TikTok lessons

TIKTOK has seen a rise in numbers since its inception about eight years ago. The video app has introduced new faces that are recognised globally. People have discovered not only an escape from reality but careers and sources of income through content creation. The app has introduced talent and creativity and furthered whole schools of thought.

While some are there to dance and create content through different sounds, others have found space to shed light on crucial topics, either by sharing their experiences or their professional knowledge.

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With the variety of content available, there is much you can learn or enjoy. The content on TikTok that has caught my attention and prompted growth for me are issues around mental health. I have learnt much on this topic by following the stories and journeys of content creators and the professional think pieces shared across the platform. Let’s dive into the three main aspects of mental health I have learnt on TikTok.

Acknowledgement of Mental health
While mental health is a broad topic that has different meanings and connotations for different people, it does  need to be acknowledged. Our mental health is what shapes our beliefs and behaviour. Professional content creators on TikTok say that our subconscious mind is involuntarily shaped by our experiences from our early lives. We were all raised differently in different environments. Some of us fell victims to abuse, and some of us were abandoned. User @drvanessalapointe, a content creator on parenting education, focuses on how certain rules and behaviour by parents/caregivers can affect a child’s behaviour as they grow into independence. She also teaches how unhealed traumas can affect children who will be parents, creating a cycle of unhealed generations. It is also important to note that while some mental health disorders are formed by experiences, some are genetically inherited and have less chance of being cured.

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Raising awareness
Over the years, TikTok has seen the growth of creators who advocate for mental health. These creators have used the platform to break stereotypes about depression, low self-esteem, narcissism, anxiety and the list goes on. They have allowed room to look above and beyond the judged act and to analyse the root of the problem. User @heal.grow.become, a professional therapist on TikTok, encourages his followers to look into the root of their and other people’s behaviours before judging or taking people’s actions or words to heart. Creators have outlined that unhealed trauma can result in projection – the act where an individual attributes their unwanted traits to someone else. User @mightyyyymouse, among many others, explains the different types of personalities and their different causes.

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Healing
Through raised awareness, creators have also emphasised the importance of healing from mental health disorders and being careful not to fall victim to people who have disorders themselves. User @valenciamaseko, who shares her healing experiences after being abandoned by her caregivers, always acknowledges her part in her own healing. While she notes that her upbringing was not her choice, she acknowledges that her job is to heal for the sake of her well-being. Healing is important for victims to take their power back. Creators have opened up about the process and the ugly truths of healing which have destroyed the belief that you need to find perfection through healing. They have also revealed the truth that it’s okay to feel comfortable with having emotionally messy days because it is okay not to be okay, and that epiphany comes through healing.

The digital era has birthed much change – it is a marvel to witness how TikTok has become a part of our world and how it’s helped fix myths and erroneous beliefs about mental wellness.

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