International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Real-life escapes have evolved into a psychological entrapment in the context of ubiquitous digital connectivity for many people today. Social media platforms, originally intended to facilitate communication, entertainment, and social interaction, have transformed into a pervasive lifestyle for most, creating a need for escapes through mindfulness retreats!
With the rise and increase in usage of short-form content platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., a new behavioural pattern has emerged: continuous and compulsive content consumption. Excessive social media use is now linked to a broad range of psychopathologies, particularly anxiety disorders, depressive symptoms, attentional dysregulation, and sleep disturbances (Andreassen, 2015; Keles et al., 2020) ^{[2, 3]}. Neurobiological research implicates dysregulation in the dopaminergic pathway, with repeated exposure to variable reinforcement schedules reinforcing maladaptive use patterns. This results in persistent sympathetic nervous system activation and diminished parasympathetic modulation, contributing to chronic autonomic dysregulation and emotional reactivity. Psychological detachment, rather, the abandonment of reality due to increased engagement online, contributes to decreased attention span, a confused and dysregulated nervous system, and digital dependency (Twenge et al., 2018) ^[6].

This article explores and highlights psycho-physiological mechanisms behind this phenomenon, clinical presentation of SMU-induced mental health issues, and considers indications for clinical practice.