Social Media Addiction

What Causes Addiction to Social Media?

Like any other addiction, addiction to social networking sites does not have one clear cause.

Some people who are addicted to social media have a co-occurring mental illness such as depression or anxiety. They might take solace in the internet and use it to fight their symptoms. Other people may turn to the internet because they lack emotional support in their daily lives.

Researchers are still working on uncovering the underlying causes of social media addiction.

Treatment for Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction – like any other behavioral addiction – can be treated through professional intervention.

Individual, group and/or family therapy can be a valuable tool for teens who are coping with social media addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of therapy that aims to change thinking and behavioral patterns, is an effective social media addiction treatment that is utilized one to two times per week at Sovereign Health of Rancho San Diego, along with other individual therapies.

Individuals who are struggling with co-occurring mental illness may benefit from medication management. These addictions might be triggered by underlying emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression, so antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs can be prescribed with the intent that treating the underlying cause will remedy the addiction to social media or addiction to social networking sites.

Our treatment team provides a thorough medical, psychosocial and psychiatric assessment, so that we can customize each treatment regimen to best suit the needs of every patient.

For more information about our treatment for social media addiction or any of our behavioral health programs, please call our 24/7, toll-free helpline.