Do you feel depressed after reading facebook?

[Fighter86]

Thankfully I do not have Facebook, it would no doubt upset me when I read about how happy and successful other people are.

 

[this_portrait]

Yes. I feel down in the dumps when it looks as if everyone else is having a good time and here I am all by myself.

I'm changing that, however.

 

[twiggle]

Sometimes. Not so much anymore. The people who are constantly updating their status with something impressive, or checking-in to trendy places (i.e the people who take up the majority of the Newsfeed), are obviously only doing so to show off. Which would mean they're just as insecure as I am. Which would mean I'm not all that odd

I like it to keep in touch with people easily, and I check it every day, but beyond that I'm not really a big fan. It was more useful whilst at University, when it was a new thing, and it was quite a novelty to put up photos etc. But now... no...

Some people seem to live out their whole lives through it.
That's what depresses me most about it.

 

[Moa]

There's actually a lot of studies that have been done that show Facebook causes depression, anxiety, and stress. A quick Google turned up these links:

Doctors Should Ask Kids: Are You On Facebook? : Shots - Health Blog : NPR
Facebook may cause depression in teens - News - ReviewJournal.com
New Report: Facebook Causes Stress, Depression, Anxiety
Facebook use associated with depression

 

[Nala]

Yes. That's why I deleted my account. It made me feel like crap when I read the status updates of normal people, I really felt like a loser. And everyone else is much more beautiful as well, and have hundreds of friends. Facebook made me feel inferior. (Which I really am, though.)

No one cared about my wall posts anyway - it felt like I was talking to myself.

So, yeah. Goodbye Facebook.

 

[Niteowl]

No, I don't. They share pictures of parties and other get-togethers, and their ever-changing relationship statuses. I don't envy that. Even if I didn't have social anxiety, the idea of parties, and of relationships for the sake of having a relationship, wouldn't appeal to me.

 

[deleted #89]

Stop torturing yourself....you know going on facebook wont help ur situation.

 

[Moa]

Facebook is where people go to post the glossy,pretty parts of their lives. The more glossed over happy faces and self made profile pictures you see on someone's profile, the more unhappy they probably are in their life and are simply overcompensating.

just my .02

And you know what ticks me off about that? People get down on other people for posting negative stuff. Well, I'm so sorry I ruined your news feed with the fact that I'm having a bad day. Thanks for the support, "friend"! Apparently we are expected to feign happiness and excitement all the time.

(Sorry, had to rant. )

 

[Hamelech]

I've an account there, but I rarely use it. Nothing interesting to read.

 

[stevelee24]

I feel depressed too, sometimes when I read those profiles.
Especially when I see pictures of people having parties with lots of people around them, or bday parties. Because I can't give a bday party, because I'm too anxious to do that.., Wish I could!!!
But organize my own party, I can't.. Just afraid of all those people coming over and talk to me at the same time.. aahh
And when I see teenagers in huge groups going on holiday, or go camping. I think like, Why can't I make some fun, like them?
Stupid, i know

i can totally relate to this i often look at pictures and think why dont i have friends and be able to go out and have fun my youth has been wasted on sitting in my bedroom doing nothing of use.

 

[u_name]

Yeah, when I see that everyone has a job or a career. Everyone I know tells me that the only way to get decent jobs around here is if you know someone who knows someone. After a year of applying for various jobs and not hearing a word from any employer, I'm starting to believe that there's some truth to what people tell me. It's not like I apply for jobs if I do not fit the qualifications. I've even applied for menial jobs. Maybe it's time for me to start networking with people who can hire me for jobs.

This is entirely true.

 

[NathanielWingatePeaslee]

Am I the only person here who's facebook feed doesn't consist of people trying to show off how awesome their social lives are? Maybe it's an age group thing.

The last half dozen items in my feed:

With the tagline "Any Smashing Pumpkins fans out there?"

This article (posted by a teacher on my f-list): Teacher Aid Is First Piece Of Obama's Jobs Plan To Get Senate Vote

This story (posted by a Canadian friend): Kanata driver who hit cyclists says he fell asleep - Ottawa - CBC News

The last 5 songs someone listened to on something called 'spotify'. Maybe I'll check it out later. New music is always good.

This: "Herding cats is easy. Herding greased, rabid, bipolar, egotistical cats is most decidedly not an easy task."

And this pic share:

Seriously, none of this is likely to make me feel like crap about myself. I don't tend to add or keep people who make me feel like crap. Facebook is not evil, and who you choose as friends is up to you.

 

[MaliceInWickedland]

I find this funny because it's true. Like I'll randomly have a bunch of notifications, I get all happy, click on the notifications page, and 90% of them will be app requests -___-

Facebook - the ultimate troll.

