5 Ways Social Media Affects HSPs
Social media affects highly sensitive people (HSPs) deeply and can have a detrimental effect on our mental health. Studies show that it can cause anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness, and symptoms of ADHD. And since HSPs experience these feelings more deeply than the average person, we are especially susceptible to feeling crumby — especially if we use social media in a way that negatively affects our mental health.
How do you know if you have an unhealthy relationship with social media? You might notice that posting pictures or stories about yourself can be difficult since it seems like an unwelcome invasion of privacy. You might also feel that the content you see unearths feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and self-doubt.
I’m learning that it’s difficult to move past these feelings — especially as a business owner who wants to create a stronger online presence. I’m learning that these feelings are so deep-seated that they can be debilitating. We crave those dopamine hits from the comments and likes that make us feel good, but what if someone says something that hurts us deeply? What if, when we’re trying to attract friendship, love, or clients, we share something that causes people to reject us?
Here, we’ll explore the five most common ways social media affects HSPs, including how it influences our:
optimal stimulation levels
feelings of self-worth
ability to focus
emotional responses
energy levels
Here’s what to know.
1. Social Media Can Leave HSPs Feeling Overstimulated
When HSPs scroll endlessly through videos and social posts, it can lead to a familiar feeling of ours: overstimulation. This is because it forces us to take in a lot of information at one time. For example, maybe you decide to relax at the end of a long day by scrolling aimlessly for a while. You might start by seeing a cute dog video that makes you laugh, and then witness a car accident. After that, you might see a tutorial about how to cook the perfect lasagna followed up by a lecture detailing which medications will cure your gut issues.
Since we love to think about things deeply and notice every detail of what we see, it can be exhausting for our brains to internalize all this information when we’re bouncing around from idea to idea. It stirs up our nervous systems — and not in a good way.
2. It Forces Us to Compare Ourselves to Others
In my downtime, I love to scroll through beautiful gardening photos or find my next great read. But I often notice it leaves me feeling panicky or that I have so much to do. Instead of letting myself explore gardens and books with curiosity, it suddenly becomes, “My garden doesn’t look like that. I have so much to do,” or, “I’m never going to be able to read all the books on my list. Why don’t I have that kind of time?”
When we compare ourselves to what others post on social media it makes us feel as if we don’t measure up. Done repeatedly, it can become a constant assault on our self-worth and hinder our progress, forcing us to get stuck in the negative self-talk loop as we wonder if we’re doing enough with our lives.
3. It Hinders Our Ability to Focus
HSPs don’t generally enjoy doing too many things at once and have a difficult time focusing as it is. We can become overwhelmed when a lot is going on around us and prefer to complete tasks in quiet spaces with little distraction. With all the notifications and popups on our phones, social media can be intrusive in the HSP life. Maybe you notice that when you receive a text or other notification, you get sucked into another round of checking what’s been posted on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
I’ve learned that I need to leave my phone in the other room if I’m going to get my work done because each time my phone lights up and I’m distracted, it’s much harder to get back into my work. This wastes a lot of what little valuable time we have to work on things that matter to us most.
4. It Can Stir up Strong Emotional Responses
HSPs are naturally empathetic, and we care deeply about others and their experiences. Sometimes we see upsetting images on social media that elicit strong emotions.
Examples include:
Upsetting news articles that cause you to feel extreme sadness.
Pictures from someone’s perfect vacation that ignites jealousy.
A video of old friends living it up without you, which can make you feel left out, forgotten, and not good enough.
Since HSPs have a difficult time shaking these emotions off, they can leave us reeling for days.
5. Social Media Affects HSPs by Draining Our Energy
One of the things HSPs need to guard with all our might is our energy. It’s that little light inside of us that gives us what we need to accomplish what we want to in a day…the things that make us feel really good, such as:
moving our bodies
reading a good book
doing good work at our jobs
spending time with our loved ones
cooking healthy meals
If you are struggling in any of these areas and feel like you don’t have the energy to put any effort into them, you might need to rethink your social media use. Your social media use may be leaving you drained and unable to perform well in the things in life that mean the most.
Be Gentle with Yourself as You Take This Journey
As you think about and learn how much social media use is optimal for your HSP mind and soul, be kind to yourself as you try new things. Life is a constant struggle as we aim to understand what our minds and bodies need to feel whole, so give yourself lots of room and permission to make mistakes. The most important thing is that you pinpoint whether social media is negatively affecting you and take small steps to fix it.
Here are some ideas to try:
Take time to explore a fun or artistic project you’ve been putting off, even if it’s only for a few minutes! Dig out that paint-by-number, miniature kit, cross-stitch project, or cozy read.
Resist checking social media first thing in the morning. Instead, journal your thoughts, call a close friend, or take a walk outside in nature.
Feed your curiosity in other ways. Find an online magazine you enjoy and download some PDFs. Go to a local café and say hello to someone new. Aim for more in-person experiences than online ones to keep yourself connected and grounded in a way that feels good to you.
Not everything is going to feel good all the time, so permit yourself to experiment at a pace that works for you. If you pressure yourself to fix your social media use overnight, it can be overwhelming and backfire. Take small steps and be mindful of how you’re feeling throughout the process. You’ll find your way!
Use Social Media in Ways That Feels Good for You
Remember that even all HSPs are different and enjoy varied levels of stimulation. If you love posting and engaging on social media, and it’s fulfilling for you, then, by all means, continue what works for you. But if you are feeling anxious and having other negative emotions surrounding your social media use, the first step is to be mindful of those feelings and understand from where they originate.
For help overcoming your social media use and other similar challenges, book a free discovery session with Happy HSP Coaching. We would love to offer you the support you need to preserve your energy and get back to doing things that bring you joy.