Now, I don't mean to invalidate anyone's struggle with mental health, but hear me out. There's a difference between an actual disorder and just everyday struggles that manifest similarly. Being a nervous person does not mean you actually have an anxiety disorder. Being low on energy and down in winter doesn't necessarily mean you have SAD, so on and so forth. Of course, there are influencers out there that are genuinely unwell, but I feel like most of them are jumping the gun with getting diagnosed for the sake of relatability and content.
I have a theory that most youtubers'/influencers' symptoms and issues can be explained by the combination of three factors - working alone, being hooked on external validation/instant gratification and excessive navel-gazing. Basically, it's an occupational hazard.
Remember how in the 2010s every other Youtuber had social anxiety? Back then, YouTube was not the huge industry it is now; there weren't many events to go to. So naturally, if your job is filming at home alone all day, you will feel anxious before meeting people. If you're used to mainly interacting with people via comments and Twitter, of course you're going to feel awkward and stressed talking to them IRL. It doesn't mean you have a social anxiety disorder!
Now we have an influencer ADHD epidemic. This, once again, can be explained by the nature of influencer work. Social media is designed to be distracting, and it is proven that it shortens our attention span. If we take Helen as an example, she showed herself many times "working", watching TV and checking socials simultaneously. You're looking at three screens at the same time! Of course you feel agitated and unfocused! Combine this with excessive caffeine, sugar and alcohol, and you have a recipe for ADHD simulation. Same with unfinished projects - if you're addicted to instant gratification, and all you see is years of practice condensed into a 30sec reel, no wonder you drop hobbies as soon as they get even a tiny bit tricky.
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