Psychoanalyst comments on the pressure of social media at the end of the year: ‘Internal conflict’

A new trend on Instagram, titled “How can I be sad if in 2024 I…”, has attracted attention by bringing together happy moments and milestone achievements in photo carousels. Despite the positive proposal to celebrate the good memories of the past year, the psychoanalyst Fabiana Guntovitcha behavior specialist, warns of the risks of this practice when used to invalidate difficult emotions, such as sadness.

Idealization or pressure?

According to the psychoanalyst, there is an implicit pressure on social media to idealize life, which can lead many people to believe that negative emotions have no place in an apparently perfect scenario. “When we try to justify our sadness by comparing it with happy moments, we create an internal conflict that can generate guilt and even move us away from a more authentic experience of our emotions”, he explains.

Emotional health is not about suppressing or avoiding difficult feelings, but about embracing them as part of the human experience. Fabiana also highlights the importance of understanding the Instagram feed as just an idealized slice of reality, and not a complete reflection of people’s reality. “It is important to remember that happy and sad moments coexist, and both have their value. Embracing this duality is essential for building a more authentic and healthy narrative, both on and off networks”, said the expert.

Finally, she reinforces that celebrating the joys of life is important, but should not be used as a way to invalidate what we feel in more difficult times. “Accepting our shadows and vulnerabilities is an act of courage and, paradoxically, is part of the learning and evolution process, which includes self-knowledge, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-love, essential for a fuller and happier life. Find more genuine happiness”, she guarantees.