The impact of social media & alcohol on loneliness

Summary

The speaker shares a deeply personal journey of isolation and struggle with bulimia, pneumonia, and the pressures of social media. After losing friends and experiencing a lung collapse, they found solace in Tumblr, gaining a large following but also facing online harassment. Moving away and leaving the platform behind, they embraced sobriety and a new focus on mental health advocacy. The narrative highlights the importance of using social media positively and finding community in sobriety groups like Club Soda, emphasizing self-acceptance and the value of genuine connections.

Takeaways

• 😔 The speaker feels alone and hopeless, struggling with a sense of isolation and a lack of support from friends.
• 💔 They experienced a serious health crisis, with pneumonia leading to a collapsed lung, which was exacerbated by their bulimia.
• 🏠 After a period of intensive care and housebound recovery, they lost many friends and turned to Tumblr for social interaction and validation.
• 📈 Their online presence on Tumblr grew rapidly, gaining a large following, but this came at the cost of increased isolation in real life.
• 🥂 The speaker discusses the pressures of drinking culture, especially during university years, and the anxiety it caused them.
• 🚫 They faced severe online harassment after making a video about their bulimia, which included threatening messages and criticism.
• 🔄 In response to the negative experiences, they moved to a new location, deleted their Tumblr account, and sought a fresh start.
• 🍻 They decided to stop drinking due to its negative impacts on their daily life, which was a difficult but necessary change.
• 🤝 The speaker found support and a sense of community in sobriety groups and online platforms like Club Soda.
• 🌐 They now use social media to raise awareness about mental health and connect with others, rather than seeking personal validation.
• 🚫 The script highlights the dangers of idolizing social media personas and the importance of being authentic and true to oneself.

Q & A

What was the initial reason for the speaker feeling alone and hopeless?

The speaker felt alone and hopeless due to a lack of friends and feeling unimportant, which was exacerbated by their health issues and the loss of a social circle during recovery from pneumonia and a collapsed lung.

How did the speaker's health condition affect their social life?

The speaker's health condition, specifically pneumonia and a collapsed lung due to bulimia, led to a period of housebound recovery, during which they lost many friends and felt more isolated.

What platform did the speaker use to cope with their isolation and find a sense of community?

The speaker used Tumblr to cope with isolation, where they could upload and reblog pictures and content they liked, eventually gaining a substantial following.

How did the speaker's use of Tumblr impact their daily routine and mental state?

The speaker became increasingly dependent on Tumblr for validation and social interaction, spending up to 12 hours a day on the platform, which further isolated them in the real world.

What was the speaker's attitude towards drinking games and social drinking in their earlier years?

The speaker took drinking games seriously and felt pressure to conform to social expectations around drinking to fit in and make friends.

How did the speaker's relationship with alcohol evolve over time?

Initially, the speaker enjoyed social drinking, but as they grew older, they began to experience hangovers and panic attacks, which were exacerbated by alcohol consumption, leading to a decision to stop drinking.

What was the impact of the speaker's video about being bulimic on their online experience?

The video was reblocked by a popular figure on Tumblr, leading to increased visibility but also to negative and harmful anonymous messages, which deeply affected the speaker.

Why did the speaker decide to move away and delete their Tumblr account?

The speaker moved away and deleted their Tumblr account to have a fresh start and avoid being known primarily for their online presence, especially after receiving disturbing messages.

How did the speaker's approach to social media change after their decision to stop drinking?

The speaker began using social media to talk about mental health and support others, shifting the focus from self-promotion to helping others and engaging in meaningful conversations.

What role did the speaker find in the sobriety community, and how did it help them?

The speaker found a supportive community on Club Soda, which provided a space to connect with others who had made a lifestyle choice to be sober, offering relatability and a sense of belonging.

What advice does the speaker have for young people regarding the use of social media and the potential for idolizing others?

The speaker advises young people to use social media in a way that works for them, to avoid becoming obsessed with unrealistic portrayals of life, and to be true to themselves by sharing positive messages.