Are you struggling in your life- to find the right balance of emotions, searching for ways to find mental peace, or looking for different healing techniques?
If yes, then I am sure you must have experienced this while scrolling through your social media, your feed is saturated with people suggesting different kinds of self-love practices claiming to be better than the other.
You end up trying them and rather than being good, things get worse (ya ask me, been there, done that).
I have been on my self-healing journey for many years now, and God knows how many methods I tried and am still in the process of learning.
So, I understand that it is easy to get swayed by how things are being marketed nowadays, but trust me some of these trends might be doing more harm than good.
Finding the things that helped me was a rather difficult but truly fruitful journey for me. In reality, there were times when I felt so happy discovering new things that worked like magic, but then there were times when I felt so lost and confused thinking why did I ever think of trying that?
Self-care is a journey to figure out what truly makes you feel good
I tried so many things like meditation, writing, yoga, and practicing gratitude and the struggle is still on.
While trying various things in the name of self-care, I realized that self-care isn’t about having a strict plan to stick to infact it’s about paying attention to what makes you feel good.
If it’s not helping you, then no matter who is suggesting it, just stop that practice.
Toxic Self-Care Trends You Must Avoid-
Before trying a new trend you must remember that not everything works the same way for everyone. Some things can make things worse if you overdo them or may not work at all. That does not mean the method is wrong, it may be that it’s not the right fit for your condition/situation.
The reason I am writing this blog today is to make you aware of the toxic trends around self-care, which are floating on every social media platform and being endorsed by many top creators wihtout fact checking its consequences. Its a humble request to please read this post before trying those trends.
7 Toxic self-care trends and why they might not be good for your mental health.
1. Toxic Positivity
Have you ever seen those posts that say, “Just smile and everything will be okay”? That’s toxic positivity. It’s like you have a car accident and people instead of rescuing you, they tell you, it’s ok, it happens smile.
Let me tell you, it is okay to feel sad, angry, or anxious, what matters is how you handle them.
Instead of pretending everything is always sunshine and rainbows, try to accept your feelings, whatever they may be. Talk to a friend, write in a journal, or try some relaxation techniques.
Resistance to pain is the biggest cause of magnifying its effect, do not do that. Allow yourself time to heal. Try things that can help you accelerate the process (Check here to find more)
You start healing when you stop resisting and start accepting
2. Self-Indulgence
This toxic trend suggests that- it is perfectly fine to indulge in activities that make you feel good. I agree, that it’s great to treat yourself now and then, but too much self-indulgence can be a problem. It might feel good in the moment, but it’s not good for you in the long run.
If you are not mindful of it, you might end up adapting unhealthy habits in the name of self-care- eating too much chocolate, binge-watching Netflix, or over-exerting workouts. Find a balance between taking care of yourself and being responsible.
Consequences of self-indulgence might lead to shame, guilt, and regrets if you are not mindful of your actions.
Self-love is empowering & liberating, it will make you feel happy not guilty
3. Bed Rotting
This one trend is all over social media and people are doing it without realizing its toxic side effects.
Bed rotting is spending long hours in bed doing nothing, even though some days we do not have the mental and emotional strength to follow the usual routine but, doing it as a healing practice is not good for your mental or physical health. It can make you feel lazy, unmotivated, and even depressed.
Try to get up and move around every day, even if it’s just for a short walk in the park, playing with your pet, or cooking something you love.
Find activities that you enjoy and push yourself to try them, the outcome will be rewarding.
Staying in bed might feel cozy, but it won’t solve your problems, for that you have to take actions
4. Dopamine Detox
You might have heard about dopamine detoxes, where you try to avoid anything that gives you pleasure. People believe that by taking a break from things that make you happy, you’ll get less used to feeling good and reset your brain to feel happy even without doing it.
Let me tell you this can be dangerous, especially if you’re already struggling with mental health issues.
Dopamine detox is nothing but a deform & disastrous social media trend that mimics CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy).
(CBT is a process of re-programming your brain to change a habit or behavior through mindfulness techniques done under the guidance of qualified professionals.)
Instead of completely cutting out pleasure, try to find healthier ways to enjoy yourself. Spend time with loved ones, do things you enjoy, and listen to your body when it ask for help.
Don’t deprive yourself of happiness, things you lack, become the focus of all your attention
5. Over-reliance on Self-Help Content
If you’re struggling with mental health issues, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. A therapist can provide you with the support and guidance you need.
However, overdoes of information through self-help books, podcasts, and videos can lead to more confusion rather than clarity.
Relying on them too much can be problematic. It’s like trying to learn how to drive by just reading a book – you need practice and experience.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different things. And most importantly, be kind to yourself. You deserve it!
Remember, self-care is about finding what works best for you, not what others think, will work for you.
6. Mindless Consumption of Motivational Content:
I used to think that spending hours scrolling through healthy and knowledgeable social media content was a form of self-care, but I soon realized that it was doing more harm than good.
It creates an Illusion of Progress, when you are consuming inspiring messages continuously, you can easily fall into the trap of believing that you are actively working towards your goals. While in reality, you are not taking any action or implementing the advice, you are simply indulging in a form of escapism.
Another issue with excessive motivation is that it can lead to analysis paralysis– that happens when you are constantly exposed to new ideas and strategies, it can become overwhelming and difficult to decide where to start.
It also diminishes the returns effect by making your brain de-sensitized to motivational content. This means that you will need more and more of it to feel inspired. All these can create a never-ending cycle of seeking external validation and motivation.
Instead of relying on external sources, focus on developing your inner drive and resilience.
7. Baseless Influence of Influencers
One of the biggest dangers of following influencers is the unrealistic expectations they can create.
They often present a curated version of their lives, highlighting only the positive aspects and downplaying the challenges.
This can lead you to believe that you are not doing enough or not doing the right thing, which can be damaging to your self-esteem and mental health.
Many influencers promote sponsored products or services, which may not be good or even not good for you but you kind of get a feeling of inadequacy and dissatisfaction if you do not try them.
This also means that their content may not be entirely authentic or objective. So it is important to be mindful of the potential negative effects of influencer-driven self-care.
It’s important to remember that influencers also face challenges and imperfections.
The Importance of Self-Care
Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for your well-being, it is a commitment every human should make to themselves.
However, make sure that you follow self-care practices that are authentic and meaningful to you, rather than simply following trends or copying the habits of others.
It’s important to Focus on your strengths and accomplishments, and don’t let the opinions of others influence your choices.
Explore more on these toxic self-care trends, and find what works best for you.
Remember, self-care isn’t about perfection- it’s about kindness and compassion.
Difference between Positive Self-Care and Toxic Self-Care Trends-
| Positive Self-Care | Toxic Self-Care Trends |
| Encourage you to “ask for help” | Create an illusion that “its ok, it happens” |
| Push you to take measures to help yourself | Divert you from taking real actions. |
| Backed with evidence based research, and time bound results | Mostly baseless- do not confirm any positive results or scientific evidence to support. |
Recommended Read: “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle
This inspiring memoir offers a powerful exploration of self-discovery, authenticity, and the courage to break free from societal expectations.
We are not broken. We are beautifully made and perfectly imperfect. So, let’s embrace our imperfections and treat ourselves with the love and care we deserve.
I hope these information can provide clarity to understand the concept of self-care and the potential toxic effects of certain self-care trends. Do explore more about this topic, on the resources linked in the posts.
Additional Sources for Exploring Toxic Self-Care Trends
Articles:
- Do you practice true or false self-care? Here’s how to tell
- The Dangers of Self-Care Culture by The Atlantic
- SelfCare Won’t Save Us by Aisling McCrea
Websites:
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