Facebook was a huge factor in some of my depression bouts.

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Cameron122

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I deactivated it this morning. Feels pretty good. I figured I'd talk about it what with the other thread about it being down, but I didn't want to fill that thread up with something slightly off topic. I know it's kinda silly, I know that Facebook really only shows the "best" of someone's life usually... But I always felt like I was missing out on something, ya know? Has this feeling ever crept onto somebody else?

I started using it a lot when I moved to Arizona for University and I had a hard time making friends, so I just used Facebook in my dorm to post funny things, thinking humour will make people like me. That wasn't the case, it was more complicated than that, but I will not get into it. When I moved back to Texas I started actually seeing people, so I used it less and less. Big weight off my shoulders. Folk from Arizona would sometimes post on my wall saying "Oh, miss you man! Come visit!" Well I was right across the hall originally, it was pretty hard for them then. /End Rant.

Do any of you have similar feelings about social networking?
NeoGAF is my home now
 
I don't get why people obsess on it so much. For me, it's just the new "AIM" with a nice bulletin board that lets me keep up with what's going on with people I know.
 
I know the feeling, it's the main reason I disliked using the service in the first place. I still don't care for it and rarely use it.

I don't fault Facebook for it though. I'm pretty sure there has been some actual research done on this topic (heard about it on NPR once I think), about Facebook making people's lives appear to be much better than it actually is (or something along those lines).

BlackGoku03 said:
I don't understand how it contributed to your depression. Glad you feel better though.
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If you're feeling down, seeing everyone post (constantly in some cases) about how amazing their day/life can be a bit of a kick in the pants. I'd say it's in part due to jealousy.
 
Weenerz said:
Good thing for you, Facebook is down.
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I mention that in the OP. It was just a coincidence that it went down soon after I deactivated it
KuGsj.gif


BlackGoku03 said:
I don't understand how it contributed to your depression. Glad you feel better though.
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I was wicked lonely in Arizona, and seeing everyone 'do stuff' wasn't helping.
 
I have one status update in my years of being on Facebook.

Posted a picture of the snow from my front window last winter.

Have no clue why I even posted that. LOL

Aside from that I have maybe a half dozen total comments, and a few "likes." And I've chatted on it quite a few times.

I have trouble relating to the people who obsess over it.
 
Deactivated mine years ago. More people seem to ask why I don't use it now, than there were ever people who actually interacted with me when I had it. I'm too old fashioned a guy, I guess.
 
Why do people get so much into Facebook...

Its a great social place if you keep the right friends. I love it.
 
NT122 said:
I deactivated it this morning. Feels pretty good. I figured I'd talk about it what with the other thread about it being down, but I didn't want to fill that thread up with something slightly off topic. I know it's kinda silly, I know that Facebook really only shows the "best" of someone's life usually... But I always felt like I was missing out on something, ya know? Has this feeling ever crept onto somebody else?

I started using it a lot when I moved to Arizona for University and I had a hard time making friends, so I just used Facebook in my dorm to post funny things, thinking humour will make people like me. That wasn't the case, it was more complicated than that, but I will not get into it. When I moved back to Texas I started actually seeing people, so I used it less and less. Big weight off my shoulders. Folk from Arizona would sometimes post on my wall saying "Oh, miss you man! Come visit!" Well I was right across the hall originally, it was pretty hard for them then. /End Rant.

Do any of you have similar feelings about social networking?
NeoGAF is my home now
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what made you put so much emotional weight into Facebook?
 
NT122 said:
Born in Carrollton Texas, went to highschool in Plano Texas. Nice avatar btw.
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You just threw me off with the "university" and humor spelt with a u..I won't derail though. Thanks, there are a bunch of nice avatars in the DS2 announcement thread.
 
NT122 said:
I deactivated it this morning. Feels pretty good. I figured I'd talk about it what with the other thread about it being down, but I didn't want to fill that thread up with something slightly off topic. I know it's kinda silly, I know that Facebook really only shows the "best" of someone's life usually... But I always felt like I was missing out on something, ya know? Has this feeling ever crept onto somebody else?

I started using it a lot when I moved to Arizona for University and I had a hard time making friends, so I just used Facebook in my dorm to post funny things, thinking humour will make people like me. That wasn't the case, it was more complicated than that, but I will not get into it. When I moved back to Texas I started actually seeing people, so I used it less and less. Big weight off my shoulders. Folk from Arizona would sometimes post on my wall saying "Oh, miss you man! Come visit!" Well I was right across the hall originally, it was pretty hard for them then. /End Rant.

Do any of you have similar feelings about social networking?
NeoGAF is my home now
Click to expand...

You won't know if it was a contributing factor to your depression from not even a full day of deactivation. Although if you are truly depressed, you should understand this feeling of relief is temporary.
 
