Best Instagram Accounts to Follow for Mental Health

Social media often gets a bad reputation for causing self-doubt and comparison.  However, we've also found that social media can be a great place to connect with others and find inspiration.  Here are some of our favourite mental health related Instagram accounts to follow.

Do you take your meds as prescribed? Cutting down secretly is a bad idea as is over using or not taking as your doctor has said. If you're having problems, try to talk to your clinician. . I still have some small prints in my shop for £5 #boringselfcare

@makedaisychains

Hannah is an artist and mental health activist, and also the founder of #boringselfcare.  Her illustrations provide a gentle reminder that self-care doesn't always look pretty.  Sometimes it's just allowing yourself to cry, eating when your body needs it, or ensuring that you've picked up any medication.

"You don't have anxiety.. you go out and do things" "It can't be that bad if you socialise" "I get nerves all the time so I know how you feel" Don't confuse nerves with anxiety. High functioning anxiety is a thing. ~ Anxiety isn't just feeling anxious. Anxiety isn't just nerves. Anxiety isn't just overthinking with a bit of panic. It's not just worry... it's a mental illness with awful physical symptoms and I think we often forget that about anxiety. Anxiety itself is a normal response to life but when it becomes constant, irrational and life consuming is when it becomes a problem. ~ I can function (most of the time) with my anxiety. It stops me from doing things from time to time but I can generally socialise when I want. This doesn't mean I don't suffer from anxiety. Anxiety affects more in my life than just my social life. I can be perfectly fine one second and then dizzy, nauseous, trembling and paralysed with fear the next over irrational things. I've suffered with anxiety since childhood and my ability to hide it and appear unfazed has grown with me and whilst that's helped me in life it's also exhausting as it feels like I'm living a double life. ~ Anxiety isn't just nerves. Anxiety doesn't just present itself in worry. Anxiety is normal at appropriate times and doesn't mean you have anxiety as a mental illness. Anxiety doesn't mean someone can't socialise. . . Tb to when I met an actual angel. @bodyposipanda

 

@selfloveclubb

Milly's account focuses on body positivity and self-love, while also providing realness about mental health issues.  She demonstrates that mental health issues don't look a certain way, and provides regular quotes and reminders to help you feel a little less alone. 

"You don't need to have it all figured out to be or feel like you're enough." New blog: "Finding Acceptance and Feeling Enough" by Rob Talarico (Link in profile)

@twloha

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit association that was created to help people living with depression, addiction, or self-injury.  Their profile provides reinforcing quotes, while also sharing stories of people living with mental health issues.

 

Pay attention.

@sweatpantsandcoffee

In addition to promoting sharing a love of coffee, Sweatpants and Coffee offers a real look at self-care and provides comforting reminders about loving yourself. The Anxiety Blob also makes regular cameos on the account to provide reassurance that you're not the only one feeling the wrath of anxiety.

For me, the idea of belonging isn't about fitting in, but moreso feeling like you can fully exist, unapologetically, in your space and the space around you. Never underestimate the enormous impact of simple truths. You belong. You belong so hard. [be you] #boakman Illustration by @shealeenlouise

@b.oakman

Poet Brittin Oakman is also a mental health and wellness advocate, a fact which shines through on her Instagram page.  Her words provide beautiful encouragement and honesty about topics like strength, self-compassion, and being your authentic self.

Just a little reminder for us all. xo

@linkofhearts

Link of Hearts creates beautiful jewelry and candles that are designed to provide inspiration.  Their Instagram account promotes mental health awareness and works to connect those living with mental health issues. 

YOU ARE WORTHY OF COMPASSION

@nakedwithanxiety

Ella's bio says this account is devoted to helping worriers realize they're warriors, and this sentiment couldn't be more true!  Naked With Anxiety's quotes are always a breath of fresh air, and focus on topics like being kind to yourself, realizing you're not alone, and that it's okay to live with anxiety.

 

Yes, together - in both dark and light - we do. Thanks for being here. We are so glad you are. #wearyourlabel

@wearyourlabel

Wear Your Label creates clothing that is designed to fight stigma around mental health and let you know that it's okay not to be okay.  Their Instagram feed is full of great quotes as reminders, as well as photos of their ambassadors rocking their stigma-fighting clothing to remind you that you're not alone.

 

#depression #chronicillness #encouragement #mentalhealth ️

@thelatestkate

The Latest Kate's soothing feed is full of illustrations of animals and creatures, along with reaffirming quotes.  Whether you deal with mental health issues, chronic illness, or just need a dose of positivity and inspiration, this is a great account to follow.

 

Turning to John Green on this one: "I said to someone I know, 'I don't know why this hurts so much.' And she said, 'It hurts because it mattered.' That was a huge thing for me to realise. That there are things in life that hurt, and that they hurt because they were important. " " It was my supervisor who finally helped me understand why I was so sad, and that I should feel sad. So often we try to make other people feel better by minimizing their pain, by telling them that it will get better (which it will) or that there are worse things in the world (which there are). But that's not what I actually needed. What I actually needed was for someone to tell me that it hurt because it mattered. I have found this very useful to think about over the years, and I find that it is a lot easier and more bearable to be sad when you aren't constantly berating yourself for being sad."

@caringcrate

You didn't think we'd forget ourselves, did you?!  Our feed is filled with pictures to inspire different forms of self-care, as well as quotes about strength, dealing with mental health and chronic illness, and the importance of taking care of you.