MENTAL HEALTH MONDAYS: How to Use Social Media to Benefit Your Mental Health - The DV Walking Wounded:

Whether we like it or not, social media is everywhere. No matter where we turn, there is an advertisement or a recommendation to follow on some social media channel. It is an inevitable part of our lives, but sometimes it can be a very unhealthy part of our lives.

There are, however, ways to use social media to benefit your mental health. You can use it to express yourself and find support in places you never thought you could. Let’s take a look at just how you might be able to turn social media around and use it to benefit your mental health!

1. Talk openly about how you feel. Everybody uses social media to express themselves, so if you’re having a good day, let everybody know.
   • Celebrate your successes and let everybody know what you’ve been up to and how proud of yourself you are.
   • Remember, blogs also count as a form of social media. Create a blog post detailing your thoughts, your experiences, and your social commentary. Doing this is sure to boost your mental health since you will be openly and honestly expressing yourself.
   • Similarly, if you are having a bad day, don’t be afraid to share it with the world, along with some tips to help people feel a little bit happier. Your post could reach the far corners of the internet and benefit somebody else! This is how I use THIS blog, BTW!
2. Educate yourself. Some social media applications and websites have some great advice.
   • For example, there may be a new workout or a new skill set that everybody seems to be doing. You could try it, and this could benefit your mental health.
   • If you find a new recipe or special recommendation to make your daily routine easier, you will benefit your mental health by using it to enrich your own life. This allows you to be in control of social media, picking and choosing the content that you find relevant and using it in the best way you can.
3. Build support networks. One benefit of social media is that it’s available all the time.
   • You may find a support network of some kind that allows you to chat with other like-minded individuals about a situation that you’re going through. You should be able to find people online at different times.
   • For example, if you’re struggling with something and it’s playing on your mind, you may be able to voice your concerns and receive worldwide feedback whenever you need it. Just be safe and responsible in what you share.
4. Engage with communities. Perhaps there is an online game that you love or a hobby that you’ve been desperate to share with others.
   • On social media, you can find like-minded communities and chat with people across the world about your interests. You will find it a rewarding experience and a great way to combat loneliness.

Using social media sensibly as a tool to support yourself is a great way to meet people, make connections, combat loneliness, and educate yourself. Social media can be detrimental to your mental health, but it doesn’t have to be.

Start using social media to strengthen your mental health and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.