related to folks, locations, and issues that enable you to really feel grounded and related. The extra that you just keep and strengthen these connections, the much less social media will affect you. If it does affect you (as a result of all of us have these days), you’ll know the place to go and who to show to.

Craving a extra related morning? Let Camille’s intentional AM routine encourage you.