The nervous system attunes to others' emotions, so discernment is important when consuming online content.
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CO-CEO, NEUROFIT
2 MINUTE READ
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UPDATED MAY 17, 2023
ONLINE EMOTIONAL CONTAGION
It's no secret that the internet can be a stressful place. From the constant barrage of notifications to the never-ending stream of news and social media, it's easy to get overwhelmed. And all of this stress can take a toll on our nervous system.
The nervous system is responsible for regulating our emotions and stress response. When we're constantly exposed to stressors, like the ones we find on the internet, our nervous system can become overloaded. This can lead to a number of problems, including anxiety, depression, and even physical health problems.
One of the biggest problems with online stress is emotional contagion. This is when we absorb the emotions of others, often without even realizing it. For example, if you see someone post about a stressful event, you may start to feel stressed yourself. This is because your nervous system is reacting to the emotions of the person you're watching.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMOTIONAL CONTAGION
This phenomenon is especially common on social media, where we're constantly exposed to the emotions of others. And it's not just negative emotions that can be contagious. Positive emotions can be contagious as well. So if you see someone happy and smiling, you're likely to feel happier yourself.
The problem is that we often see more negative emotions online than positive ones. This is because generally, negative events are shared far more often than positive ones. And this can have a negative impact on our own emotions and stress levels.
HOW TO LIMIT ONLINE STRESS
So how can we prevent online stress? One of the best things you can do is to take a break from the internet and social media. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes (or even a few hours) to disconnect from the online world. This will give your nervous system a chance to relax and reset.
You can also try to be more mindful of the content you're consuming online. Make an effort to seek out positive and uplifting content, and avoid the negative stuff as much as possible. This will help you to keep your own emotions in check and avoid getting overwhelmed by the emotions of others.
Online stress is a real problem that can have a considerable impact on our health. But by taking some simple steps, we can prevent it and keep the nervous system healthy and regulated.
On average, NeuroFit members who prioritize avoiding online stress report 22% more balanced check-ins.
80% of the nerves in the human body are "afferent" - running from body to brain. Under stress, when the nervous system and thinking brain tell different stories, the nervous system almost always wins.
NeuroFit is a nervous system trainer. Through daily check-ins, biometric measurements via your phone's camera, and tailored exercises, it removes stress at the source. Available for iOS & Android.
Social Attunement is the nervous system's automatic matching of the emotions of other people. The effect of this automatic process can be both positive or negative, depending on the state of the person being attuned to.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.
Discernment is the practice of avoiding that which adds unnecessary strain to the nervous system to ensure proper balance. With NeuroFit this includes avoiding online stress, alcohol and substances, eating within 3 hours of bedtime, and social fatigue.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.
Emotional contagion is the nervous system's automatic absorption of the emotions of other people. In these cases, the emotions are not one's own, but left unchecked, this can still lead to dysregulation.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.