We live in a time where having a well-curated Instagram account, a blue tick and a million followers means that you’re successful. In this fast-paced life we all lead, we tend to believe almost anything we see. We run around chasing the better things in life, just because we’ve seen or read about it somewhere on social media. It’s almost like everyone is comparing their lives with each other and seems to have lost track of the important stuff. In this weird rat race, we ignore the blaring cry of our own minds, trying to tell us to slow down. This, in turn, has led to a major deterioration of mental health among millennials.
The Cool Kids
Most of us know that you can’t believe everything you see on the internet. Still, social media has a way of impacting our lives in the strangest way. Whether it’s the fear of missing out or just plain jealousy, it consumes our thoughts, even when we don’t think much of it. While your conscious mind may just shrug it off, the thought tends to linger in your sub-conscious. But, how much of anything you see is actually real? We tend to believe that everything the cool kids put up on social media, is actually how their life is. What a lot of people don’t realise or think enough about is the fact that most of what we see, is a well-curated part of their life. The reality of everything is a whole lot different and most times, a lot darker.
The Effects Of Living In An Illusion
While we run around trying to achieve this idea of a perfect life, we lose track of ourselves and our priorities. We fail to realise just how much we’re giving up and missing out on because of this bubble we live in. Our lives have moved on to become almost hollow and meaningless, to an extent where we’ve forgotten about communication and the fragility of the human mind. Recent studies have shown that the number of people who suffer from mental health issues in India, is more than the entire population of Japan. So, why are we still so oblivious to such a serious issue? How are we so blinded, that we don’t realise or see someone struggling? The fact is, we’ve let inconsequential things take over our lives and have turned a blind eye towards kindness, gratitude, and empathy. In the hustle of life, the only person we have time to think about is ourselves. Social media has led us down a path of self-obsession and the pressure to portray the perfect illusion.
Stepping Away From The Illusion
It’s time we start bursting the bubbles we may be living in. We can harp on about all the bad effects of social media, but that won’t solve anything. We need to stop beating around the bush and tackle such things head on. It’s also important to remember that there is nothing wrong with showing the best version of you on social media, as long as you don’t forget about the other, not so perfect version too. Don’t let your reality get so blur that you lose track of who you really are. Step away from the illusions because there is a lot more to life than trying every day to be a picture-perfect and false version of your self.
The Way Forward
There is no doubt that social media is probably one of the most important tools for people. It has the ability to make or break someone. But, it’s also extremely important to remember that it comes with a heavy cost sometimes. These feelings, thoughts and even built up emotions take a severe toll on your mental health. While it may start off with something you can shake off, slowly but steadily, it will start consuming you. You need to remind yourself from time to time, that if something is bothering you or you feel a certain way about things, you need to speak about it. It’s essential to know that you can’t believe everything you see because it’s just a projection. We as a generation also need to start choosing kindness. We need to realize that being there for someone who is in need, even if there is nothing to be gained, is just as important as keeping up appearances. Even the smallest amount of kindness can make a huge difference. So start talking and start listening because that could be the difference between life and death.
We need to start realising just how serious the issues around mental health really is. Check in with your friends at least once a day, even if it’s a casual two-minute conversation. Start encouraging conversations about mental health, even if it’s at the dinner table. Break the taboo and make this something we can all talk about, whenever we want. Encourage people to speak up and always be aware of people around you. Remember, when it comes to mental health, it’s always the right time.
#LetsTalkAboutMentalHealth