Facebook rant...

Scrolling through Facebook gives me suicidal thoughts, really. I've always had issues with it, but lately I can't stand it. I know it's a fake representation of the lives of people, but I'm surprised by the strong reaction I have to posts and shares and stuff...

Now it's like a loud confirmation that "look, everyone is living their lives, doing something, being useful, engaging in stuff, while you do what? Nothing"
Also, the oversharing of beautiful stuff people create just reminds me that I am unable to create anything lately and regardless what I try I will give it up anyway because I can't stick to anything. I feel the disappointment I am to myself by not achieving what others have...

Almost every share I see posted by people is like a punch in the stomach for me. I should want to do at least something...

It feels like the "real world" that is reflected through Fb is something I cannot live in, it's not for me, it's too much, it's overwhelming, I feel like an alien...

I was on Fakebook just briefly one time and it had the same effect on me. I quit it and felt better. I was never crazy about it. I've heard and read that it's a very common feeling among users.

I would say to just get out of it. You'll feel better for it.

Yeah, it's hard to quit completely because somehow it is the main venue most of my friends use to communicate. Not that I communicate too much lately, haha. Or looking up some local events, I used to do that through Fb, and there are some groups I use(d to use). Well, still do, sometimes, for some local infos and events maybe. Maybe I should do a clean-up and just unfollow everyone, but have no energy for that now.

Facebook is the main venue for my friends to communicate, as well, but I quit. This obligued me to look for means other than Facebook. I manage to communicate outside Facebook and it is just fine.

I know how you feel. It just hi lights to me what people without a mental illness are doing with their lives. I go on Facebook about once a month to catch up with my friends. I don't even really need to go on Facebook to see it. My sister, a Facebook friend, has an active, happy life and the difference is glaringly obvious when we get together.

I am not sure they have such a happy life inside them. Just saying

Trying to spend as little time on Facebook as possible is a good idea.. if it does you more harm than good. Maybe you can find other ways to communicate with your friends.

While there may certainly people who only post the good about their lives on FB, I haven't found that to really be the case (may obviously depend on who you choose to FB with). I mean, on my FB page today, interspersed with the usual funny memes and videos and positive news, I also have one friend who is a year post-heart transplant who is again in the hospital dealing with recovery complications. Another posting about the lost of a young family member. Another posting about heading to another chemo treatment today.

I find the people I FB with to be pretty forthcoming about both the celebrations and struggles in their lives and those around them. Perhaps it is more about the fact that people can have some pretty horrible, stressful events going on in their lives and they are still functioning, still working, still remarkably able to stay positive about life even the the direst circumstances. I know when I was most depressed, I envied that ability in others. It seemed like everything about my life kept sending me into despair and I wasn't able to cope. It felt so unfair that others could be dealing with truly difficult things themselves and still manage to . . . well . . . manage.

If FB is a source of pain rather than pleasure for a person, they probably just need to engage in self-care and stop visiting FB for awhile or even permanently. I know plenty of people who choose not to FB for a variety of reasons. Some just aren't into that kind of social media. Some are rather public figures and they need to stay off social media for privacy and professional reasons. It is okay to not be on FB if it isn't your thing.

I've been off FB for 4 weeks now. It gives me crazy amounts of anxiety and I just needed a break. I gave my phone number and email to people on there and told me to contact me if they wanted to get in touch. Some have, some haven't. I'm okay with that.

Facebook experience depends a lot upon who your friends are. Many of my friends are peers in the mental illness community. I volunteer in two situations that have to do with helping the mentally ill and some of my Fb friends are other volunteers. That makes Fb a safer and more supportive place for me.

There are mental health pages on Fb, such as I Am Not My Illness. Making friends with some of those people might be helpful for you.

I can't paint with too broad brush here, but I think Facebook Isuzu healthyforalotmorethan just the mentally ill. I've been assaulted, insulted and more on social media. It's only made for celebrities, debutant and potential suitors and even then it's d ally. I wants a documentary on it a while back

I've also been taking a break, only using the messenger part of it, as most of the people use it whom I'm communicating with. Sometimes I need to go on FB to check something, like an event or some info. But then the information load there gets to me, and I usually forget what I wanted initially and I wake up bombarded with feelings, I get swallowed in..

Anyway, my only activity on it in the past few days or even weeks was that I shared something mental health related (it's also a bit like giving a sign that I'm not okay, though very subtle).

I hear you. I feel the same way. You put it eloquently. These days I open my FB pages just few times briefly to check the news mostly.