Social Media Pressure During the Holiday Season

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

The increase in social media use has allowed individuals with the opportunity to live in an altered reality. With frequent posting on social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., people can carefully construct and create the image that they want to portray to others, which is often strikingly different from what is experienced on a daily basis.

What might appear to others through the images that are shared on social media does not portray the struggles, fears, or obstacles that an individual encounters on a daily basis. It is easy to construct the image that everything in life is controlled and to mask the reality that may be faced on a daily basis.

This may be even truer during the holiday season, where individuals post of all the holiday festivities they may be participating in, or perfectly staged family pictures. Constantly viewing the holiday season through the lens of social media can create unnecessary pressures or even create a sense of depression if comparing one’s life to what is seen on social platforms.

Reflect on the Positive!

If you are in recovery from an eating disorder and have found yourself dealing with these types of issues during this holiday season, take a step back and reflect on your own life and your own journey. It is often said that “comparison is the thief of joy”.

It is easy to buckle under the pressures of social media and feel resentful of what you may not have, particularly when you are comparing yourself to others. Examining your own life and how far you have come in your own journey is crucial for maintaining a sense of reality and peace in your own life.

Being in recovery itself is a gift – one that a price tag cannot be placed. The value of recovery from an eating disorder is not something that is easily described or portrayed in social media.

Making a list of what you have in your own life that you are grateful for can be a grounding experience. If you find yourself overwhelmed with the pressures of social media, you may considering taking a short break altogether. Remember to do what you can to keep protecting the efforts you have made in your recovery. You are valuable, and your life is important, so keep fighting!

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

What do you think are some of the challenges individuals in recovery face with social media use, and what are some practical ways to maintain recovery in light of these pressures?

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Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

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The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 23, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com