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Sending Hope Issue #5

via @mytherapistsays

Hi there ,

Bree here, EDV’s Communications Manager. I’m jumping in this issue to talk about that other world that we (or is it just me!?) inhabit for hours every day – social media. 

Social media cops some bad flack when it comes to eating disorders. Recent Australian research has found a clear pattern of association between social media usage and eating disorder behaviours and thoughts in young adolescents. Given that we know that social media can potentially influence the development of eating disorders, does that mean we should abandon ship on it altogether in recovery?

FIRST THING'S FIRST: BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

“I know it’s a trigger for me. Every time I re-download Instagram I know I will go down the rabbit hole on some influencer’s feed. That’s why I’ve chosen to stay off it completely.” – EDV Stories of Recovery Ambassador

Self-reflection time guys. How do you feel when you’re scrolling Instagram? Are you feeling positive and inspired, or are you left feeling inadequate and wanting? If it’s the latter, then it could be time for a shakeup. For some people in recovery, social media is a complete no-go zone. However, if you're not quite ready to give it up, there are ways to make it work for you. 

USE THE TOOLS GIVEN TO YOU

Turn off notifications

This is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to release the grip social media might have on you. Do you really need to be notified when someone likes your photo? Probably not. Not only is it distracting, but it fuels the dopamine rush that social media addiction thrives on. Turning off your notifications allows you to open your social media apps on your own terms.

Mute and unfollow (I’m talking about Instagram for this one because let’s be honest, that’s where most of the damage is done)

Take control who you follow! I find it’s pretty easy to unfollow accounts of people I don’t know (such as influencers) if I’m not digging what they’re putting out. Promoting any sort of dieting? Bye! Double agent of the patriarchy? Laters!

Friends and family are a bit more tricky. What if they see I’ve unfollowed them? This is where muting comes in handy. You don’t have to unfollow someone but you can ensure that you don’t see their stories or posts. On Instagram you can mute someone by going to their profile and selecting the options from the ‘following’ button.

Hide and report

Advertising is inescapable on social media these days. However if you don’t like what you’re seeing, you do have the option to hide and report ads. Click on the three dots on the top right corner of an ad to find these options.

A reminder that the ads you see are reflective of the content you’re interacting with, both on social media and general search engines. It can be a vicious cycle when you’re stuck in it! Cleaning up your feed will help ensure unhelpful content stays away.

FOLLOW POSITIVE CONTENT

If you’ve chosen to stay on social media, you might as well make it work for you, rather than against you. Why not curate your own digital community of positivity and empowerment? Here’s some of our favourite social media superstars to get you started.

 We also run a wide range of support and information events across Victoria.

Remember, if you need to talk to someone, please give our Helpline a call during business hours on 1300 550 236, or email edv@eatingdisorders.org.au

For urgent support please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14

Eating Disorders Victoria respect and welcome diversity of culture, religion, gender and sexuality.