Social Media Impact | Cohesive Counseling

In a 2024 study published in Psychological Science, researchers explored the psychological toll of algorithm-driven social media. They found that constant exposure to emotionally charged content can heighten stress, anxiety, and even feelings of paranoia. In particular, content that elicits extreme emotional responses—whether fear, anger, or outrage—keeps us scrolling, further reinforcing the cycle.

How Social Media Algorithms Are Making Us All Feel Crazy: What Recent Research Tells Us And What We Can Do About It.

Social media algorithms are pushing us to our emotional limits, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and sometimes downright crazy. Social media has the potential to connect us in powerful ways, but as this new research shows, it’s also contributing to a rise in emotional turbulence. The algorithms driving our feeds are pushing us to our limits, often leaving us feeling more anxious, paranoid, and disconnected from reality,

Tricia Mazza, LPC

Jan 28

The more we understand the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses through the lens of Polyvagal Theory, the more we gain valuable insight into how our bodies react to stress. By using calming techniques and fostering social connections, we can return to a state of calm and reestablish balance in our nervous system. To learn more about ways you can learn to self-soothe in practical ways, and receive support along the way, book an appointment with us. We serve locally in the Richmond area and throughout the state of Virginia.

Understanding the Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn Responses Through Polyvagal Theory: Calming Techniques Backed by Science

By using calming techniques and fostering social connection, we can return to a state of calm and reestablish balance in our nervous system. Polyvagal Theory suggests that these responses are governed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), specifically the vagus nerve, which regulates physiological states of arousal. The theory posits that our ANS operates on a continuum from safety to danger, and the body shifts between states of calm and activation based on perceived threat

Tricia Mazza, LPC

Jan 9