Beware: Facebook can affect you mental health!

Your mental health may be affected as addiction to Facebook has been causing psychotic episodes and delusions, researchers warn. With the viral spread of internet, psychopathologies related to internet addictions and virtual relationships are also on the rise, according to the study. According to Dr Uri Nitzan of Tel Aviv University’s, the characteristics of the patients included loneliness, separation from loved one and no history of substance abuse. A connection was found between the development and rise of the psychotic symptoms such as confusion, delusions, anxiety. A full recovery was seen in people who sought out treatment on their own, said Nitzan. He said, that Facebook may have numerous advantages it also acts as a platform for cyber-bullying and other predatory behaviour. Three patients initially found solace in virtual relationships followed by betrayal, hurt and invasion of privacy in the ending stages, said Nitzan. “All of the patients developed psychotic symptoms related to the situation, including delusions regarding the person behind the screen and their connection through the computer,” he said. Two patients began to feel vulnerable as a result of sharing private information and one even experienced hallucination -- sometimes believing that the person beyond the screen was physically touching her.