If seeing other people’s picture-perfect depictions of life on social media is enough to send you spiraling, then you are not alone! This can be triggering, especially if you’re coming off a challenging year—whether emotionally, physically, or financially.
“Seeing others post their perfect family holidays pictures, extravagant homes, or beautiful experiences can worsen depression, low self-worth, and anxiety, and in serious cases, even lead to suicidal thoughts and feelings,” says Joyce Marter, a licensed psychotherapist in Evanston, Illinois and author of The Financial Mindset Fix: A Mental Fitness Program for an Abundant Life. “If the holidays and/or social media tend to bring you down, taking a break from social media is something you can do as a proactive and preventative self-care measure.”
Read more from Joyce in a recent feature article on Parents.com.