Mental health
and technology

Today, we can barely imagine our lives without a laptop or smartphone. We work, shop, bank, and interact online more than ever. It’s time we faced it — the technology we interact with has a tremendous influence on our mental health and directly affects the way we feel, think, and act.

Facts about digital
anxiety and stress

FOMO and other social media anxieties

FOMO, or the “fear of missing out”, describes the feeling of worry or anxiety that you are missing out on an exciting experience and that others are leading better or more interesting lives than you. It is a social media phenomenon that can cause significant fear and anxiety in our daily lives. FOMO is often amplified by social media and the “highlight reel” effect, when people compare the mundane and less-than-glamorous aspects of their daily lives with the highlights their friends post on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media sites. Such comparisons can make us feel inferior and hopeless.

The goldfish effect

People have become exceedingly reliant on smartphones for both information and entertainment. It’s true that our phones and social media supply a wealth of information, but they also tend to overload our senses. The problem is that information overload causes forgetfulness and fatigue, shortens our attention span, and makes us feel more and more goldfish-like. Recent studies have found that our ability to concentrate for prolonged periods of time is shrinking. The resulting goldfish effect causes trouble memorizing and learning, which in turn makes us more susceptible to anxiety and stress.

Fake news

As our lives migrate online at an increasing pace, it’s not surprising that we have more and more access to a variety of news sources. Navigating this modern-day news cycle can be taxing and anxiety-inducing, to put it mildly. We are bombarded with news every day, yet, with so much information at our fingertips, it’s becoming hard to differentiate between what’s true and what’s not. Concerns about fake news are growing, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and are seriously affecting our mental health.

Cybersecurity

Our lives are slowly but surely becoming more digital by the day: we work, shop, and entertain ourselves online. Naturally, cybersecurity is at everyone’s forefront in one way or another these days. Keeping our digital selves secure is important, but can also be a source of anxiety. According to research, people often suffer from anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder when their personal details are exposed online.

Facts about
password stress

Password reset loop
According to research, more than 30% of people feel that recovering or resetting a lost password is very stressful and can be compared to becoming unemployed. Losing an important password without the ability to restore it is even more stressful and anxiety-inducing. More than two-thirds of respondents noted that this situation is comparable to being laid off.
Too many passwords
As we spend more time online, it’s natural that most of us have far too many passwords to remember. A recent survey revealed that having to memorize long, complex passwords induces similar stress levels to thinking about contracting COVID-19.
Forgotten accounts
With the large amount of available online services it comes as no surprise that people forget about the accounts they’ve created and the passwords associated with those accounts. This only adds to digital anxiety, as people feel that their lost accounts can be appropriated and used for cybercriminal activities like identity theft.

Stress management tips
for your digital well-being

Set up your device for a stress-free experience

  • Disable vibrations and sounds for app notifications.
  • Enable bedtime mode to lower smartphone use at night.
  • Manage your alerts to avoid notification overload.
  • Use time management apps to limit your screen time.

Cybersecurity tips

  • Keep your personal information secure and avoid suspicious emails, text messages, or phone calls.
  • Reduce digital anxiety with a password manager like NordPass.
  • Keep your online activities private with a VPN, such as NordVPN.

More resources about
digital mental health

Check these videos for further useful information.

7 signs of the dark tetrad personality

What is the dark tetrad? In psychology, the dark tetrad is an evolution of the dark triad personality traits, which include narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Now added to this list is sadism. These four traits are believed to serve as the core of humanity’s dark side. Are you ready to be mind-blown and learn about humanity's dark side?

The risks of excessive social media use

Social media doesn't lie, but it won’t give you the whole truth. It often makes us compare our lives in an unhealthy way. It can cause addiction to constant feedback, likes, and followers because it works like gambling — it’s instant gratification. Many of us fall prey to it, and while social media is not all bad, we must recognize it can be deceiving and sometimes harmful.

5 ways to heal from a narcissistic relationship

Being in any type of relationship with a narcissist means we could have been gaslit, manipulated, put down, and made to think that any bad thing to have happened was our fault. The best way to move past this and begin to heal is to limit or cut contact with them altogether. It does get easier with time.

Imposter syndrome and autism

Imposter syndrome is a difficult feeling to bear. But what is it? How does it affect people on the autism spectrum? Well, the imposter syndrome is very common for anyone on the autism spectrum who happens to be of lesser support needs. The imposter syndrome makes you question your abilities and condition even though you are on the spectrum and have struggles and issues in life. Tune in for Dan’s exploration of the issues to learn more.

Why Your Phone is Ruining Your Mental Health

The digital world is massively impacting your mental help. But why is this happening and what’s affecting us? FOMO or the fear of missing out makes life feel like a competition. Fake news makes telling the truth from a lie a challenge. Data Breaches make us anxious. And we come across all of that on our phones. But there’s a way to have a positive relationship with technology. Cole Hastings provides thoughtful tips for anyone trying to make the change.

Blog articles
for peace of mind

Read for better digital life.

NordPass Is More than a Cybersecurity Tool

How Digital Life Affects Women’s Mental Health and How to Deal with It

FOMO: What It Is and How to Overcome It

Overcoming Password Stress

Useful helpline and
support contacts

Reach out to any of these organization in case you need professional support.

NHS mental health services

  • Free mental health help available 24/7 provided by professionals. Get support for you, your child, your parent, or someone you care about in case of an emergency.
    www.nhs.uk

Samaritans

  • Available 24/7 to provide confidential emotional support for people facing feelings of distress, despair, or suicidal thoughts.
    www.samaritans.org

Reduce digital anxiety with NordPass

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