I’ve read so many ways that social media can deteriorate your mental health that I thought it might be interesting to turn that on its head and look at the positives for once.

Granted, social media is not going to cure your mental health and you really should be under the care of a doctor if you’re going through a crisis. But there are ways that it can help, especially if you use it in moderation.

So let’s take a look at a few of those and hopefully you will get a little boost from your next social media session.

You’re not alone

The best part of social media to me is how much it tells me I’m not alone. When I give it my problems, I always have multiple people say back, “Me too.” For whatever reason, it makes it easier.

When I post and don’t get that back from my immediate network, I can go search for it, either with hashtags, Facebook groups or something else. There is always someone who has been there and understands what I am going through. It’s kind of cool.

That means they know what the right kind of support is and they can give advice that is actually useful. This ends up making a huge difference. You’re no longer alone, and that really matters.

You have an outlet

My way of understanding things or letting things go is to write about it. I don’t feel the need to get a personal blog for this, because it’s usually very short. So social media’s brevity works just fine for me. I can put my little bit into the world and move onto the next thing. Or dive into it further as I discuss it in the comments.

Whether dealing with my emotions in this open manner is the right call, it works for me. I’ve learned over the years what is productive and what is destructive to share. And I’ve figured out how to make it work in a positive way for me, instead of a showy way. It helps me work through quite a bit in a constructive way. I’m definitely not alone in that.

You’re creating mental health awareness

People have this concept of what depression or other mental illnesses look like. It’s not usually rooted in the truth of what a person living with a mental illness actually looks like. Just by openly existing online with your mental illness, you are challenging a lot of people’s beliefs. And that will make your life and the life of others easier.

And I love to share facts about my depression and anxiety when I can, which creates even more awareness.

Being seen as a person who lives with a mental illness rather than a person defined by their mental illness is such a huge deal. The more we can perpetuate that truth, the more likely mental illness will become less of a stigma. And more people will get diagnosed, seeing it as more of a health condition rather than something to be dismissed. That above all else is an amazing thing.

Will social media solve all of your mental health issues? No, but it might just make things just a bit easier and that alone makes it worth it to me.

How has social media helped your mental health?