The Dark Side of the Internet's Obsession With Anxiety
Feb 13, 2024
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In this engaging discussion, Darby Saxbe, a clinical psychologist and USC professor, dives into the complexities of anxiety in the digital age. She explores how social media can both destigmatize mental health conversations and exacerbate anxiety by transforming personal struggles into commodified content. Saxbe critiques algorithm-driven media for increasing rumination and distress while questioning if our open dialogue about mental health has gone too far. Tune in for insights on navigating anxiety and the future of mental health discussions online.
The constant discussion and identification of anxiety as an identity online may worsen the problem rather than help, leading to a culture of sharing and celebrating personal distress for an audience of strangers.
The internet dynamics often contradict therapeutic principles, with online discussions tending to catastrophize and engage in anti-therapeutic behaviors, highlighting the need for awareness and reframing the way we communicate about mental health.
Deep dives
Prevalence Inflation and the Identity of Anxiety
The podcast episode explores the phenomenon of prevalence inflation in the conversation around anxiety, where the constant discussion and identification with anxiety as an identity may worsen the problem rather than help. It discusses how terms like anxiety and depression have become content categories on the internet, leading to a culture of sharing and celebrating personal distress for an audience of strangers. This over-correction from the stigma of mental health to making anxiety an identity can create more anxiety than it resolves. The episode also highlights the role of social media algorithms and the addictive nature of internet content in perpetuating rumination, avoidance, and negative emotions.
The Misalignment of Therapy Speak and Internet Culture
The episode delves into the irony of modern internet culture, where therapy-related language is heavily used, but the internet dynamics and viral nature of content often contradict the therapeutic principles. It highlights the tendency of online discussions to catastrophize, hold onto anger, and engage in grudges, which are contrary to concepts taught in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The episode explores the dissonance between speaking like a therapist and engaging in anti-therapeutic behaviors online, emphasizing the need for awareness and reframing the way we communicate about mental health.
Challenges of Addressing Prevalence Inflation and Internet Influence
Addressing prevalence inflation and the negative effects of internet influence on anxiety is a complex challenge. The episode suggests reframing the conversation around anxiety to focus on resilience, growth mindset, and the ability to overcome challenges. It emphasizes the importance of promoting a growth mindset in mental health discussions, where anxiety is seen as a treatable state rather than a defining trait. The episode also highlights the need to engage in real-life activities, tolerate boredom, and combat avoidance behaviors that can perpetuate anxiety. Finding a balance between discussing mental health and avoiding the overconsumption of anxiety-related content is crucial.
Recognizing Healthy Research vs. Algorithmic Wormholes
The episode suggests recognizing the distinction between healthy research and falling into algorithmic wormholes that exacerbate anxiety. It advises evaluating the purpose of research and its impact on emotions and actions. Research should lead to a means to an end, such as finding solutions or strategies to manage anxiety, rather than becoming an end in itself. The episode encourages self-awareness to determine if excessive research is making one feel worse or more stuck. It emphasizes the importance of taking action, processing emotions in a useful manner, and knowing when to disconnect from online content for one's well-being.
We’ve done several shows on America’s anxiety crisis. This one asks several questions that might get me in trouble. Have we overcorrected from an era when mental health was shameful to talk about to an era where people talk about anxiety so much online that it’s worsening our mental health crisis? Is the very design of algorithmic media engineered to increase rumination and mental distress? Is there a dark side to all this media about trauma, anxiety, and depression? (Yes, the irony of us asking this question is not lost on us.) Today’s guest is Darby Saxbe, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Southern California. We talk about anxiety as identity, why talking about anxiety on the Internet is such a mess today, how the architecture of the internet unhelpfully shapes our discussions of mental health, and what a better conversation about mental health online might look like.
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