On a daily basis people go about their daily lives whilst relying on technology to get them through the day, whether this be a mobile phone, Ipod, or MP3 player. People seem to rely on technology all to much. But how much does technology affect our mental health. Technology has got its pro's and con's and can be positive whilst also being detrimental to mental health and well being. Growing up in the late 80's there wasn't a great deal of technology that was readily available for public use, unless like me you enjoyed making a hedgehog run at hyper speed and collecting rings and emeralds. Then in 1991 something called the internet happened, you could now turn on your computer and connect to something called the world wide web and access a whole plethora of information. Having Mental health issues can make social interaction very difficult, People suffering from anxiety may get too nervous to make face-to-face conversation, and in some cases sufferers may feel too scared to leave the house. Many Mental Health sufferers don't have the energy to go out and socialise, and can often struggle to form and maintain friendships and relationships and can feel very alone. This is where social sites such as Facebook can help as people can stay in contact with friends and family without leaving the house, whilst still maintaining a level of social interaction. There is also a little known social media site dedicated for people suffering with mental health issues (www.mydepressionteam.co.uk). On the negative side, if people are not getting out of the house and are relying on Facebook and Twitter they are not allowing themselves the whole range of social activities that will not only improve well being but have a positive affect on their mental health. But along with the websites that offer help, advice and support, there are also websites that can hinder peoples mental health. The internet has become host to a whole list of websites with information on how to commit suicide (If only i had known this before my 7 attempts). Technology can offer a lot of support but can also offer isolation, maintaining a balance of social interaction via social media and face-to-face interaction will be more beneficial to mental health. Technology is taken for granted, people use technology to communicate on a daily basis via email, text, and video calling. This in itself can pose a problem as with email and text you cannot get across the true emotion that you are wanting to display and feelings could be unintentionally hurt which could also have a negative affect on mental health. For me technology is great as i use it for a wide range of things, but every now and then it is good to put down my laptop, turn off my phone and have a good old fashioned conversation.
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