5 Ways Depression is Like Facebook

5 ways Depression is like Facebook:

1. It is everywhere. It is common and pervasive in our society. We haven’t yet understood the full and long term impact it is having on us, but growing numbers of children and youth are living with it.

2. It takes up an enormous amount of our time and energy. It interferes with our daily life: our ability to work, sleep, study and eat.

3. It can hide behind a mask…the image we portray to the world is not always how we feel inside. Most people cannot tell by just looking at our face. This is a coping mechanism that is sometimes necessary.

4. It was once more pleasurable. Activities no longer bring the joy or happiness they once did.

5. It can make us feel worse about ourselves because we are not as (fill in the blank) as our “friends.” It can be isolating and amplify feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness.

I’ve seen friends use Facebook as a way to reach out and get help when they are experiencing depression.

Facebook can be a tool to offer support to friends who are depressed. It helps to be intentional when browsing your newsfeed and notice status updates that convey a person is struggling.

Take a moment to respond and comment. You never know when your response might be the thing that helps a person get through the day.