By Kayla Woody, CPN House of Hope Prevention Specialist
We wake up every morning, pull ourselves out of bed and immediately grab our phones to see the newest notifications. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok have become integral parts of our lives. They allow us to stay connected, share experiences and access information.
We encounter thousands of people daily, sharing space and content, without ever seeing the real struggles and pain that those individuals hold close. The impact of social media on our relationships and mental health is a headline topic. Many people are feeling the negative impact of the loss of empathy from those they encounter online.
To lighten that burden, try using a trauma-informed approach when it comes to online connection. Trauma-informed means taking into consideration a person’s experience of trauma and their reactions to what they may see on social media.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center gives some great tips on how to be more trauma-informed while we are online.
- Happy photos don’t mean happy people
- It is easy to assume that all is fun and exciting from those vacation pics and date-night snaps. What we don’t see behind the post is disagreements, tears and unhealed trauma. Remember that one second out of someone else’s life captured by a photo doesn’t constitute their permanent situation, mood or feelings. We have no idea what others might be going through in life and can’t tell that information by looking at their social media.
- Try to imagine the one person you are helping
- When we engage with others online, we can either be a help or a hindrance. Though we are not always able to see the impact we make, even if one person sees your content and feels better, that is a great gift.
- Put up your boundaries
- We must give ourselves the same compassion we give others. Don’t think that you are obligated to participate or interact with those who do not accept you or support you. This may include not turning on your camera during video conferences, increasing privacy settings, and blocking or reporting those that harass or cause a negative impact.
- Avoid Doom Scrolling
- Social media is a great source of information but an abundance of it can lead to negative impacts on our mental health. Doom Scrolling is spending excessive amounts of time absorbing negative news. This can lead to depression, anxiety, guilt, anger and hopelessness. There is nothing wrong with putting up a boundary and actively choosing not to take in negative news for the sake of one’s mental health. Not watching the news, not reading a triggering article or unfollowing content that upsets you are measures you can take to avoid trauma overload.
- Our perception is our reality
- We start observing media imagery at such a young age that we tend to think of depictions as a mirror of reality instead of constructions. Those depictions of false reality then become expectations we place on ourselves or others in the real world. Just as we experience this in our own way, other people create their own reality too. It is vital to remember that the online world is a world of media, of constructions, which can change our reality depending on what content we have in front of us.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and/or stalking and would like more information, please contact the House of Hope at (405) 275-3176 or visit us online at facebook.com/cpnhouseofhope.