The Toxicity of Social Media "Positivity"

With the rise of social media comes the inevitable emergence of certain movements, such as
the mental health movement. However, what started as a harmless, helpful way to boost one's
self-esteem has quickly evolved into a platform for unreasonable statements, over-
dramatization, and unhealthy ways of living and thinking, affecting both the individuals within
the social media bubble and those outside it.

The concept of surrounding oneself with like-minded people isn't new, it existed in media even
before the age oft he internet. Nevertheless, social media has taken it to new extremes.
Algorithms and specifically targeted ads can reinforce a person's opinions by showing support
from their online circle, shielding them from criticism. But how can something intended to
boost positivity turn toxic? After all, a positive bubble should remain positive without external
influences, right?
Several factors contribute to this phenomenon, including the poorly educated trying to educate
others. Popular terms originally intended for psychological and medical contexts have spread
rapidly in recent years, leading to their misuse. For instance, terms like "trauma," "gaslighting,"
and "neurodivergent" have specific medical definitions. Trauma, for example, involves more
than just experiencing something bad, it includes the brain specifically rewiring its own
chemistry. Not every negative experience leads to trauma, contrary to the belief spreading in
these bubbles. A study from 2014 demonstrated that the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for
learning and memory, was significantly smaller in miners who survived a coal mine explosion
and suffered from PTSD, compared to a control group.
This bubble-like thinking spreads misinformation, labeling everything as a trauma response
without considering the complexity of individual experiences. Psychotherapist Joe Nucci
describes this as cult-like behavior, where like-minded opinions are elevated while criticism
from outsiders is disregarded and labeled as "hate." This mentality causes a victim mentality,
where individuals believe bad things will continue to happen, refusing to take responsibility for
their own actions or work towards change. This not only harms the individual's mental health
but also burdens others who have to endure constant complaints while the person takes no steps
to improve their situation.
Another common occurrence on social media is people faking certain mental disorders like
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) for attention. These individuals often claim to be popular
internet personalities, a behavior inconsistent with this specific mental illness. Most of these
individuals are teenagers claiming to do this for educational purposes. The likelihood of so
many people genuinely suffering from this disorder is slim, given that only 1.5% of the world's
population is diagnosed with DID.
The problem with this behavior is that it reinforces existing prejudice against mental health
issues and diminishes the struggles of those genuinely suffering. Many people self-diagnose
mental disorders without consulting professionals, further undermining the seriousness of
mental health in the eyes of people who don’t believe in such. Mental disorders are medical
terms that should be used and respected as such. Just as no one would diagnose themselves with
cancer without consulting a doctor, psychological diagnoses should be made by professionals.

I don't mean to discourage people from seeking professional help, therapy is a valuable resource
if affordable. It can decrease stress and enhance understanding of emotions and thoughts, even
if they aren't related to trauma. However, using social media as a tool for self-diagnosis isn’t a
good course of action. Ultimately, conducting thorough research based on reliable studies and
realizing one has the power to change their life circumstances and happiness is far better than
perpetuating misery through self-diagnosis and online echo chambers.

References:

Kim, S., Fonagy, P., Allen, J., & Strathearn, L. (2014). Mothers’ unresolved trauma blunts
amygdala response to infant distress. Social Neuroscience, 9(4), 352–363.
doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2014.896287

Zhang, Q., Zhuo, C., Lang, X., Li, H., Qin, W., & Yu, C. (2014). Structural impairments of
hippocampus in coal mine gas explosion-related posttraumatic stress disorder. PLoS ONE,
9(7). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0102042

Bremner, J. D. (2006). Traumatic stress: Effects on the brain. Dialogues in Clinical

Neuroscience, 8(4), 445–461. doi.org/10.31887/dcns.2006.8.4/jbremner
Watkins, L. E., Sprang, K. R., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2018). Treating PTSD: A review of
evidence-based psychotherapy interventions. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 12.
doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258

Cuncic, A. (2023). "Victim Mentality: Definition, Causes, and Ways to Cope." VeryWell Mind.
(Retrieved from www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-victim-mentality-5120615)

Dary, A. M. & Jacobsen, S. (2023). "Do You Have a Victim Personality? 12 Ways to Tell."
Harley Therapy Mental Health Blog.
(Retrieved from www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/live-life-like-victim-12-ways-tell.htm)

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(Retrieved from psychcentral.com/health/victim-mentality)

Raypole, C. & Legg, T. J. (2019). "How to Identify and Deal with a Victim Mentality."
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Cooks-Campbell, A. (2021). "Victim mentality: How we hold ourselves back by blaming

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