Today, there are many dating applications, you just need to choose the one that is convenient to use. And while they have tons of benefits — like having fun, meeting new people, or even finding soulmates, dating apps can also take a toll on your mental health. We have decided to figure out what potential threats you may face and how to prevent them.
Can Dating Apps Affect Your Mental Health?
They are potentially dangerous for those who have previously suffered from depression or mental illness. These apps force us to focus on superficial things rather than what is really important in a relationship. It can undermine self-esteem and make Ukrainian brides strive to achieve goals that are unimportant, such as looking good in their profile photos. Low self-esteem is a risk factor for many mental health problems, including depression.
Another issue with dating apps is that they put you face to face with adversaries, haters, or just annoying people, which, in turn, can have negative psychological effects. The more negative feedback you get, the more you feel crestfallen and drained, and this can make you feel like a hopeless person.
Symptoms That Can Negatively Affect Your Mental Health
To stop in time and not give an opportunity to destroy your mental state, it is worth knowing these few symptoms:
- constant feeling of psychological anxiety: nervousness, feeling like you are strained to the limit, or panic attacks when you are about to enter the application;
- physical anxiety symptoms: heart palpitations, nausea, or chest tightness when using the app;
- negative self-talk: your self-talk is a dialogue of hopelessness or discouragement.
How to Protect Yourself from the Negative Impact of Applications?
The key is to always put your mental health first. Here are some tips on how to behave before logging in:
- If you are in a bad mood, it is crucial to avoid dating apps not to aggravate the situation;
- Use dating apps only when you feel confident to deal with “no”;
- Use them when you feel positive about dating prospects;
- Avoid them when you are already experiencing negative emotions such as pessimism and discouragement;
- Be clear about the type of person you are looking for, so you do not waste time with intrusive people who do not meet your criteria;
- Be open-minded when you start talking to people online. Not everyone has great online communication skills, humor, or self-confidence.
The main thing is to use dating apps in a balanced manner and wisely. And then you will definitely find what you were looking for without harm to yourself. Online dating is not a big surprise to anyone nowadays. Many couples find each other in applications and live happily ever after. But very often, communication on the internet turns into disappointment and a broken heart, so it is worthwhile to approach such a risky business rationally and not forget about several crucial rules of online dating.
1. Focus on one application
In desperate attempts to find love, we may not be aware of our actions. It is no good being spread on five different apps. Thus, you will only waste precious time surfing the internet and straining your eyes, so choose just one application and start acting.
2. Do not overstate requirements
In the requirements for your potential partner, be as correct as possible and do not bend under the onslaught of your vivid imagination.
3. Be yourself
An elementary thing that we regularly forget is to be ourselves! Choose real pictures for your profile and preferably not ten years ago, do not write fictional hobbies, and in your correspondence, try to be the same as in life.
4. Do not be carried away with your playing
Virtual communication is, of course, great, but one should not forget about real life. Set yourself time restrictions on the use of the application so as not to overplay. Communicate with real people and walk in the fresh air.
5. Move into real life
Try to move virtual communication into real life as soon as possible. Perhaps, when you meet in person, you will be disappointed in the person. But in this case, at least do not spend too much time on hopeless communication.
