How can I help you?

The fact that Assisi Therapy can offer an online service to clients in other parts of the country just demonstrates how the virtual world has helped to bring us together. Yet so many people feel isolated, exhausted or depressed after they have logged off. Understanding how you use the internet and what demands it makes of your life is an important step towards refreshing your relationship with the online world. Together we can develop an understanding of the mask you might wear when you go online and see how this version of you is interacting with your reality and that of the people who care for you.

Online issues.

The internet has changed our lives immeasurably in the past decades. However, such massive change in so short a span of human development has also brought with it some genuine problems. Whether you are struggling with the social demands being placed on you or know that you are consuming websites in an unhealthy way, there is a less healthy side to the online world that impacts many people.

Your experience of the internet and social media is unique to you and yet you could be part of a huge section of society who are struggling with the pressure the online world exerts on their lives.

Is the internet becoming a problem? The answer depends on many factors, including how you use those media, what role they play in your life, and your tendency toward addiction.

People with social anxiety disorder may be at heightened risk for Internet addiction disorder. In general, both positive and negative correlations were found between the use of social networking sites and mental wellness. Indeed, negative interactions and social comparisons on social networking sites were related to higher levels of anxiety.

Below is a quick comparison of how social networks might be helping, or hurting, those with SAD.

What are the pros & cons?

Social media isn't all bad. In fact, it can have numerous benefits, including the following:

Pros

• Easier to connect with others, especially if you fear leaving the house

• Safe space to practice social skills

• Extra support from others living with social anxiety disorder

• Outlet for sharing your feelings

Cons

• Weaker friendships than those built in real-life

• Risk of feeling left out or inadequate

• Increased risk of stress, depression, and Internet addiction

• Potential disruptions in sleep patterns

How can this relate to you?

Studies have shown that excessive use of social media can lead to feelings of depression or dependency in some people. When you are on social media, part of you is seeking affirmation and making comparisons with other people. This alternate reality may mean you miss what is going on around you even when you aren’t online.

Overuse of the internet can take its toll on your health, whether its for work, entertainment or social interaction. For example, if you are on your laptop or phone before bed, a rested body and mind can be the first to suffer as excessive screen-time disrupts the hormone that regulates sleep.

Some people are overwhelmed by their exposure to porn and violence online. What can at first seem like a harmless exploration can very quickly become a graphic set of rules that dictate how you see other people and what you think you want out of relationships.

Problem Internet use need not be part of your life. At Assisi Therapy, a compassionate and understanding space is created for you to explore your problem and work towards the changes that will free you from unhealthy pressures and associations generated online.

What is Therapy & Counselling?

Many people have an idea of what therapy is like because they have seen it depicted on television or in films. You make have seen someone lying on a couch or talking to an “Expert Therapist” who nods knowingly. This can be a reality for some people, but the truth is that the only expert on how to be you, is you. Your therapy at Assisi Therapy in Salisbury can include Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy or Counselling and the only thing that influences the balance of these approaches, is what is best for you.