This is what happens to your brain when you are on Instagram

This is what happens to your brain when you are on InstagramThis is what happens to your brain when you are on InstagramWhen is the last time you took the elevator, rode the subway, or waited in line at the grocery store without getting sucked into Instagram? My answer to this question is bleak.Instagram hit 1 billion monthly users in the summer of 2018, and has been experiencing faster growth than the oh-so-popular Facebook and Snapchat platgestalts. Whats behind our collective desire to incessantly check this simple, yet tantalizing photo-sharing app? Heres what the research says.Is Instagram Actually Addictive?Smartphone addiction has been widely studied, and a 2014 meta-analysis on web addiction suggests that 6% of individuals globally feel a need to stay constantly connected. Apps like Instagram are what keep us tethered to our devices.When used excessively, social media users appear to develop symptoms similar to substance-abuse addictions, such as salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, relapse, and conflict with regards to behavioral addictions.Excessive social media use has been shown to negatively impact peoples lives by lowering conscientiousness, increasing narcissism, decreasing real-life community engagement, and causing strain in relationships.Some researchers argue that people are not addicted to the technology itself but rather the good feelings people get from likes and validating comments.By definition, social media sites are designed to be addictive, Rachel ONeill, Ph.D. LPCC-S, and Ohio-based Talkspace therapist said. The very nature of scrolling impacts our mental health. Its hard for anything to compete with the constant high that comes from checking for new posts, getting new likes, or being retweeted. Virtually every aspect of social media is designed to activate the pleasure centers of the brain.Social Medias Slippery SlopeAddictions are sneaky because they often start out as simple enjoyments, offering momentary relief fro m uncomfortable feelings such asstress, sadness, or pain. In the case of social media, what starts out as a fun pastime quickly turns into a compulsive need to stay connected 24/7. For some, its used to prove to the world that they too are living their best life.Social media reinforces impulsivity, difficulty with self-regulation (a feature of any behavioral dependency), sensation-seeking, and the drive to seek novelty, Dr. ONeill explained. The more an individual uses social media, the more they tend to detach from everyday life and this detachment might lead to more social media use. Over time, this cycle can lead an individual to rely exclusively on social media as their only form of interaction with others.When You Know Its Time For A Digital DetoxThere are times when I find myself more vulnerable to comparison-itis, like when Im stressed about my future, feeling insecure in mybody, or making a difficult decision. In these moments, I pay particular attention to the amount of tim e I spend on Instagram and remind myself that everyones seemingly picture-perfect life may be an illusion.Sometimes, Ill feel the urge to step away from Instagram altogether for a few days or a few months at a time. These digital detoxes help me to re-center, hear my own voice, and nurture my relationships IRL.For those individuals who begin to notice a connection between their mood and their social media use, I like to suggest a social media pause Dr. ONeill advised. It doesnt have to be a full detox, but rather, the introduction of some moderation management.Red Flags You Might Have A Social Media AddictionAccording to Dr. ONeill, there are several red flags to be aware of if you, or a loved one, is concerned about a social media addiction, includingIncreasing amounts of time spent on social media sitesPreoccupation with being onlineExperiencing withdrawal symptoms when not onlineLosing track of time and spending hours onlineFeeling annoyance if bothered while onlineUsing social m edia to escape feelingsIgnoring important work or life tasks in favor of being on social mediaEngaging in social media while atschoolorworkdespite experiencing negative consequences for using these sitesHow To Overcome A Social Media AddictionDr. ONeill suggests treating a social media addiction like pathological gambling. Finding atherapistwho utilizes cognitive-behavioral interventions such as dealing with urges, limiting access to social media, and problem solving/emotion management can be especially helpful.Treatment tends to focus on two main goals, Dr. ONeill said. Focus on the attainment of controlled internet use, and the reduction of psychosocial problems directly and indirectly related to the internet dependence.She indicated treatment involves 3-4 weeks of abstinence from social networking sites like Instagram prior to beginning controlled internet use. Ongoing treatment likely involves some element of relapse prevention (e.g. identify high risk situations such as boredom at work or stressfulfamilygatherings).Whether or not you feel you are addicted to Instagram, the experts all seem to agree its beneficial to set some parameters for yourself about when you check Instagram. Pay attention to how often you scroll and the motivation behind doing so.And if you are brave enough, try doing a digital detox. You might even surprise yourself with how good it feels.This article was originally published on Talkspace.