Is Social Media Adding Too Much Stress to Your Life? Here's How To Tell

It’s time to put down your phone in order to experience some calm in your life. These are the signs that social media is adding too much stress.

Is it time to do a social media detox? If you’re feeling stressed every time you see an Instagram notification or read negative comments all over Facebook, it may be time to take a breather — especially if the stress is causing cold sores. Using Abreva at the first sign of a cold sore can give you relief in just two and a half days¹.

“The negative effects of social media can be immediate,” said psychologist Jodi Aman, author of You 1, Anxiety 0. Aman gave a TEDx talk on the effects of social media on stress levels and what you can do about it. “There are some symptoms you’ll notice right away,” she said.

Signs Social Media Is Causing Too Much Stress

1. Feeling heaviness in your chest.

When you see a red badge notification or open up your apps, do you feel a tightness or heaviness in your chest or struggle to breathe?

2. Knots in your stomach.

Upset belly, nausea, or that feeling of a “pit” in your stomach is another indicator that social media is stressing you out.

3. Feeling sad, overwhelmed, irritable, and self-critical.

Do you notice your mood changes when you’re using social media? Does scrolling through a feed change your inner dialogue?

If you’re feeling any of the aforementioned symptoms, it could be time to take a pause from social. Keep in mind, this can be separate from how you might use social media for your job. “It’s usually personal use that affects you,” said Aman. “Professional use affects you less because you are not using social media as an individual, but representing a brand. This communal identity changes the effects on you.”

However, Aman has suggestions for lessening the stress effects. First, “keep track of your screen time and lessen your use,” she said. This is easier now that some smartphones track screen time for you. Next, “make sure you balance your social media use with in-person companionship!” says Aman. Don’t get so lost in the digital world that you sacrifice your IRL relationships. Spend time with friends, family, loved ones, and even coworkers to refresh your mind and mood.

And while you’re working on managing those stress levels, keep Abreva handy. Some people have found relief from their cold sores (thanks a lot, social media stress!) in as little as two and a half days, with a median healing time of 4.1 days¹. We’ve got your back.

¹When used at the first sign, median healing time of 4.1 days. 25% of users healed in 2.5 days.