Ken Masters said:
what made you put so much emotional weight into Facebook?
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I think I was trying to use social networking to make up for my lack of social life. I'm in a wheelchair, so I kinda have to "prove to folk" that I won't be an issue. My roommate was a bit of a bastard, always come home blacked out with some creature, so I didn't sleep much. I was never invited to anything, I would try to include myself, and "things would come up" Out here in Texas, people know what I'm capable of, and if not, they give me a chance to express it. I do everything a "normal person" can do.

shadowsdarknes said:
You won't know if it was a contributing factor to your depression from not even a full day of deactivation. Although if you are truly depressed, you should understand this feeling of relief is temporary.
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I've been feeling good ever since I moved back! I just felt like this was one last thing. Ya know?
 
Tomat said:
If you're feeling down, seeing everyone post (constantly in some cases) about how amazing their day/life can be a bit of a kick in the pants. I'd say it's in part due to jealousy.
Click to expand...

I think the problem with facebook is that when you post something important for you and nobody gives a single fuck, it makes you think you really aren't wanted, needed, appreciated or anything.

I do have felt a couple of times that way and it isn't nice
 
I didn't use FB at all much during college, despite my account being nearly a decade old now. I have 300 something friends, which seems like a lot to me, but I know people who aren't very outgoing who have 1,000+ friends. Boggles my mind.

Do those people add every single person they've ever met as a friend or something?
 
Tomat said:
I know the feeling, it's the main reason I disliked using the service in the first place. I still don't care for it and rarely use it.

I don't fault Facebook for it though. I'm pretty sure there has been some actual research done on this topic (heard about it on NPR once I think), about Facebook making people's lives appear to be much better than it actually is (or something along those lines).



If you're feeling down, seeing everyone post (constantly in some cases) about how amazing their day/life can be a bit of a kick in the pants. I'd say it's in part due to jealousy.
Click to expand...

I question the actual quality of those people's lives. It seems like an awful lot of effort to take all those pictures, transfer them, organize them, and upload them. They also spend a lot of time commenting and liking things. I'd rather use that time and energy to actually go out and enjoy my life.
 
sphinx said:
I think the problem with facebook is that when you post something important for you and nobody gives a single fuck, it makes you think you really aren't wanted, needed, appreciated or anything.

I do have felt a couple of times that way and it isn't nice
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It's an easy trap to fall into. These days, I pretty much filter out people I don't care about and let only people close to me read status updates.
 
sphinx said:
I think the problem with facebook is that when you post something important for you and nobody gives a single fuck, it makes you think you really aren't wanted, needed, appreciated or anything.

I do have felt a couple of times that way and it isn't nice
Click to expand...
There's that too. It's almost like being in high school, but if that is the case it might be that you're friends with the wrong people on Facebook.
 
jb1234 said:
It's an easy trap to fall into. These days, I pretty much filter out people I don't care about and let only people close to me read status updates.
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I would get dozens and dozens (Sometimes hundreds of likes!) When I'd post something funny. However, those same people didn't want to spend time with me, in the beginning I didn't understand it. Towards the end of it I became very bitter and stopped really taking care of myself, visually speaking, so I could understand that in hindsight.

Ragnarok said:
this reads like a livejournal entry to me.


Ummm...good for you? I guess.
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If you don't want to see something on NeoGAF, don't post in the thread. It'll die off like most others.
 
I mean, if it's not enriching your life then definitely don't use it.

I enjoy Facebook. It always me to share what I want about myself and my life. And it has completely eliminated the need for High School Reunions for me.

It's awesome seing people I knew in kindergarten grow up and have kids of their own. Kinda scary, lol. I'm an old fart, lmao.

But yea, if it's not adding to your happiness in life and just making you a bit salty that others are doing great then definitely don't do it.
 
Tomat said:
I know the feeling, it's the main reason I disliked using the service in the first place. I still don't care for it and rarely use it.

I don't fault Facebook for it though. I'm pretty sure there has been some actual research done on this topic (heard about it on NPR once I think), about Facebook making people's lives appear to be much better than it actually is (or something along those lines).



If you're feeling down, seeing everyone post (constantly in some cases) about how amazing their day/life can be a bit of a kick in the pants. I'd say it's in part due to jealousy.
Click to expand...

Well, Facebook is shallow anyway. Not everyone is as happy and cool as they seem on there. It's not really a tool to show off either although it can be used as such.

You get out of it what you put in.

NT122 said:
I mention that in the OP. It was just a coincidence that it went down soon after I deactivated it
KuGsj.gif




I was wicked lonely in Arizona, and seeing everyone 'do stuff' wasn't helping.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm not defending Facebook or anything but it sounds like you need to get out and do something. With or without Facebook, it's something that it sounds like you need to break up some of the monotony.
 
Aesius said:
I didn't use FB at all much during college, despite my account being nearly a decade old now. I have 300 something friends, which seems like a lot to me, but I know people who aren't very outgoing who have 1,000+ friends. Boggles my mind.

Do those people add every single person they've ever met as a friend or something?
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Some People tend to add everyone. After all it makes the number higher. 99% of the friends are acquaintances, coworkers, randoms or celebs/artists they follow. The actual number of real friends you can probably count on one hand.

I rarely use Facebook and I've been on it since the beginning. Having a virtual social life isn't for me. I rather have a real one.
 
