Earplugs, ADHD, sensory overload, and more.
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| | | | Happy Monday, friends. Let's talk about mental health, shall we? | | I don't know about you, but I'm sick of seeing inaccurate –– even harmful –– mental health content being hyped up and shared on social media. (Think: influencers creating buzzwords for clout and misused clinical words.) So today, we're debunking misinformation and offering ways to help you access care, among other topics. | | Here's everything we're chatting about: | | | | | | Be well,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Morgan Mandriota
August 21, 2023 • 5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | Don't believe all the mental health "experts" you see on TikTok | TikTok isn't a reliable source of mental health advice. Clinical research seems to be lacking here (which could be contributing to the larger issue of misinformation), but we do have a 2022 report from virtual healthcare company PlushCare to help support this claim.
PlushCare analyzed 500 posts under the #mentalhealthadvice and #mentalhealthtips tags and found: - Almost 84% of mental health advice on TikTok is misleading.
- 31% of mental health videos feature inaccurate information.
- 14% of videos contain content that could actually be damaging.
- 91% of people giving advice on TikTok do not have relevant qualifications.
Social media versus therapy. We get it, watching videos on TikTok is far more accessible than spending hundreds of bucks on a single therapy session. But there's just no substitute for mental health help from a qualified therapist, especially with the amount of very convincing misinformation circulating online.
So what should you do? No need to delete your apps. Instead, this is your friendly reminder to cast a critical eye on what you're consuming. It may not be accurate and could actually be harmful.
Also, do your research! Properly vet the "experts" you're following on social media to make sure they're qualified, and fact-check the claims people tout before taking their word.
How to access affordable therapy. There are many options out there for every budget and none. Here are some resources that may help you find care: For more information, check out Healthline's Therapy hub. | | | | | | |
| | | | Editor faves with health perks | | | | | | |  | | Loop Earplugs (Engage Plus) | | As someone with sound sensitivity issues, I like to use noise reducing headphones when I'm out in public. If you're looking to simply turn down the volume but still want to hear everything (like me), I highly recommend checking out Loop's Engage Plus earplugs. They're stylish, effective, under $50, and they even come with an extra feature to lower the noise by an extra 5 decibels with the Mute accessory. | | There are different types of Loops available, so take a quick quiz on their website to see which one might be best for your needs. | | | Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | Sensory overload: What it is and how to cope | | What's sensory overload? Overstimulation happens when your five senses are on overdrive –– aka your brain is taking in more sensory input than it can process. 😵💫 | | Think: being at a loud party with lots of people talking, flashing lights, and smells, and you have no clue how or where to focus your attention. Or having too many tabs open on your computer and your browser starts to malfunction. | | Who can experience it? Everyone! But health conditions typically associated with it include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. | | Signs and symptoms. If you're overstimulated, you might experience: | <| • | difficulty focusing | | • | intense irritability | | • | the urge to shield your eyes or cover your ears | | • | feelings of discomfort or restlessness | | • | increased sensitivity to textures, fabrics, or anything that touches you | • | stress, anxiety, or fear about your environment | | | How to cope. You might take a list to a store to avoid distractions, have conversations in quiet rooms, leave events early if it gets to be "too much," or try a self-soothing strategy, like deep breathing, using fidget toys, or grounding exercises. Certain medications and other treatment options can help as well. | | To learn more about sensory overload and how to manage it, consider speaking with a therapist and reading our related articles below. | | Read more: | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | What percentage of people live with ADHD?
| (Find the answer at the end of this email)
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| | | | | | What percentage of people live with ADHD? | | 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults! | According to the American Psychiatric Association, 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults live with this mental health condition. Of course, there are barriers to finding a therapist and receiving a diagnosis which may affect this data. But this just goes to show that ADHD isn't as common as you may think –– or social media might have you believe.
Think you or a loved one might have ADHD? Speak with a medical professional, or check out our guide to everything you need to know about it, including ways to cope and find treatment.
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| | | | That's all, folks! It's been a pleasure getting the chance to share some health news with you today, as always. Take care of yourselves, and we'll see you again on Wednesday.
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