How This Seemingly Brutal Instagram Account Is Promoting Mental Health – VICE

“Some less than others.” Photo: Courtesy of Dave Tarnowski/@disappointingaffirmations  Affirmations, at least when used along the intersections of pop psychology and social media, are statements one thinks or says out loud, sometimes repeatedly, in the hopes of manifesting positive realities. For example: This story will not flop. On Instagram, there are many affirmation accounts that promote gratitude, motivation, and self-love. Some have hundreds of thousands of followers, and post messages along the lines of “My skin is beautiful and I earn enough money,” “I enjoy the Monday Craze,” and “The best artists have the least Soundcloud followers.” One account, however, stands out.Like its name suggests, @disappointingaffirmations, which already has over 180,000 followers despite being just four months old, posts statements that are not like other affirmations. Instead of overtly positive, rainbows-and-butterflies, everything-is-going-to-be-ok mantras, the account posts seemingly brutal, slightly defeated, and even jarring dejections. But don’t get it twisted—the account isn’t trying to bring you down. On the contrary, it’s trying to depict struggles with mental health in a raw, real, and refreshing way.“When someone cries, the first thing people think to say is ‘don’t cry,’ you know? Like ‘hide those emotions,’” Dave Tarnowski, the 44-year old New York-based long-time-meme-maker behind the account, told VICE.
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