BlackGoku03 said:
Well, Facebook is shallow anyway. Not everyone is as happy and cool as they seem on there. It's not really a tool to show off either although it can be used as such.

You get out of it what you put in.



Well, I'm not defending Facebook or anything but it sounds like you need to get out and do something. With or without Facebook, it's something that it sounds like you need to break up some of the monotony.
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And I have friend! Texas has been good to me.

Fong Ghoul said:
I don't think it was Facebook. Living in Arizona would make anyone depressed.
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Haha!

big_z said:
Some People tend to add everyone. After all it makes the number higher. 99% of the friends are acquaintances, coworkers, randoms or celebs/artists they follow. The actual number of real friends you can probably count on one hand.

I rarely use Facebook and I've been on it since the beginning. Having a virtual social life isn't for me. I rather have a real one.
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I had far too many people on my facebook.
 
Izick said:
Seeing people

"AH LOOK HOW HAPPY I AM!" "LOOK WHAT I JUST DID!"

24/7 could definitely not help.
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See my above post, I did address that.

Yeah, it can be used to show off, but it is a good way to keep up with your friends. Plus a lot of people take what they see on there at face value. It can be very shallow but like I said, you get out what you put in.

Life will go on whether you're on it or not though.
 
NT122 said:
Folk from Arizona would sometimes post on my wall saying "Oh, miss you man! Come visit!" Well I was right across the hall originally, it was pretty hard for them then.
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This is the best.

"I wouldn't cross a parking lot to see you but you should totally drive hours for a hang sesh!" I get that it's just a thing that people say trying to be nice, but still annoying.
 
Izick said:
Seeing people

"AH LOOK HOW HAPPY I AM!" "LOOK WHAT I JUST DID!"

24/7 could definitely not help.
Click to expand...

I had one of those moments today. A friend's sibling just announced their engagement - she's like 19. Made me feel a little old more than depressed, but I can see how for some it would have... more significant an impact?
 
Facebook only gets me down when I see friends I can't hang out with on the regular because we're too far apart. And when I login to no messages/notifications. Outside of that, tis awesome. Two words: Facebook Stalking.
 
Yeah some news articles and studies on this. They say Facebook usually shows an unrealistically positive view of life, and lonely or depressed people are affected, because it seems everyone is happy in life except for them. Of course people don't put in all the shitty things that happen to them, or at least not as often.

I used to post song lyrics that I liked for the day as my status, and people thought I was suicidal...
 
Best thing I did in the last few years was remove Facebook from my browser bar. There are plugins that limit how much you use it, if you're into addict territory. If it's specific people on the site, I just use the privacy features. Blocked my ex, hid the people who make me miserable. I'm basically a ghost now. I often think people have forgot about me!

It's probably less depressing than reading the news each morning and finding out there is so little hope in the World today.
 
NT122 said:
Do any of you have similar feelings about social networking?
Click to expand...

yep other than creeping on people's pictures when i get bored i dont use facebook at all.

i'm not depressed, but can be sad to see how other people are living life when they look like they're doing more interesting shit than you. i can easily see how facebook could get to a depressed person in a big way.

the only thing that ever got to me about facebook was seeing all the things my "friends" were doing with out me.

twitter is the shit though.
 
My dislike for Facebook stems from the masturbatory element it has. Everything revolves around the "Look at me!" mentality, while I was in highschool it was a fun distraction but for it being socially driven it feels really empty and useless most of the time.

Twitter at least has a much more varied and faster moving social environment, it being more simple and having a lot less gimmicks than Facebook has made it more fun to read through and discover what certain individuals are thinking.
 
I think a lot are missing the point. Facebook just served a reminder of his feelings due to seeing the people who he went to university with on it. For someone who is already depressed, it's likely going to have a negative effect on his lifestyle. Same reason why you don't keep an ex on facebook if it upsets you. Certain people bring bad memories. I find going on facebook when I'm feeling upset usually makes me feel worse, so I understand OP. Deactivating is the right choice. I feel much better since doing it, and the people who I need to keep in contact with I already have in other ways. Hope you will feel better !
 
I dont even use it for the social/friend type thing, I used to and quit doing that maybe 2it years ago.

Now its more about checking it every few hours to read updates on sports teams, news, political satire etc...as well as keeping in touch with immediate family or parents/coaches involved in my sons soccer academy.

90% of people who Im friends with who I would feel like a dick deleting I instead dont see them in my feed. Only about 10%a of my actual friends post are visable on my feed cause I care for them like family.

But like I said, almost my whole news feed is consumed with news, sports, gaming etc..
I care not to see Joe who I went to highschool withs kids pics or xmas tree photos nor hear about his day at work.
 
I know that feel, OP. When I first had my fb (deleted it, made a new one), it was thoroughly depressing - it showed everyone's happy lives, 400+ friends, the likes they had, and I put a lot of stock into that.

Nowadays, I don't give much of a shit. Helps I have pics of good times too, but I don't use fb that much, and it's not as important to me.
 
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