Social media is a fact of life today. It has permeated every aspect of our lives, both public and personal. It’s used by most of society, whether young or old, and it has a significant impact on the people who use it – and even those who don’t, because you cannot escape the images it carries over to television, movies, and even the news.
The things that people like to share most on social media are food, fashion, and fun. For the most part, sharing and viewing these things is harmless. However, if you suffer from an eating disorder such as anorexia and like to use social media to observe others, get ideas, and even share what you are doing, you may be risking your recovery due to the constant need to compare yourself to others.
Understand the Cause of Anorexia
According to a few small studies, while there is some correlation between a rise in food-related disorders and the rise of social media, the truth is that like most food-related disorders, the person with the disordered eating will seek out others like them. In other words, this doesn’t mean that social media is the cause of anorexia. For each person, the cause is internal to them.
Know Yourself and Your Personal Facts
When you are trying to recover as an anorexic, you need to be clear about the facts of your own situation before you look at others on the net. For example, instead of going by looks (since you probably have body dysmorphia along with the anorexia), you need to use body mass index charts or a guide provided by your doctor to ensure you maintain a healthy weight. When you know your own numbers and the facts, you can stick to that instead of comparing yourself to others.
Watch Out for Cyber Bullies
Believe it or not, in every online community, there are people there who don’t have your best interests at heart. They are bullies who love the idea of controlling you with your emotions by pushing your buttons. When you encounter someone who makes you feel bad, block them.
Limit Your Time on Social Media
If you notice spending time on social media is making you stress about food and your body, take some time away while you are recovering. It’s a good idea for every person regardless of their health to limit time on social media anyway. You have so many more things to do with your time.
Unfollow Influencers Who Trigger You
If you find that a person you like to follow is triggering your need to be extra controlling about your food, exercise, or any issues related to your anorexia (everyone is different), it’s time to stop following them. Even if they’re awesome and a person you admire, if it’s causing you issues, you must unfollow.
Learn How to Live in the Now
Sometimes spending time on social media isn’t conducive to living in the here and now, because you may be scrolling through images of what you want in the future or memories from the past. Find ways to focus on today and right now instead. Incorporate meditation into your life to help.
Seek Professional Help
If you have trouble stopping your obsessions with social media, body image, and anything else that triggers your anorexia, you may need professional help. You might want to find someone who is experienced in treating anorexia in the modern world and dealing with social media too.
You really don’t have to give up social media entirely. You just need to be more realistic about the reality of it and the lies of it. The more you can look realistically at what you see online, the more likely you are to avoid feeling pressured by what you see. After all, you know from creating your own images that what is shared online is usually an edited version of reality and not reality at all.
