Children who experience social anxiety—feeling discomfort or distress in social situations—or who are socially incompetent are particularly at risk for developing dependence on electronic media. This is true whether the preferred agent be the Internet, video games, or a smartphone. The more a child hides behind a screen, the more socially awkward he or she becomes, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. In contrast, a shy child who continually works at overcoming social anxiety is likely to overcome it. In the past, the strong desire to belong to a social group during adolescence helped override resistance to social interaction, which would lessen over time simply due to practice. Nowadays, socially anxious or awkward children and teens aren’t forced to practice face-to-face and eye-to-eye interaction because some of their social needs are met online. Thus, in socially anxious children, the ability to tolerate the physical presence of others never builds, and “walls”are erected instead to keep the child feeling safe. An adolescent with somewhat poor social skills in high school can easily become reclusive as a young adult, spending more and more hours online and less and less time interacting in real life. This pattern makes it increasingly harder to make and keep friends. Relationship problems show up at home, too; research indicates that the more time a child spends using the Internet, the less healthy the parent-child relationship becomes. Thus, social incompetence and screen-time represent another bidirectional relationship.

  When you’re feeling low, it’s easy to convince yourself to stay there. After all, how can you fall when you’re already on the ground? Nevertheless, your heart wants to heal so give it what it wants. Thus, help yourself get back on your feet with these five self-care tips when you’re feeling broken.
First, step outside for some fresh air. Whether you’re still a student in school or constantly working in front of a computer, it’s easy to feel congested by deadlines, projects and never-ending tasks. Make use of your mornings, lunch breaks and evenings when you’re off the clock to step outside for walks, which will help clear your head and improve your mood. Furthermore, spending time outdoors also helps improve our concentration. Even if you can’t step outside right away, just crack open a window when you can and allow nature to heal you.
Second, take a nap. When we don’t get enough sleep, our moods can take a turn for the worse and spiral down into an endless abyss. If you’re feeling cranky from exhaustion, take some time, even if it’s just half an hour to curl up on the couch and close your eyes. Once you wake up, you’ll feel better rested and you’ll make up for lost time by carrying out
your daily tasks with a fresh and sharp mind.
Third, allow yourself to be ordinary. We are all perfectly imperfect. Take a break from using Instagram filters and Facebook posts that show your life only at its best. Social media is a place where we can share our favorite moments
with others but it has also become a platform where people feel pressured to compete with others. Sometimes, it feels more like a beauty pageant instead of a second home. Your sense of self is worth more than a digitalized reputation, embrace your flaws and allow yourself to be average, simple and sincere is always better.
Fourth, clean and give your space a makeover. Cleaning doesn’t have to be overly excessive to make a difference.Whether it means organizing your bookshelf or clipping your favorite photos onto the wall, changes, big or small can enhance the atmosphere. After all, you spend a lot of time in your space. Giving it some love and attention can go a long way.
Fifth, reach out and tell someone about what you’ve been going through. Feeling down often leads to shutting down. We fear burdening others and as this develops into a habit, we suffer silently making it harder to heal. Don’t feel ashamed about your struggles, sometimes you just need someone to hear your story, and you’d be surprised with how much people understand you.