As social media continues to raise awareness of mental health, we’re witnessing a surge in discussions about emotional turmoil and trauma. The vast knowledge available at our fingertips offers a sense of empowerment and community. However, this abundance of information can also create a paradox: while it can provide valuable resources, it can also hinder healing from trauma.
Personal Experience
I remember diving deep into trauma work, eager to learn everything I could about healing from trauma. I signed up for countless trainings, followed mental health professionals on social media, and consumed countless podcasts and books. Soon, my entire online world was filled with trauma-related content. I felt supported and validated, but also overwhelmed.
Imagine drowning in a sea of well-intentioned advice and endless scrolling. I began to feel like an imposter, broken, and inadequate. With so many resources and opinions, I felt paralyzed and unable to make progress in my healing from trauma journey. Burnout and mental health struggles began to take a toll.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the constant stream of mental health content on social media? This experience is common. We’re humans, operating at human speed, trying to process vast amounts of information at computer speed. It’s no wonder that social media can be overwhelming. The abundance of information can lead to a dangerous cycle. We begin to feel like failures, unworthy, and inadequate. In response, we seek more resources and strive for perfection. However, this pursuit of perfection can hinder healing from trauma.
What is Healing?
According to Webster’s Dictionary, healing is “to make free from injury or disease; to make sound or whole.” Healing doesn’t mean perfection or the absence of emotions, mistakes, or pain. Instead of seeking healing from trauma, what if we focused on self-acceptance? Accepting that we are enough, with our flaws and imperfections, can be liberating. This doesn’t mean we can’t make changes for the better, but it means we don’t have to be perfect to be worthy.
Self-acceptance goes hand-in-hand with self-care. By taking care of ourselves, we can better navigate the complexities of mental health and the overwhelming nature of social media. Embracing paradox, recognizing that we can both seek improvement and accept our wholeness, can provide relief. Self-acceptance is a multifaceted journey, but it can begin with simply acknowledging how we feel. Taking a moment to pause and be mindful, we can ask ourselves with curiosity, “What am I feeling right now, and how does this show up in my body?” For example, you might notice, “I am feeling anxious. I have fear about this—I feel it in my gut, and it feels twisty and heavy.” Putting it down on paper through expressive arts can create a sense of relief and give us space between ourselves and the experience.
What do can we do?
Instead of chasing perfection, let’s focus on progress and self-acceptance. Remember, healing from trauma is a journey, not a destination. By embracing our humanity and practicing self-care, we can find peace and resilience.
