Our Obsession with Suffering

Why are we so obsessed with suffering?
Of course, no one really wants to suffer but a lot of people seem to want to seek out pain. We idolize it. We romanticize it. The songs, poetry, movies, photography, Instagram accounts, Tumblr, and other social media accounts have shed a great deal of light on depression and low self esteem and it is absolutely inspiring but the initial purpose of helping people who have these mental illnesses is now being mistaken for romanticizing their pain. Everybody has been through a difficult time, that's a given. Life is hard. But not everything that happens to you has to leave a mark or scar. You can put that baggage down. You can work for happiness. It easier said then done, I would know. I laugh and smile every single day trying to shake the feeling that I'm about to burst into tears and have a mental breakdown any minute, hoping one day these feelings don't hold me back so much and one day, it won't anymore. However, that's not going to come without work.

Young people are embracing mental illness which is the courageous, first step to recovery but the problem is staying stuck there. The most active Instagram, gaming, and Tumblr accounts that I follow are those who have at one time publicized their disease. It was always strange to me that although their lives may be going through a difficult time, their social media and gaming accounts are experiencing the opposite and they are posting/playing more and more! It is proven to be therapeutic and it is proven to help with self-esteem but the sad part is, eventually, you have to get back to your real life. It is brave to embrace your mental illness but the thing is: don't stop there.

Furthermore, we glorify the people who have been through "more" and shame others for having not suffered the same fate. As if people aren't strong and beautiful without having gone through something although we all have. And if we have had tragedy in our lives, we should wear it on our skin like children of divorce should have daddy issues or children in unstable families will take after their parents. Of course our life events will have profound effects on us but we choose what happens to our lives ultimately. Being strong isn't just taking the hits but standing up and fighting. Finding appreciation in your conditions and changing your conditions.

So stop taking the easy way out and seeking refuge in the virtual world of social media and escaping reality. Work for your happiness and self improvement. Instead of glorifying the tragedy in our lives and escaping through temporary pleasures, we have to end our own suffering.

Votres,
Viv