It has truly been a tough year for nearly every person on the planet – the fear and anxiety combined with the confusion in the chaos of the current covid crisis has many riding the mental, emotional, economical and spiritual roller-coaster.

Social media platforms offer an excellent avenue for instantly connecting with people and to gain new information, so they seem like “good tools” – however, these platforms are THIEVES OF TIME and because of the effect that “active engagement” has on our brains – we offer up precious time and indulge in the delusion of contributing and communicating!!! 

SOCIAL MEDIA IS ADDICTIVE both physically and psychologically. LIKE any addiction this too can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives – Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually – Our health and wellness is compromised when our engagement and compulsive use of social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and others is excessive, compulsive and causing anxiety.

Harvard University researchers concluded that self-disclosure communication (when people talk and share updates about themselves) induces pleasure and happiness in the brain. This reaction is triggered when the brain cells produce a chemical called dopamine.

This direct stimulation of pleasure is one of the primary causes of addiction. When the reward centre of the brain is continuously engaged, it starts to crave for more stimulation. Continuous gratification of this desire leads into the formation of a new habit and over time, the addictive disorder is developed.

The Canadian Mental Health Association has warned about the mental health effects of excessive use of social media. Below are some of the impacts of social media addiction to a person’s mental well-being:

• Sadness –While the social networks provide bridges for people to connect instantly, it lacks the powerful and enriching face-to-face interactions that the human species requires.
• Life comparison – A study discovered that when viewing other people’s highlight reels on social media, our subconscious mind draws comparisons in “upward” or “downward” directions, drawing false comparisons which is behaviour that lends itself to opening the doors of depression.
• Delusion – When a person feels sad, s/he will likely turn to social media for distraction – reading articles, watching videos, and scrolling through funny memes –  whatever it is, it’s just “to feel good.” Or at least “better”  — Although it may “feel” like a respite from sadness, in reality, this behavioural pattern is similar to drug use, where a drug dependent consumes the drug to alter their mood, induce pleasure, or get numbed, this will only trap a person in a vicious cycle of usage and relapse and the delusion of control or productivity!
• Decreased productivity – The itch to use social media can disrupt your work productivity levels in an unbelievably “Sneaky and covert” manner – most people I;ve talked to, and cases I’ve read the “Social media junky” didn’t realize just how much time they spent on social media until they began to track it!  
• Stress – Heavy screen time is associated with a high risk of stress and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, compromised sleep quality, and lower self-esteem – for all the obvious reasons including those identified above.
• Communication breakdown : Information overload brought by prolonged consumption of media diminishes brain power, resulting in the inability to process information and be confident in decision making tasks.

Social media addiction progresses gradually, and the way to identify its symptoms is to trace your moment-by-moment activities. To know whether you may be at risk of developing this addiction, try to ask yourselves these eight questions:

1. Do you spend most of your time thinking about social media or planning to use social media?
2. Do you check social media first thing in the morning?
3. Do you feel this nagging urge to use social media to fill pockets of your time?
4. Do you constantly track the number of ‘Likes’ and ‘Shares’ that your posts have garnered?
5. Do you resort to using social media to shrug off your problems?
6. Have you tried to minimize your social media use but to no avail?
7. Do you get frustrated or restless when you are not able to check notifications from any of your social media accounts?
8. Has your social media use harmed your studies or job?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, then I’m sure you are asking yourself “How do I fix/change this?”   Note that simply by recognizing that you may have an issue is a BIG STEP in the right direction – And fortunately, because addiction to social media is a behavioural issue it can be corrected reasonably easy.

Here are some effective strategies to help control your social media use:

note that if “any” of these suggestions cause you anxiety – you may want to consider having support in creating a strategy. ANY ADDICTION can be dangerous if left unaddressed

• Consult a coach or therapist who can help you identify and address the issues.  I am available for support – click to book an appointment to see how I CAN HELP YOU, HELP YOU to HEAL-THY SELF

For all intent purposes using NLP techniques and Hypnosis I’d guide or coach you into 1. defining new strategies for spending your time, 2. help you pattern positive (and intuitive) behaviors that improve the quality of your life, and 3. Help you create your own “self-help” tools and strategies for coping – Protect your health and wellness and enriching the experience of living! CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO

Some suggestions for staying in the drivers seat while engaging in social media activity include:

• Turn off notifications. One of the reasons people are often distracted by social media is notifications. That conspicuous popping tone can eat away at your attention, but you don’t have to let it. The best way to stop notifications is to turn them off. Only check them once you’re done with your important tasks or during your break times.

• Limit your social media use. Allot a specific amount of time for checking notifications and scrolling your newsfeed. Use this time only during a certain hour each day. This way, you can train your mind to focus on the work that’s at hand and prevent any distraction.
• Find other avenues to channel your attention. Typically, people whip out their smartphones and use social media when they have nothing else to do. You can prevent this by using your pockets of time to do hobbies or useful activities that fuel self-growth. Read a good book, learn to play an instrument, grab a coffee with a friend, or go for a quick run.
• Don’t bring your phone into your bedroom. Three out of four people will use their phones within 15 minutes of going to bed. Many also check their phones the moment they wake up in the morning. If you want to savour the first and last minutes of your day, keep your phone at arm’s length. Instead, leave it anywhere that’s out of reach while you sleep.
• Create or join a support network. Some people are conscious of their social media habits and understand how these habits can affect their lives, but lack the resolve to address them. People experiencing addiction issues of any kind need a secure support system that will encourage them to confront their problems head-on. Communicate with your spouse, friends, parents, colleagues, or boss about your decision. Tell them to remind you to stop once they see you spend too much time on social networks. Become accountable to your time!!!

AGAIN: note that if “any” of these suggestions cause you anxiety – you may want to consider having support in creating a strategy. ANY ADDICTION can be dangerous if left unaddressed

• Consult a coach or therapist who can help you identify and address the issues.  I am available for support – click to book an appointment to see how I CAN HELP YOU, HELP YOU! INFO IS POWER

WOW RIGHT!   Needless to say, during this covid crisis thing I like many found respite (or so I thought) engaging on the social media platforms and I am a firm believer in practicing what I preach as such… I made a social media announcement today at 420 est ….

Social Media Announcement

Hey friends & followers,

This is a short announcement to let you all know – effective DECEMBER 1st I will be taking a much-needed SABBATICAL LEAVE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA for a minimum of 90 Days – maybe more! …

I am doing this for several reasons …

1. to recapture time and PURSUE THE COMPLETION of a priority project (or two!)
2. to REDUCE STRESSORS & REBUILD my health and wellness (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – it’s been a tough year!)
3. to ALLEVIATE ANXIETY and reclaim my calm, inner-peace and genuine joy (See today’s blog post for more info!)

NOTABLY – You can still follow and reach me via my website @ www.greenirene.ca – I’ll be posting new conversational and informative content each Monday – Learn tips, tools and strategies for coping, healing and growing – SIGN UP TO STAY CONNECTED 🙂 I’m not sure how long the automated cross-posting will be in effect!

Finally, I am still available through email, phone/text and I will continue to provide the services and products available through GreenIrene’s T.H.C. (Transformative Health Coaching). More info is on the website at www.greenirene.ca

My final LIVE SHOW can be found Tuesday December 1st @ 7PM at: www.facebook.com/groups/infowithkim

On that note, Until we meet again…. STAY SAFE and KEEP WARM, Be festive and celebrate your loved ones. Be happy, healthy and strong – KEEP LIT <3

REMEMBER TO SIGN UP TO STAY CONNECTED