So I've been hovering here for a while and I was a bit worried about posting, being a lower class, housing association tenant, (?) but I'm hoping you'll all look past that. The time has now come where my exasperation with Mrs Hinch has reached a new level and I needed to just have a bit of a rant.
I started following her out of general curiosity after seeing my feed filling up with #ATB, #HinchArmy, #HinchHaul #ImAHincher #Narnia and so on and so on. My first impressions were of a good personality and great song choices and it gave me a bit of a giggle. However, I was also instantly shocked by the number of different products she uses and the volume of each product used! I also couldn't get over her not wearing gloves (I am a complete weirdo and have real issues with certain textures - the thought of holding a microfibre cloth is my bare hands brings me out in goosebumps) and having no ventilation whatsoever. Buttt...hey ho...each to their own. Maybe I was being a bit pedantic.
Then I learnt what a 'Narnia' was....first thoughts - stupid, selfish, greedy, wasteful and ultimately harmful to our environment (and health)
Then a 'Hinch Haul'...stupid, reckless (knowing people will copy, even if it means getting into debt , unnecessary, ridiculous and again, ultimately harmful to our environment).
Then an 'Ebayers'....tat, more unnesessary spending, adding to clutter and mostly from China which has to be shipped, which is also harmful to our environment and thats without all the plastic it comes wrapped in.
I'm not going to go into it in a big way and I am certainly not after a pity party but I suffer very badly with my mental Health. I have suffered with it for more than half my life and it is very complex and long winded. It is largely managed but I do experience very low/dark episodes. Over the last year, I have managed to identify that "Influencers" on social media are a real trigger and have a negative effect on my MH.
I am so happy I have been able to identify this as a trigger, or I, for sure, would have been reeled in by Sophie. I still watch her (I don't know why - maybe FOMO) and can feel that trigger creeping up on me. It's seeing someone's seemingly perfect life - happily married, own house, big lavish wedding, perfect pooch (even if he does always look so sad), luxury honeymoon, baby on the way, spotless home, close family, funny, pretty, materialistic goods and not even having to go to work to have all these things (it was only on here that I learnt she is actually a hairdresser, so does work - but it would be nice if she made that clearer). It makes (people like me) envious. I get to the point, that I was even envious that she has the space to store her endless 'Narnias'. I have one shelf under my kitchen sink for cleaning products (products that cover the whole house, not just kitchen). I don't even have storage to put my hoover and ironing board away- so straight away my house is never going to look as clean and tidy as hers because I always have them visible as a bloody eyesore.
I used to have an extreme problem with spending, which was a manifestation of my unhappiness and a side effect of my MH. I would spend to feel good, but that feeling is only a moment before it gets smothered with the worry and fear of debt and self loathing at having 'done it again' I would always find an excuse though, and 'Hinching' would have been a perfect excuse. I would be buying all these things because I actually 'needed' them. They were for a positive - cleaning, which would be a good way to channel my anxiety. The 'narnia' would mean I was well stocked while also giving me that 'high.' As for that stuffed Elephant...well I definitely need that....just in case I go on to have another child. Ohhh and those fridge liners will be great...for my already spotless fridge that I've managed to keep clean for all these years without lining them ?
Luckily, I have not fallen into the money pit, that is Sophie Hinchliffe a.k.a Mrs Hinch. 5 years on and after hours upon hours of therapy and councelling, I have managed to curb the spending aspect of my illness. However, I would bet money (not that I have much) that A LOT of Mrs Hinch's followers will be like me. People who have some kind of mental health problems, who need validating, even if by a complete stranger who only wants to make money out of you, who gives you an excuse to spend money you don't have, who makes you feel needed - like you are a personal friend.
It is nothing but fraud and it is turning into a cult.
Anyway I have ranted and rambled enough. So sorry for the essay - I am not good at condensing my (many) thoughts into shorter paragraphs. I actually had even more, i wanted to say. Maybe I could write a book....??
I have a few questions in regards to #AD and #Affiliate that I would love to ask any of you who are far more knowledgeable that me.