Anxiety and Social Media
I was tagged by J. Hooligan, from...well, from here! for this discussion challenge. This is a subject that so many of us deal with, and so many of us try to hide. I know I did, for YEARS. I’ve only recently come to terms with the reality that this is NOT something to be ashamed of, and pretending we don’t have it is only harming others who suffer and are looking for an example of how to deal with it. So, I feel this challenge is a great way to spread awareness, and if I can help just one person face their illness and get the help they need, I’ll feel like I’ve done some good in the world. I would also like to note that I have now spoken to my doctor and begun taking medication to help me with my mental health, both the anxiety and depression. So! Here we go. 1. Have you come out about your anxiety? Answer: Yes. But, only recently. You see, I had tried before, and was told things like, “Oh, it’s always gotta be something with you, doesn’t it?”, “Oh, everyone gets sad, you’ll get over it!”, or even, “Why do you always need to be the center of attention?” Which is a laugh, because I have trained very hard to become invisible. But, I was talking to the wrong people. I was talking to people who DID need everything to be about them, and didn’t care about other’s well-being. I finally got the nerve up to talk to my doctor after talking other people through their anxiety and depression. 2. How does your anxiety impact how you interact on social media? Answer: Oh, gawds. I do not call anyone out when I’ve been wronged. I do not chime in on discussions for fear of upsetting someone or being CAPSed at. If I’ve rated a book below 4 stars, I will often not share it on my FB page out of fear of being attacked. I stick to sharing innocent memes and talking on messenger to the few people who I know actually understand me, and aren’t looking for reasons to get mad. Also, answering these questions is making me super anxious and I’m afraid I’m going to get yelled at or told I’m just looking for attention for filling it out… 3. Do you have to push yourself to reply back to people? Answer: Sometimes, yes, but generally I try to reply back as soon as possible so I don’t upset anyone. Because my anxiety says they won’t want to talk to me anymore if I take too long. 4. Is there anything that spurs you on to complete a goal? Answer: A deadline does the trick nicely! Jude asking me to do something usually gets done right away, but other things, when I get to a low point in my depression and/or anxiety, are likely to just sit there and be panicked over until I realize it’s almost due, and then I read/review/make blog posts like a madwoman! 5. When your anxiety gets bad, how is your presence affected? Answer: I tend to either not “like” things or make comments, or share, etc. Or, conversely, I will do those things a LOT more than normal. I usually won’t open messages, and I won’t review any books that aren’t 5 stars. I’ll write those reviews, but they’ll stay in my files until I’m not so anxious about things. 6. When you finally come out of a bad period of anxiety, do you feel you need to compensate with lots of material? Answer: Actually, yes. I’ll share a lot more, I’ll sign up for a lot more cover reveals, blog tours, release days blitzes, etc. 7. What one of the worst experiences (you feel comfortable sharing) you’ve had with your blog/page because of anxiety? Answer: Note: I’ve gone back and deleted and re-written this answer several times, trying to decide if I should do it, if I should risk the attacks resuming. My anxiety at work, ladies and gents! I REALLY fear this will open a can of worms, but it explains a lot of how my anxiety is transferred to my review blogger alter ego. I was harassed and stalked after leaving a 3 star review. I went into a panic attack, and now freak out when I give a book 3 stars. Which, by the way, means I LIKED a book. 3 stars isn’t a bad rating for me. But yeah, that experience has messed me with since then, making me afraid to be honest sometimes to the point that I will hold back a review until I have several to publish at once. 8. Do you participate in book signings? If so, how do you handle them? Answer: Yes! I go to Houston once a year to attend one with some of the other Platypires. And I handle them by making Sofia and Bekah do all the talking while I hide behind them haha! 9. What sort of support system do you have in place, if any? Answer: The Platypires! They are truly my tribe, and there is always at least one around if I need to talk or just be talked to. 10. Is there any advice you wish you had before you started your page/blog? Answer: Hm. I mean, not really. I didn’t start my separate page for a while, I just helped out on the main blog page and let Jude boss me about at first haha. What about you? Do you deal with anxiety? What do you do that helps you when it gets bad? Is there a good support system in your life? Tag, you’re it, Sally Slayer! Any one else who is reading this and would like to play along, you are ALL more than welcome! The Discussion Challenge: Here’s how to play. Once you’re tagged, write an article using the questions listed at the bottom. You can always expand as much as you’d like, but it isn’t a requirement. (Don’t forget to acknowledge the blog that you got the prompt from!) Under the article, tag a blogger or three to participate after you and make sure to include the questions at the bottom. Oh, and you can post it wherever you feel comfortable. This means your facebook/blog/tumblr/whatever else I’m forgetting. If you want to start your own just make sure to come up with a handful of questions to help encourage a rounded out article. Don’t forget to include the rules as well. Also, and this isn’t required, you should totally tag me on FACEBOOK or TWITTER so I can participate with yours. Please feel free to submit your article to our weekly review/article/giveaway roundup. This would be considered a response article, unless you’ve come up with the topic yourself. You can submit them here: Deja Revu The Questions: 1. Have you come out about your anxiety? 2. How does your anxiety ever impact how you interact on social media? 3. Do you have to push yourself to reply back to people? 4. Is there anything that spurs you on to complete a goal? 5. When your anxiety gets bad, how is your presence affected? 6. When you finally come out of a bad period of anxiety do you feel you need to compensate with lots of material? 7. What’s one of the worst experiences (you feel comfortable sharing) you’ve had with your blog/page because of anxiety? 8. Do you participate in book signings? If so, how do you handle them? 9. What sort of support system do you have in place, if any? 10. Is there any advice you wish you had before you started your page/blog? This response will be cross posted on The Scoop by MV |
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Hey guys, Bob here. I'm just getting back into the swing of things here on the blog, having FINALLY acquired a computer. I'm way behind and, honestly, I've forgotten probably 90% of what I had to do. If you've fallen by the wayside, just holler at me!