Is social media stressing you out? Doctors say yes

STUDENT OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND

TRANSFERRING HIM.

>>> MANY PEOPLE SEE SOCIAL MEDIA

AS INDISPENSABLE.

DOCTORS SAY THE CONSTANT CYCLE

OF SCROLLING THROUGH FEEDS HAS

AN IMPACT OF EVERYTHING FROM

YOUR MOOD TO MENTAL HEALTH.

>> CATHERINE BROWN REPORTS LOCAL

HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE FOCUSING MORE

ON THE ISSUE AND THE SOLUTION.

>> Reporter: A QUICK SCROLL

THROUGH FACEBOOK CAN LIFT YOUR

MOOD OR SEND IT TUMBLING.

>> ON MY PHONE ALL DAY LONG.

UNTIL I GO TO BED AT NIGHT I'M

SCROLLING THROUGH.

>> Reporter: NUMEROUS STUDIES

HAVE PROVEN SOCIAL MEDIA'S

IMPACT ON MOOD AND NOW DOCTORS

ARE TAKING NOTE TOO.

>> IT'S SORT OF A VICIOUS CYCLE

OF MAKING PEOPLE MORE ANXIOUS.

>> Reporter: SHE'S SEEN A JUMP

IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS

EXPRESSING FEELINGS OF ANXIETY

OR DEPRESSION.

OFTENTIMES SHE SAYS THOSE

FEELINGS STEM FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE RISE IN POPULARITY OF

NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL SITES LIKE

GROUP FACEBOOK PAGES OR NEXT

DOOR GROUPS WERE DESIGNED TO

CONNECT MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY.

BUT CAN DEVOLVE IN TO CATTY

FIGHTING, NAME CALLING,

BULLYING, AND THREATS PITTING

NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR.

>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEDIA CAN

DRAW PEOPLE CLOSER TOGETHER BUT

IT CAN ALSO MAKE FOR BULLYING

AND PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE

BEING MICROMANAGED AND NOT AS

WELCOME OR SAFE IN THEIR OWN

HOMES.

>> Reporter: DR. BARNETT IS

PART OF THE UNC PHYSICIAN'S

NETWORK WHICH IS RAMPING UP ITS

FOCUS ON TREATING SOCIAL

MEDIA-RELATED ANXIETY.

MANY PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR'S

OFFICES NOW INCLUDE A SOCIAL

WORKER AND PROVIDERS WILL OFTEN

ASK PATIENTS ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL

MEDIA HABITS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF

PATIENTS THAT DO NEED TO TALK TO

SOMEBODY.

>> Reporter: DOCTORS RECOMMEND

SETTING LIMITS ON YOUR SOCIAL

MEDIA USE.

FOR INSTANCE, ONLY CHECK IT A

COUPLE TIMES A DAY INSTEAD OF

PICKING UP YOUR CELL PHONE AND

SCROLLING THROUGH EVERY TIME

YOU'RE BORED.

THEY SAY THAT CANNOT ONLY

IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH BUT

OVERALL HAPPINESS AS WELL.

>> DOCTORS STRONGLY RECOMMEND

CHOOSING YOUR BATTLES WISELY AND

STEERING CLEAR FROM POLITICS ON

SOCIAL MEDIA AS MUCH AS

POSSIBLE.

>>> THE ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER