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Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

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Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#121

Post by tgv »

madmads wrote: post #105
johnfn wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Facebook really has little to do with this... if it wasnt facebook, it would be youtube, instagram, watching tv, or sleeping all day. …or you could end up doing something to improve your situation, like taking a walk outside or going to the gym. It’s kinda like saying vapes aren’t a problem because you would just get a cigarette.

In this case, if the individual is diagnosed with depression, taking away an escape from reality like Facebook doesn't solve the depression. Like they said, a depressed person will find something else to substitute Facebook. Depression needs actual treatment in most cases. The analogy to vaping and smoking doesn't exactly work.

The article literally says facebook aggravates depression. It's in the title. In this context, you can't just argue that taking away facebook doesn't help without reasons not to trust the article.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#122

Post by bulkprotocol »

hxugufjfjf wrote: post #119
jbirer wrote: post #90

I decided to go monk mode for a year. No friends, no family, no social media, no distractions. I focused on learning cooking, yoga etc. Spent most of my time either in my studio apartment or solo travelling. The results were huge, I went from an anxious depressed mess to someone who enjoys waking up, which is a very basic thing, but when you are depressed you hate that you have to wake up and go through life. I recom…

Yeah just chuck my one year old in the bin and focus on my yoga. Jesus christ some of the recommendations on this forum is infuriating.

OP is more on the extreme side but doesn't sound too crazy depending on where someone is at in their life. Obviously if you have a kid you can't do this so it's irrelevant.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#123

Post by tgv »

baby wrote: post #107
uncletammy wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Taking away facebook will not make them un-depressed. Although I agree that Facebook isn't the problem here, taking it away might be a necessary first step.

The problem is that you can’t take it away. If it’s not fb it’s tiktok, or youtube, or instagram, or reddit, or HN, or emails, or rss feeds, or food, or video games, or …

> fb ... tiktok, or youtube, or instagram, or reddit, or HN, or emails, or rss feeds, or food, or video games

Is the question: which of these is not like the rest?

Furthermore, you deny two things: firstly, that the influence of facebook is real, and secondly, that other forms of (social) media can have a different effect. E.g., RSS is totally unlike facebook. And let's ignore you mentioned food.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#124

Post by Sebb767 »

tgv wrote: post #121
madmads wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In this case, if the individual is diagnosed with depression, taking away an escape from reality like Facebook doesn't solve the depression. Like they said, a depressed person will find something else to substitute Facebook. Depression needs actual treatment in most cases. The analogy to vaping and smoking doesn't exactly work.

The article literally says facebook aggravates depression. It's in the title. In this context, you can't just argue that taking away facebook doesn't help without reasons not to trust the article.

It's like a headline saying Budweiser fosters alcoholism. Yes, alcoholics will be worse off if they drink Budweiser and yes, Budweiser does in some way foster alcoholism by producing and selling alcohol, but it's a very narrow picture to paint Budweiser as the sole perpetrator, which is heavily implied by the headline.

I hate Facebook as much as the next guy, but in this case, singling it out like this is neither fair nor helpful. Just like shutting down Budweiser would do nothing to reduce alcoholism.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#125

Post by nradov »

steveBK123 wrote: post #41

I think different social media can trigger depression in different ways. TikTok/Instagram is full of people posting a glossy, edited lifestyle that makes your life feel bad by comparison. Facebook/Twitter filled with more miserable people being miserable about one thing or another (politics/culture wars/news/etc) and allows you to spiral in misery.

Nah. I don't see many miserable people in my Facebook feed. It's all just a matter of who your friends are. If you're friends with miserable people and like their posts then those are going to fill your feed.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#126

Post by inkcapmushroom »

dopamean wrote: post #54

Does any addiction make already depressed people less depressed?

Many stories from people "addicted" to exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Chasing the high of feeling good and looking good can be a positive self-centered motivator which can help people lift themselves out of depression. Anecdotally I know a couple of people who have gone from severely overweight and depressed to running dozens of miles each week, and the way they talk about it definitely sounds like an addiction to me.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#127

Post by alar44 »

hxugufjfjf wrote: post #119
jbirer wrote: post #90

I decided to go monk mode for a year. No friends, no family, no social media, no distractions. I focused on learning cooking, yoga etc. Spent most of my time either in my studio apartment or solo travelling. The results were huge, I went from an anxious depressed mess to someone who enjoys waking up, which is a very basic thing, but when you are depressed you hate that you have to wake up and go through life. I recom…

Yeah just chuck my one year old in the bin and focus on my yoga. Jesus christ some of the recommendations on this forum is infuriating.

My favorite is take a year off to travel the world.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#128

Post by annyeonghada »

tgv wrote: post #123
baby wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is that you can’t take it away. If it’s not fb it’s tiktok, or youtube, or instagram, or reddit, or HN, or emails, or rss feeds, or food, or video games, or …

> fb ... tiktok, or youtube, or instagram, or reddit, or HN, or emails, or rss feeds, or food, or video games Is the question: which of these is not like the rest? Furthermore, you deny two things: firstly, that the influence of facebook is real, and secondly, that other forms of (social) media can have a different effect. E.g., RSS is totally unlike facebook. And let's ignore you mentioned food.

Food is definitely an obsession during my depressive episodes, especially if there is a suicidal component. I think constantly about food, I'm always hungry but at the same time everything disgusts me, I would like to not have to eat anymore: this ends up in a bulimic episode where I gorge everything in side, searching for something that fills that void and that taste just good, then I fast for 20-30 hours completely disgusted about what I've done.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#129

Post by OkayPhysicist »

miketery wrote: post #104
jbirer wrote: post #90

I decided to go monk mode for a year. No friends, no family, no social media, no distractions. I focused on learning cooking, yoga etc. Spent most of my time either in my studio apartment or solo travelling. The results were huge, I went from an anxious depressed mess to someone who enjoys waking up, which is a very basic thing, but when you are depressed you hate that you have to wake up and go through life. I recom…

This sounds extreme, but none the less I agree people should try to change something. Most recommend to start exercising. Easiest way to do this is to simply say I'm the kind of person that runs / bikes / works out (don't give yourself the option to decide). Simply say on Saturday's I do a run (rain or shine), then say Tuesday's and Saturdays, etc. In no time you're doing it 3+ times a week. From one good habit other…

For me, what worked was making a commitment to literally go to the gym everyday after work. Whether I actually exercised or not could falter on a day-to-day basis, but without fail I walk into the building. As predicted, it means I get a workout in at least 4 days a week, because if you're there, the barrier to "might as well run" or "guess I'll put in a quick weight set" is much lower.

Re: Facebook addiction increases depression severity among already depressed people

#130

Post by Tempest1981 »

float4 wrote: post #120
barbazoo wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends in my experience on what "news" we're talking about and the depth of the information. Almost all I'm seeing online is made to engage and engage people, some more and some less, and that definitely matches what parent is describing. Maybe you're talking about different kinds of content. I stopped consuming "news" i.e. CBC, CNN, Guardian, and the likes two months ago and I feel objectively happier and spend…

I agree. As with so many things in life: news can make you miserable, but if you take the right approach it doesn't have to make you miserable.

That's why I enjoy tech and business news. And it's safe to discuss with co-workers of differing political persuasions.

Sports and TV can work too.

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