The message hit my inbox. It was a friend thanking me for speaking candidly about my mental health and wishing she could do the same.
I brushed it off, no big deal. I speak like this on social media AND in real life. I don’t consider it a great feat to be open about hush-hush subjects. It’s a part of my nature to say things that others think, but don’t always talk about, which is both good and bad.
Later, I thought about her words. She wants to jump into a conversation and say “me too” or share her personal struggles. She’s tired of hiding her mental health behind a smile and pretending that it doesn’t exist. But, she’s a professional and we all know how important it is to convey ourselves professionally on social media. We need prospective clients to be confident in our ability to get the job done.
Makes sense. You don’t want to be seen as having a defect, as being lesser than a competitor, because you struggle with postpartum depression, anxiety, or a chronic illness. You want people to hire you, not think you’re a basket case who won’t meet deadlines or properly edit their work.
Humans are judgmental by nature. I fight against it every day. And I fight against it in myself, as it’s easy, even for the biggest “no judgment champion” to judge. It’s human nature.
And yes, if your career involves handling another person’s business or brand, then you don’t want to come across as not being capable. It’s a very valid fear.
If you are coping with issues concerning mental health or chronic illness, running a business, and are active on social media, then here are a few tips for navigating the judgy waters of both potential clients and family and friends.
Stay away from deeply personal statuses
Before sharing anything on social media, take a deep breath. Look over your post. Can you edit it slightly to express your thoughts in a more positive light? Or frame it as a question to your readers, instead of a personal status? Will this post hurt your career? Often it’s better to cut and paste it into notes or a word document, then type away in an offline environment.
Use a scheduler for social media posts
Scheduling content, images, and overall themes ahead of time ensures that you will stay on track regardless of how you are feeling at the moment. There are some days that I feel pretty rotten, but my tweets are scheduled, so I’m not as likely to go off on a tangent about one thing or another. I express myself first into my editorial calendar, so I can reread and revise before sharing. Every personal tweet is a real feeling of mine, but that exact moment may have happened earlier in the day. I needed to think about how I felt and think about how to best share that with my followers. Scheduling helps you manage some of your emotions.
Review the big picture of your social media content
I’ve read articles about what we should be posting, for branding or personal business. 80% to help, entertain, inform, and inspire others. 20% to promote yourself or share personal information. If you keep a higher percentage of posts demonstrating your stability and only let a few wacky ones slip through, then you can tread that line. Or you can play it safe, avoid any personal mentions of your mental health. You don’t want to let five posts loose that tell the world how overwhelmed and miserable you are. Maybe one a day. So keep an editorial calendar and review what you’re posting.
Join conversations and chats about Mental Health
Bottom line – It helps you feel better when you communicate with others who are going through something similar. You don’t have to come out and say that you’re struggling. Or that your life feels like it’s falling apart. Sometimes a simple, “me too,” or “thinking of you,” or “been there lol,” are enough to help you feel like someone else knows or cares. Even a like, clicking that little star or heart, lets you join the conversation.
Participate to end the stigma
Use positive statuses and relevant hashtags, plus images and quotes, to bring awareness. As an employee, business owner, mother, or any other title, it’s acceptable to have passions. It’s acceptable to be an advocate for something. I know women who publicly support animal welfare and shelters, walk for cancer, ask for donations for NICU babies, and a host of other worthy causes. You can say that you know and care about mental health, without letting everyone know that your life is hanging on by a thread. That last line is all me. I’m sure you’re doing much better.
Use your experience to benefit your business
If it’s important to you to be able to speak openly about your mental health, yet you’re worried about potential clients holding it against you, then consider changing your niche so you can market to others who have been there. We are a supportive lot, full of empathy, and there’s a ton of us out there. Market to us.
My last and most important tip – DM someone
If you don’t feel comfortable posting on social media, it’s okay. I love that we are focusing more on mental health with End the Stigma campaigns, but human nature hasn’t changed. We’re still more likely to judge someone based on what we read, so it’s important to think before you post. If you’re going through something, then reach out. Find a follower or search through the hashtags, because there’s a lot of us willing to listen. Send a message.
Now, I’m not a doctor. And my personal experiences may be completely different from yours. This article is full of my opinions, what worked for me. Life has taught me that mental health and pain are as intimate and individual as snowflakes or stars. But there’s a hell of a lot of us out there. Professionals with a good work ethic and strong knowledge base. Women who battle all types of situations behind closed doors. And I completely understand that it’s not possible for everyone to speak out like I do on certain things, because I’ve been there.
You can find ways to work within the stigma that surrounds mental health. You can find ways to be professional, even when you feel your worst. These are just a few ideas for integrating your mental health into your public life and social media. Find what works for you and put your best face forward.
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