pokimane · @pokimanelol
10th Oct 2018 from TwitLonger
#WorldMentalHealthDay
Hi friends, I wanted to take today as an opportunity to share some insight into my personal life as well as encourage everyone to take proper care of their minds & bodies <3
Being a streamer/online influencer is undeniably a dream job. I get to play games, create content, and engage with you all for a living. I'm incredibly lucky to be where I am today. However, we all know nothing is perfect, including being a streamer. It can be frightening to receive countless hate comments and personal threats. I've dealt with everything from stalkers (in person and over the internet), to hackers, to rape threats being sent to my phone with my address. As a streamer, our lives are a constant feedback loop, whether it be Twitch chat, Youtube comments, Twitter replies, etc. It's our job to care what people say about us because we need to know what works and what doesn't. It requires a lot of mental fortitude not to let the negative comments re-surface in the form of thoughts at the back of your mind, and not to let them start shaping the way you see things.
I wanted to share some of my personal struggles, which I'm sure many of the streamers you watch can relate to as well, because I believe it's important for us all to try to understand each other. No one's life is perfect, and you can never be sure what someone else is going through - so be good to each other and try to be empathetic. I'm also happy to say that I've been seeing a therapist regularly for over half a year, and it's helped me deal with these things, as well as lower my overall stress levels ^_^ I would love for there to be less stigma around therapy, because it can be for anyone with a mental illness, diagnosis, or just if you need someone to talk to / help dealing with your personal problems. Please don't be afraid to reach out, whether that be to a friend, parent, trusted one, or a professional <3
TL DR; everyone struggles with something, be kind & don't forget to take care of your mental health by reaching out to someone you trust ^_^