In the digital age, we live in a constant stream of information, much of it overwhelming, and at times, devastating. Social media, while a powerful tool for connection and awareness, can often become a double-edged sword.
For those of us who work tirelessly in the realm of animal welfare and conservation, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter bring much-needed attention to urgent issues like animal cruelty. However, they also bombard us with disturbing images and heartbreaking stories that can take a heavy emotional toll.
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I recently took a social media hiatus — a break that allowed me to reflect, recharge, and, in many ways, heal.
What I realized during my time away is that our feelings act as a compass guiding us toward greater understanding — of both ourselves and the world around us.
In many ways, we have lost touch with our ability to feel deeply in this age of constant scrolling. Yet, it is our ability to feel—sadness, anger, frustration — that connects us to the suffering of others, especially the non-human beings with whom we share this planet.
The Weight of Digital Overload
Before diving into my personal reflections, it’s important to understand the growing body of scientific research on the impact of social media on mental health.
According to a 2018 study published in Computers in Human Behavior, individuals who spend more time on social media tend to report higher levels of anxiety, depression, and overall emotional distress.
The constant barrage of tragic news, disturbing images, and polarizing content can leave users feeling overwhelmed and, in many cases, hopeless. For those of us who are deeply empathetic, it can feel as though the weight of the world is pressing down on our shoulders.
A 2020 study in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology highlights the psychological toll of comparing ourselves to others on social media, which often leads to feelings of inadequacy and sadness. But beyond comparison, there is something even more insidious at play when it comes to issues like animal cruelty: compassion fatigue.
Constant exposure to the suffering of others can dull our sensitivity, leading us to feel helpless, emotionally drained, and even numb. This emotional exhaustion is real, and it is something I grappled with before deciding to step away from social media.
Every scroll would bring a fresh wave of sorrow — a new story of an elephant tortured in captivity, a rhino killed for its horn, or a dog left to die on the streets. Each post was a reminder of the monumental scale of suffering in the world, and it felt like no amount of work, advocacy, or compassion could ever make a dent.
The Vortex of Impulsive Responses
What I also realized during this break was how easy it is to get sucked into a cycle of emotional reactivity on social media. When we are constantly exposed to distressing content, it triggers deep emotions — sadness, anger, even rage. As conservationists and animal advocates, we are the ones who fight tirelessly against cruelty, but sometimes, these strong feelings push us to respond impulsively.
Whether it is in a heated argument with someone online or a quick, sharp comment made in frustration, these responses often lack the reflection and thoughtfulness that we usually bring to our work.
This impulsivity can trap us in a vicious cycle of cruelty toward each other. We react quickly to painful stories or negative comments, only to regret our words later.
I have been guilty of this myself — getting swept up in the rawness of my emotions, responding harshly, and later realizing that I acted out of that very pain I am fighting to alleviate. It is a heartbreaking irony that the people most committed to ending cruelty can sometimes fall into patterns of aggression in our attempts to defend what we love.
This realization was one of the reasons I knew I had to step away. I needed to reclaim my centre, to make space for the reflection that can only come in moments of silence. Social media has a way of magnifying our emotions and pushing us to act before we have had the time to process what we are really feeling. And in doing so, it can turn our advocacy into something reactive rather than thoughtful, something defensive rather than compassionate.
Taking a break helped me step out of that vortex and reconnect with my true purpose — fighting for a kinder world, both for animals and for each other.
The Science of Stepping Away
But what happens when we step away? Scientific evidence suggests that social media breaks — often referred to as ‘social media detoxes’ — can significantly improve mental health. In a 2019 study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, participants who took a week-long hiatus from social media reported a significant decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The researchers concluded that stepping back from constant digital interaction allows individuals to reconnect with themselves, their emotions, and the physical world around them.
Similarly, a 2018 study by the University of Pennsylvania found that limiting social media use to just 30 minutes a day can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and depression. The findings were clear: less time on social media equals better mental health.
For me, taking a break from social media was more than just an act of self-preservation—it was an act of reconnection. I needed time to commune with the natural world and recalibrate my emotional compass.
During this hiatus, I found solace in the quiet moments — watching the sun rise over a grove of trees, listening to the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind, or observing the simple joy of birds going about their daily lives.
These moments reminded me that, despite the heartbreak and cruelty that exist in the world, there is still beauty to be found.
Feel to Heal
One of the most profound realizations I had during my hiatus was this: Feelings are not something to be feared or suppressed. They are, in fact, the key to healing. In today’s hyper-distracted world, we have become so accustomed to numbing our emotions — whether through endless scrolling, binge-watching, or other forms of escapism — that we’ve forgotten how to truly “feel”. But when we give ourselves the space to feel our emotions — really feel them — we unlock the potential for deep healing.
Sadness, anger, frustration — these emotions are not weaknesses. They are signals from our soul, telling us that something is wrong, that something needs to be addressed. And yet, too often, we push these feelings aside, telling ourselves we need to be “strong” or “positive” in the face of overwhelming odds.
But in doing so, we deny ourselves the opportunity to process the pain.
As I spent more time away from social media, I allowed myself to “feel” the sadness and anger that had built up inside of me. I cried for the animals whose lives were brutally cut short, for the ecosystems destroyed in the name of profit, and for the people who perpetuate these acts of cruelty, blinded by greed or ignorance. But I also cried for myself — for the burnout I had not acknowledged, for the moments of despair I had buried beneath layers of stoic resilience.
Allowing myself to feel these emotions, without judgment or suppression, was a profoundly healing experience. It was as though I was peeling away layers of pain, layer by layer, until I reached the core of my humanity. And in that core, I found something I had forgotten — “hope”.
Reconnecting with Our Nonhuman Kin
In the absence of digital distractions, I found solace in the natural world. Spending time outdoors, communing with animals, reminded me of the interconnectedness of all life. The trees, the birds, the elephants — they all feel, too. They are our kin, sharing this planet with us, and their presence brought me a sense of peace that social media could never provide.
Scientific studies have long confirmed the healing power of nature. A 2015 study published in ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ found that spending time in nature reduces rumination — the repetitive, negative thinking patterns often associated with depression and anxiety.
Nature, it seems, has a way of quieting the mind, helping us to reconnect with the present moment and the world around us.
For me, this reconnection was not only restorative but also empowering. It reminded me that while the fight for animal welfare and environmental justice is long and difficult, it is also a fight worth continuing.
And in order to keep going, we must also take care of ourselves.
The Power of Silence: Lessons from India’s Spiritual Traditions
India, a land rich in spiritual wisdom, has long known the power of silence. Our ancient practices of meditation and mantra chanting teach us the importance of tuning out external noise to connect with our inner selves.
Ironically, however, India has also become one of the noisiest places — both externally, with its bustling cities, and internally, with the mental clutter so many of us carry. In this chaotic world, silence offers a profound form of healing, a way to reconnect with our true nature and the world around us.
By stepping into silence, we rediscover our capacity to feel and heal. It is a practice that holds the potential to transform not just individuals, but entire communities.
The Power of Tuning Out
In a world that constantly demands our attention, it can feel impossible to step away. But tuning out is not giving up — it has creating space for reflection, healing, and renewal. My social media hiatus taught me that by taking the time to tend to our emotional well-being, we not only become stronger advocates for the causes we care about, but we also reconnect with the very thing that makes us human: our ability to “feel”.
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, heartbroken, or simply burnt out, I encourage you to pause, breathe, and give yourself permission to feel.
