What happens to your brain when browsing social media right after waking up?

What happens to your brain

 when browsing social media right after waking up?

Smartphones have become so integral to our lives today that 

we open them directly when we wake up from sleep.

Although this may seem normal and harmless, this practice is not good for the

 mind, according to a neuroscientist, which explained exactly what happens to

 your mind when you browse social media first thing in the morning.

Emily McDonald

who has been studying the brain for years and is currently working

 for a doctorate in neuroscience, explained the damage of

 browsing social media first thing in the morning in a video on 

"TikTok" that went viral and garnered more than a million views.

Initially

the neuroscientist shared useful information about the different 

types of brain waves: delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma.

Delta is the "slowest brain wave" associated with deep sleep. 

While Theta appears in "young children and adults in sleepy condition"

Alpha is associated with physical

 and mental relaxation. Beta brain waves

 occur in the form of a more vigilant and attentive awareness

while gamma waves show high awareness, reflecting the cognitive process

problem solving and learning.

The first thing we need to

 know is that when we wake up in the morning

our brain waves move from Delta, Theta, Alpha, and then to Beta when 

we're more awake and attentive," Emily explained through her personal account.

According to science, your brain travels through each of these types of brain waves

before reaching beta, but the use of social media goes beyond these stages.

"If you check your phone first thing in the morning, you cause your mind to go

 straight to high beta waves and prepare yourself for more stress throughout 

the rest of your day," Emily says.

Other problems

 are also illustrated by the neuroscientist: 

"Checking social media first thing in the morning also increases dopamine

 and reduces your basic dopamine levels, making you keep wanting to

 check social media throughout the rest of your day."

Dopamine

or the so-called hormone of happiness, is often associated

 with activities such as sex or eating, and can become addictive. 

fun feeling is something we feel when people like our social media posts. 

While dopamine can make us feel more positive, when your basic dopamine

 levels drop or rise much, your mental health may be affected as a result

as they are associated with conditions such as depression.

Instead

Emily says that the first thing she does is "morning assurances"

 (quotes or phrases whether short or long she says

reads or thinks to put yourself and your mind in a good and positive

 emotional state) to increase the activity of the Theta and Alpha brainwave.

 Noting that this increases "our ability to learn and remember things."

Emily continued to

 share other steps from her morning routine

which included exercise, where she said: "Morning exercise is key.

Exercise increases dopamine, norepinephrine and endocannabinoids

so you get energy, concentration, stimulation and mood enhancement

for the rest of your day. 

Adding:

 "Exercise also promotes blood and oxygen flow to the brain

so it's the best way to wake up."

She continued: "I also bring sunlight into my eyes every morning to regulate

 the circadian rhythm (body clock). If it's bleak outside, I'll do red light therapy. "

The last step is its daily meditation routine. "Meditation has a wide list of

 health benefits as well as improved concentration and productivity," Emily says.

But although this sounds good

we all know that it's difficult when it comes to abandoning social media

Therefore

if you want to stop this bad morning habit, according to psychologist

 and accredited member of the British Psychological Association 

Dr. Sandra Whitley

you must do this gradually, through the possibility of using the phone 

without browsing social media until you can eventually give up the phone.