If your online browsing habits include reading about dating trends, there is a good chance you have come across neologisms such as ghosting, breadcrumbing, and zombieing. While these terms may sound like they belong in fantasy horror fiction, they actually refer to toxic relationship practices that can leave an emotional toll when it comes to online dating.
There are various types of ghosting, which is when someone pulls an online disappearing act for selfish reasons. In essence, someone is ghosted when their relationship partners stop communicating through digital means, which means that they are being actively ignored. This kind of sudden disappearance without explanation is not exactly new; in the past, however, there was no social media to let you know that you are the only one with whom your partner is not communicating.
Breadcrumbing is a digitally toxic version of teasing and flirting; it is considered to be one of the most insidious types of ghosting because it consists of temporary lapses of communication. Narcissists use breadcrumbing as a way of feeding their egos by deliberately avoiding contact with partners until desperate longing sets in; this is when the bait is cast in the form of an affectionate message, thus prolonging the emotional give-and-take.
Zombieing, as the term suggests, is an unexpected return from ghosting. Almost invariably, zombieing takes place without warning, and whoever is doing it will act as if ghosting did not happen in the first place, or as if it was no big deal.
What these 21st century dating terms reveal is that the dynamics of social media and mental health are changing to the detriment of romantic relationships. Just because these trends often involve cute emojis and funny memes, it does not mean that people are not affected. The collective bottom line of these trends is that they amount to insensitive rejection, and they can negatively impact emotional well-being through bouts of depression and anxiety.
If you feel that your social media interactions are causing you to panic or feel depressed, please contact our office to explore your options. In many cases, talk therapy combined with ketamine infusions can help with alleviating debilitating emotions, thus improving your overall mental health.
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