State of Mind: Exploring mental health in a digital world

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? This age-old philosophical thought experiment that explores the dynamic of reality versus perception also just so happens to be highly relevant when exploring mental health in an increasingly digitally connected world.

To that end, if a person goes to a concert and doesn’t post it on social media for others to see, did they even go? When we pause to consider the implications of what might seem like a ridiculous question, it’s easy to see how this version of the thought experiment might be deeper and more complex than we realize.

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What is posted on social media generally reflects a carefully curated highlight reel of one’s life. In other words, social media feeds don’t typically replicate daily reality but rather present the best image we can create. And every like or comment on a post brings with it a hit of the “feel good” chemical dopamine.

As we continue to seek out those dopamine hits and the self-esteem boosts and validation that come alongside it, it’s apparent how social media so easily becomes addictive. For many, an activity isn’t complete until it’s posted on social media. It’s in that mindset that our immediate reaction to a beautiful sunset is to snap a quick picture to post online. Our first inclination when we’re out with friends is to make sure we get the right lighting for the perfect Instaworthy pic. And when an unexpected funny moment occurs, laughing is accompanied by disappointment that we weren’t prepared to record.

The research and statistics around social media’s impact on mental health have been widely broadcast. The very nature of being addicted, chasing validation, comparing ourselves and our lives to fake realities, the fear of missing out and doomscrolling can have catastrophic consequences for mental health. Social media usage has been associated with increases in anxiety, depression and self-isolation, and decreases in self-esteem and life satisfaction.

What’s often left out of the conversation, however, is the impact on what’s left behind. When our minds are so focused on making sure we have the right picture to post, we naturally focus less on the present moment. When our thoughts are preoccupied with crafting the right aesthetic, we can miss the chaotically beautiful instant in which we physically exist. Everything from moments that used to become memories, like going to the park without a camera phone in hand, to the natural moments of quiet solitude and self-reflection, like standing alone in a shower or going for a walk without headphones, have been infiltrated with more media consumption and the need to make a post online.

And missing out on those things, or even experiencing them less fully, has significant implications for mental health and wellbeing. Research shows that being fully present in the moment and spending quiet time alone, both of which require not feeling preoccupied with consuming or posting on social media, can improve emotional regulation, decision-making and problem-solving, and reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

So, if something exciting happens and we don’t post it on social media, did it even happen? Sometimes it’s easy for life to become a never-ending pursuit of those moments we feel the need to post. Perhaps we not only need to work on returning to a place of full presence in those moments, but also slow down, calm our minds and allow ourselves to pay attention to and relish in all the often overlooked, beautifully simple moments in between.

Bryan Busch is a licensed mental health counselor in Cedar Rapids. He can be reached at bryan@folience.com.