Should You Rely on Online Communities to Improve Your Mental Health

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Technology has been advancing rapidly, giving us a much more advanced world than it was a few decades ago. Just the number of websites is enough to give you an idea of the sheer size of everything you’ll be able to find there.

The internet is massive, allowing us to explore and utilize all of its advantages. Take online communities, for example. They’ve been around ever since the internet became mainstream, and they continue to grow.

Looking at online communities for fun is one thing, but what about something more serious? What about using online communities to improve mental health?

Sense of Solidarity

Aiming for online communities is often associated with sharing content and discussing it. The approach may be the same regarding mental health, but overall communication is different.

Online communities with people struggling with mental health are leaning more towards solidarity. In many ways, it’s like a local support group in your town, but in this case, you’re in the “room” with people from all over the world.

Another advantage is that unlike a physical group, with this, you won’t have to talk or, in this case, write right away. If you don’t feel like talking, you can leave a comment for later.

At the end of the day, these kinds of communities exist to give you a sense of solidarity. Someone else has been through what you’re going through now, and that someone understands. Most importantly, that someone is there for your support, even if it’s virtual.

Access to Information

With online communities, you’re not getting support from other people; you’re also tapping into a fountain of information, one which can be crucial for your mental health.

Active members share their experiences and ways in which they overcame certain problems. It doesn’t necessarily mean it will similarly work for you, but it’s a good place to start. With enough people, you’ll go through enough suggestions and hope one of those will help.

Many Usenet newsgroups can also be a good place to go. Researching the top Usenet providers will help you understand which would be the best for you and give you access to “tools” that can help you improve your mental health.

Remain Anonymous if You Want To

For various reasons, some people aren’t massive fans of talking openly about their mental health problems, which is where online communities can help. There are many options where you’re not required to enter your personal information.

For some people, anonymity gives them peace of mind and helps them deal with their problems in a way others won’t understand. If you decide to take this approach, you’ll need to search which communities allow for anonymity. At a certain point, you may decide to tell people who you are, but being able to talk to someone is a good start.

In many cases, you’ll find some people who will reach out to you in a private message. These are the kind of people who see themselves as they were in the past. They’ll want to help because they managed to find a way to improve their mental health and want to help others as well.

Look at Things From Multiple Perspectives

When you’re struggling with mental health, you’re looking at a problem from only one side – yours. Discussing this with others can bring out different perspectives you haven’t thought of before.

The reason for this is that unlike local support groups, with an online community, you’re connecting with people worldwide. This means you’ll be communicating with people from different races and cultures. Most importantly, people with varying viewpoints than yours. Sometimes, all it takes is to see things through the eyes of a stranger to see where you’ve been mistaken

You’re Not Alone

One of the most important things about online communities is understanding that you’re not alone. Many people before you have been through your situation. Even though each one is different and we’re all unique individuals, there are some similarities.

Talking with someone who’s been through that kind of problem may help you see it differently. Sometimes, just knowing that someone’s there and has your back is enough to stand on your own two feet.

The best part about these communities is that they result in solid bonds, even if we talk about complete strangers online. In some cases, they may result in a mighty friendship.

Online communities are quite popular in these modern times as they tend to offer a virtual room for like-minded people to communicate. This makes them an excellent choice for people struggling with mental health. With countless options, people can choose one that suits them the best and start their journey toward mental healing.