 

[Pyrophosphate]

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac218/MaliceInWickedland/20100318-facebook-farmville-valentine-rage.jpg

I find this funny because it's true. Like I'll randomly have a bunch of notifications, I get all happy, click on the notifications page, and 90% of them will be app requests -___-

Facebook - the ultimate troll.

All that app crap (and other software bloat) is why I don't use Facebook, except to communicate with some old friends who live far away. I visit the site maybe once or twice a month, wouldn't say I've ever felt depressed reading anything there.

 

[razzle dazzle rose]

I initially created an account for this very same reason, to increase my circle of friends. At first, I had a lot of people that I hadn't seen for quite a while adding me as friends. Most of them seemed very receptive when I would bring up the idea of hanging out and catching up, so I was optimistic, but I soon found that they would just say that, and then I wouldn't hear from them again.

Ah, yes. I also created a FB account for the very same reason. For me it was an effort to be more social and keep in touch with people. It hasn't really worked out the way I had hoped. I won't delete it though because I do see how it be useful. I just need to go out more and meet new people, new friends...these old high school classmates, well, we didn't click then, we really don't click now. Nothing in common really.

I looked on Facebook too a number of times sporadically, and became very disheartened. To be housebound for such a long period, and see how everyone was, at the very least, growing and achieving tangible things, made me feel worthless and even more powerless. Like the reality of my situation hit like a lightning bolt.

I literally had a mini breakdown after I created a FB account. I felt horrible about my life and situation. REALITY. Ah, and also the realization that I never did bother to make real friends was painful. I am static, and other people are moving on, doing new things. It did depress me.

Don't lose hope, and don't let the lives that people appear (they are very unlikely to post negative things!) to be living bring you down. You may in fact feel a hundred times worse were you to trade places with them! I know this is easier said than done, perhaps the three cups of coffee are getting to me lol, but I thought this bares mentioning, for what it's worth.

I do realize that people won't post bad things about their lives, and I don't begrudge them that since I don't either. And each time I see someone posting pictures of their new house or new car I try to remember that, but sometimes it doesn't stick...and maybe I am being too cynical too.

yes, i always feel depressed when i go on facebook.. just seeing everyones photos of themselves out having fun and reading about how great their weekends were, etc.

Weekends are the hardest, when people check themselves in to all these places and post pictures of them all dressed up having fun. It kills me a little each time. I want to be there too!

 

[razzle dazzle rose]

Am I the only person here who's facebook feed doesn't consist of people trying to show off how awesome their social lives are? Maybe it's an age group thing.

The last half dozen items in my feed:

With the tagline "Any Smashing Pumpkins fans out there?"

This article (posted by a teacher on my f-list): Teacher Aid Is First Piece Of Obama's Jobs Plan To Get Senate Vote

This story (posted by a Canadian friend): Kanata driver who hit cyclists says he fell asleep - Ottawa - CBC News

The last 5 songs someone listened to on something called 'spotify'. Maybe I'll check it out later. New music is always good.

This: "Herding cats is easy. Herding greased, rabid, bipolar, egotistical cats is most decidedly not an easy task."

....

Seriously, none of this is likely to make me feel like crap about myself. I don't tend to add or keep people who make me feel like crap. Facebook is not evil, and who you choose as friends is up to you.

These updates are very interesting! I love the little mousy fellow there (I like the Smashing Pumpkins!) I don't find the majority of the people on my friend's list updates interesting at all. Oh, if only I had your friends! You do make a good point though.

 

[Silatuyok]

I had a Facebook page and friended everyone I knew, and even a few I didn't know, and as soon as I met someone I would run home and request their friendship. I hated it. So I deleted everything and everyone by hand, which felt great, and took about six months to be away from Facebook. I started a new profile and only added family members and close friends, i.e., people I would actually talk to if I saw them in person. No highschool "friends," no former elementary school classmates, no coworkers, no ex-boyfriends, no friends of friends that I happened to meet once or twice...nothin. I now have 30 friends in my list, and I'm actually planning to delete a few that I haven't seen in a long time. It's so much nicer now that my facebook is simpler---although, it does get a bit boring, but that's not a bad thing

 

[u_name]

facebook is garbage, i deleted mine about a month ago, and I feel much happier now... no more checking garbage requests, no more seeing silly people being silly, just... peace

 

[Blabla..]

I don't have a facebook account but i do feel bad if i watch pictures of old acquaintances , and think of the past .

 

[u_name]

I don't have a facebook account but i do feel bad if i watch pictures of old acquaintances , and think of the past .

A wise man once told me, "It doesn't matter. It's in the past." Look forward to the future. One thing to note though the future is just the present with some minor alterations. So long as you strive to make every tomorrow better than today, you are guaranteed to be happier =]