This sums up the social media dilemma for me...

I met this week's podcast guest on social media, and since forming a friendship online, we now send voice notes (aka mini podcasts) to each other about how much we hate social media. I never would've connected with Melissa if it wasn't for social media, yet a lot of our conversations are about how social media is negatively affecting our mental health. 

In one of our voice note convos, Melissa said she'd had the realisation that her mental health would be better off without social media. And I said, "Me too." But in a world where it's normal to share the minutiae of our lives online (and a world where many of us use social media for work), is there a way for us to co-exist with social media and not be anxious?

CAN COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY SAVE US??

We decided to bring our voice note conversations to an actual podcast episode. We don't solve the world's social media problems, but it was cathartic.  It's nice to know I'm not the only one that compares my life when scrolling through Insta feeds.  And hopefully, any anxious brains listening will get something out of the convo with Melissa, even if it's just to feel less alone.

Melissa's Instagram (lol at the irony... but seriously she's one of my fave people to follow on Insta!): https://www.instagram.com/melissamason_/
Melissa's article on Refinery29: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/is-social-media-ruining-our-holidays-vacations

And the CBT Workbook I mentioned: https://www.amazon.com.au/CBT-Workbook-Mental-Health-Evidence-Based/dp/1647398053

Thanks to this week's sponsor Viviology - confusion-free cosmeceuticals by James Vivian at Adore Beauty. Singled Minded listeners can receive a Viviology Vitamin C Serum Deluxe Mini 10ml with every Viviology purchase. Use code SINGLEMINDED. Valid until 4 May 2023. T&Cs apply. https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/viviology.html