- ABC of Mental Health
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- ABC of Mental Health
Hello! Welcome to another edition of the ABC of Mental Health, your partner in the journey to better mental health — one newsletter at a time. This week’s theme is cyber-bullying keeping in mind the upcoming Safer Internet Day. This is especially important since a recent statistic shows that 65% of global adults say their kids or kids in their community have been cyberbullied over social media. We bring it to your inbox this Thursday to make your Thursday a little therapeutic!
One relevant recommendation:
The mind bully metaphor symbolizes how our automatic negative thoughts can act as a metaphorical bully in our psyche. Just as a traditional bully seeks to harm and control others through intimidation, the mind bully manifests as an internal force that undermines self-confidence and well-being. This video is a must-watch for all those of you looking to learn how the mind-bully impacts our mental health.
Two quotes on Bullying and Relationship with Self:
Dan Pearce, an author and speaker believes, those who have self-hatred project their pain onto others by causing suffering.
“People who love themselves, don’t hurt other people. The more we hate ourselves, the more we want others to suffer.”
Zack W. Van, an author, suggests that similar to how nuclear waste is harmful rather than beneficial, bullying does not contribute positively to character development but, instead, inflicts significant and lasting damage.
“Bullying builds character like nuclear waste creates superheroes. It's a rare occurrence and often does much more damage than endowment.”
Three TherapyShorts from TST:
Cyber-bullying isn’t just name calling: Cyber-bullying goes beyond a minor inconvenience and can severely impact our well-being. It can make us doubt ourselves, feel isolated, overwhelmed and self-conscious, and impair our performance at academics/work and everyday functioning. Recent surveys on cyberbullying suggest that early a third of tween cyberbullying victims said the incidents affected their friendships, while 13 percent said it affected their physical health [1].
Anonymity and Disinhibition Effect: Imagine you're at a party surrounded by strangers. In fleeting moments, it might feel like you are invisible. Research reveals two-thirds of tween victims of cyberbullying said that it had a negative impact on how they felt about themselves [2]. Similarly, when we are behind a screen, we may often feel like we will need to be less accountable than otherwise. This anonymity can sometimes lead us to behave more aggressively than in person because it makes us feel more detached from the consequences of our actions from no one being unable to track us. Recognizing this reminds us how our virtual presence complements who we are in-person and reminds us to be more sensitive.
Reel vs. Real Identity: When people engage in cyberbullying, they often create this online persona that's not exactly who they are in real life. It's like putting on a virtual mask and playing a movie character that might be a lot meaner or more aggressive than the person you would meet in real life where the consequences aren't as immediate or personal.Love and light,
The Social Therapist
P.S. If you or someone you may know is experiencing bullying, and need additional support to cope, you can write to us
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