CHARLOTTE – This is part of an ongoing series.

Know yourself.

Mental health has been a common topic in mainstream conversations for some time now. As we as a society learn more about it, we are also learning more about what’s bad for us and our mental health.

It’s no secret that social media can have a profoundly negative effect on the mental health of its users. With the rise of social media has also came the rise of cyberbullying and depression, both of which have contributed to increased suicides.

What once seemed silly because it was happening online and wasn’t real, is now something we take seriously.

Is it possible to use social media and safeguard your mental health? Absolutely.

The first step is to know yourself. You have to know what upsets you, where your threshold for certain topics and conversations are.

This is especially important for anyone who has experienced trauma in their life or any other mental health condition. But even those who haven’t should take the time to understand what triggers them, what their insecurities are, and when it’s time to walk away from the keyboard.

Knowing what has the potential to upset you or cause you to get sidetracked will be essential in following the rest of this series.

Ask yourself: what topics make me feel sad or angry?

Next week, I’ll talk about setting intentions.