The Dangers of Comparing Lives on Social Media
The influencer Sam Guggenheimer, who has hundreds of thousands of online supporters, asks people to protect their well-being by not comparing their lives with the "highlight roles" that we see on social media.
Personal Struggles with Mental Health
Guggenheimer has opened up about the physical struggles for mental health that she has faced since her early teenagers. "From depression to fear and overcoming an aggressive eating disorder, the psychological health problems were a constant part of my journey," she said. "They shaped me to the person I am today. Although some of the darkest days never felt ending, there was always a part of me who knew that there was light at the end of the tunnel."
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
In a job without defined hours, Guggenheimer’s mental lows could manifest themselves as fatigue, in which even simple tasks did not feel flowing and overwhelming. "In these times I have difficulty concentrating, feeling unmotivated and realizing a real decline in my creativity," she said. Guggenheimer said that she could lose interest in normally joyful activities and sometimes felt "stuck, only the movements without real purpose".
The Importance of Being Open and Honest
But Guggenheimer was open with her followers about her fights – something she found as "incredibly powerful". "It not only helps me to feel less alone, but also offers other girls the certainty that life is not always perfect and polished – and that’s okay," she said. Guggenheimer said that she "really" worked on improving her mental health and found that a strong routine for maintaining a stable way of thinking was "decisive".
The Danger of Curated Online Lives
Guggenheimer said that the "curated life online" with so much access to people made it easy to get into the comparative trap. "This often leads to isolation feelings and makes it difficult to form real, sensible connections that are stunned to self-esteem," she said. Guggenheimer said she was deep with the "Can we talk?" message because it encouraged hard, honest conversations.
Advice for Those Struggling with Mental Health
Her advice to others who fought was "friendly to themselves". "We are often our worst critics and can be incredibly hard on ourselves – in a way that we would never treat with another person," she said. "Do not struggle with mistakes or imperfections. Show yourself the same care and compassion that you would offer someone you love." Guggenheimer encouraged people to build positive and sustainable habits for their well-being, such as physical movement, which "publishes Endorphine and increases your mood in a natural way". Finally, she advised people to "lean towards the people around them" and "build and promote your real relationships".
