Are you a part of any fan groups on social media? Maybe you are part of a group that posts about Star Trek or Star Wars or Doctor Who or what have you. Maybe you are part of a group that is made up of football fans or basketball fans or baseball fans or fans of some specific team. Maybe you are part of a group with an interest in crime novels or comic books or crocheting.
There is a social media group for just about any interest you can think of, and these would be wonderful places to share your passion with others.
But, by and large, you would be wrong.
That is because so many of these groups are filled with people who do not actually seem to enjoy the thing they claim to enjoy. Instead of celebrating their interest, these folks use these forums to nitpick and complain and, often, insult other members of the group.
It can be amazing—and depressing—to witness. And it can also make the folks who joined the group because they truly love something and want to share that love with others feel bad about it.
This terrible dynamic is among the reasons we argue that limiting your social media use is a net benefit to your mental health. But we bring it up in this blog entry to remind you that it is okay—healthy even—to like the things you like. You are under no obligation to let someone else yuck your yum.
Liking What You Like is Good for Your Mental Health
Spending time focused on what you enjoy is a wonderful way to support your overall mental health. Whether it is an engaging hobby or a series of books or movies or a particular sport, sports team, or athlete or something else entirely, the things that bring you joy bolster your mental well-being.
Among the benefits of pursuing your interests is an overall reduction in stress. Stress is a significant problem for most everyone, but it can bring added challenges to a person struggling with a mental health disorder like one of the various kinds of depression, an anxiety or panic disorder, or an issue centered on trauma. Reducing stress is often an essential priority for a person experiencing mental health challenges.
When you are taking part in something you love, you give yourself a break from the day-to-day stress so many of us experience—and doing so consistently can help you more effectively manage the symptoms of a mental health disorder.
Given the benefits of simply enjoying what you enjoy, it is important to make sure you do not let other people convince you that it is not worth enjoying. Not everyone is going to like exactly what you like, and that is just fine. What is not fine is letting other people convince you that your interests are somehow unworthy of your attention.
It is also important to remember that you should not pooh-pooh the interests of others.
Let People Like What They Like
If liking what you like is good for your mental health, it stands to reason that the same is true for others. And that means you should not criticize what another person likes just to be ornery. A friendly conversation is one thing, but if you find yourself tempted to be negative about something just for the sake of being negative, you should reconsider.
It is perfectly fine to not understand why someone likes a particular thing that you do not enjoy. But you do not necessarily need to tell them about your dislike. If you want to engage someone about something they enjoy, try to do it from a position of curiosity. Ask them questions about whatever it is they enjoy—and resist the urge to make negative or sarcastic comments about it. You will be doing a kindness for the person who gets to talk about what they love—and you just might find that you are more interested in what your friend enjoys than you thought you would be.
Of course, you also might not, but you will still have been kind—and that is always good for everyone’s mental health.
We Like to Help People Improve Their Mental Health
At Peak View Behavioral Health—located in Colorado Springs, Colorado—we are passionate about helping individuals who are experiencing a mental health disorder. We offer personalized, evidence-based approaches to treatment that are informed and underpinned by our expertise, experience, and empathy. If you have been struggling but have been putting off seeking out help, we encourage you to make up your mind to get help sooner rather than later. Improving your mental health improves your quality of life. Peak View Behavioral Health can help you get there.
