Filter Crazed

Alright, this is going to be a touchy topic, but I will try my best to tackle it and not offend anyone (lol). Wait, who am I kidding in this world of larger-than-life opinions and personalities, I am sure I will offend someone. Anyway, before you start reading this, take a quick selfie! Now the question is did you take your picture with a filter or are you going to add a filter? It’s almost vintage to take a picture without a filter in these times. I’ll admit it I too, love to use filters rather it’s Snap Chat, Facebook, or the gram. Here’s the challenge have we become so filter crazed that we only now feel comfortable with posting/sharing our images that have filters on them?

Well, since there are no real longitudinal studies we will have to rely on empirical research, we all get to be our own personal judge of this. Over the years, the use of filters has been noticeably increasing, and now we scroll down our timelines and it’s almost impossible to find a image that does not have a filter on it or has not been altered in some way. What does this have to do with mental health? EVERYTHING! The pressure to become image perfect causes depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health disorder in which you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance.

It’s goes deeper than wanting to look our best on social media. At some point it can turn dangerous for your own self-acceptance. The thought starts out mild and harmless, this idea of wanting to have an image of ourselves that shows smooth skin, perfectly rounded eyes, lashes, perfect noses, slims our face, makes our features “pop” right? However, the challenge comes in when you start to internally desire to see that image, over the image that you see in the mirror. It’s like your authentic natural state is no longer seen by you as being beautiful. You begin to desire that image over your own and begin to feel like you can’t use anything but your filtered image.

Remember, I said it can get dangerous, well this is where for some it can turn dark, and those negative thoughts about your natural state turn into wanting to change everything about your features. This is where you begin to avoid posting anything without a filter, and in an even experience anxiety when others take photos of you because you aren’t sure if they are using the right angle or the right filter. Now don’t get me wrong there are some under cover haters posed as friends that will post a picture of you knowing damn well it’s unflattering..but that’s a whole other blog. Let’s get back on track.

It also gets dangerous when you start trying to achieve that filtered look in your reality, rather it be through an over saturation of makeup, or through plastic surgery. Now, I am all for a nice face beat (this means wearing makeup) and I am not against plastic surgery at all. However, it is a such thing as going too far, and things becoming obsessive and damaging to your mental health.

Here’s a few things I suggest doing to balance things out and save your mental health.

• Use the filters a shorter percentage of the time. Even if you choose to never post those images on social media, have them in your phone or around your home, so you see yourself in your natural beauty often.
• If you dare to be brave, embrace your natural state and post from time to time your image without a filter.
• Do a self-check prior to posting an image, am I posting so they will like it or give me validation? Or I am sharing my image because I like it and I want to share my current vibe? If it’s for validation, maybe hold off on that post and do some self-care.
• Post both photos, post the filtered version and the unfiltered version. Celebrate how there is beauty in both images.
• If you are struggling with not seeing the beauty in your natural state, I suggest you speak with a mental health professional to learn the tools of self-love.