Vinay Rathod discusses the impact of social media’s distorted portrayal of wealth on dental professionals’ mental health.
Social media is a fantastic invention, one with a mixed effect within society.
There is the amazing ability to connect and stay in touch with distant and/or lost friends and family. The ability to show huge audiences your product or service. The ability to see a living diary of your past life. Even if the Facebook memories sometimes make you cringe, the nostalgia is fantastic.
But there is also a much darker side to social media. It has allowed many people to create a life parallel to their own, but better. We can edit out the bad stuff, show off only the good bits and make ourselves appear to have the lives we always wished for.
Of course, some have achieved every bit of the success that we see, but many more haven’t. How can you possibly know which is which?
On occasion you might spot a white lie told by someone you know, someone you know better about. And everyone ignores the obvious fakes. But what about your other hundreds of social media contacts? We will of course take everything most of them post as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth… because that’s all we post, right?
‘Social media brings out the narcissist’
I can’t speak for you, but I’ve never posted about the arguments I’ve had with my spouse or my friends. I’ve never posted about the difficulties I’ve faced (until I’ve overcome them, but that’s not bragging, is it?).
But what about the failures, the challenges I’ve not yet overcome, and all of those other moments we would never dream of sharing on our social media. Are we still sure we show our real selves online?
Social media brings out the narcissist in even the most empathic amongst us. We all want to show the world the best us, naturally! So surely we all understand not to see the world social media shows us as real, don’t we?
There’s not much that’s funny about mental health, but isn’t it funny that our minds can play tricks on our very selves?
Even the most competent dentist has at some point wondered if they’re doing ‘good enough’ when they see their colleagues driving a nicer car or taking business class flights everywhere (here’s a secret: American Express air miles).
There was once a time where simply being a dentist (or doctor, optometrist, pharmacist etc) was enough to make someone feel proud of their achievement.
Today I can open one of several apps and be flooded with awe inspiring images of beautiful people with expensive things in exotic places…
Today a successful professional can question whether they’re successful enough because everyone looks like a millionaire well before hitting middle age.
The numbers behind the profiles
The reality is, as someone who is in a privileged position to see the numbers behind the profiles, you could never possibly see the truths from the smokescreens.
For a very long time, borrowing money had been tremendously cheap. Many have lived their entire lives as adults during a time of record low interest rates. For most others, it has been the case for almost as long as they can remember.
Then came the cryptocurrency boom, making many barely into their teens millionaires overnight – a generation of new money who wanted to show everyone just how much they had.
Many of those who had the largest followings, the most expensive cars and portfolio of properties have slowly disappeared. When interest rates rose, monthly payments weren’t so easy to make. The cars were the first to go, a flood of used supercars and drop in demand has seen values plummet, the same for luxury watches.
Crypto portfolios are worth a fraction of what they were, NFTs have been seen to be largely worthless. The gravy trains brakes are on and the Joneses are worried.
What effect have the many years of subconscious messages telling you that you’re not doing well enough had? That everyone is happier and more successful than you, doing better clinical work than you. What effect has it all had?
The forums are full of questions from embarrassed anonymous dentists asking their peers how they can be more successful, how they too can drive the expensive cars and go on the holidays they see their colleagues and Instagram influencers taking.
Dental mental health
There really is a dental Facebook group for everything but isn’t it sad that one of the most active and needed groups is Mental Dental? This is a fantastic Facebook group run by some very kind dentists to provide support to the dental community and a platform for all to help those who need it. These kind people have created the ‘confidental helpline’ which you can find more about here – www.confidental-helpline.org.
If you are struggling with your mental health, it is important to seek professional advice from your GP. Positive thought and mindfulness can help to keep a healthier mental state and improve your quality of life, but it should not to be taken as an alternative to professional medical advice.
The number of dentists with clinical mental health troubles, and the many more who haven’t sought any medical advice is astounding. It is the second most common reason for dentists claiming on income protection plans (after the obvious spinal issues).
Much of this is from an overzealous regulator and litigious society that’s unsympathetic of the profession, and many have far more serious troubles. But how much is self-inflicted, how much could be avoided? It only took one straw to finally break the camel’s back.
What have you already achieved?
How many of us actually stop to appreciate what we have already achieved? Your dental degree alone sets you apart from the overwhelming majority in academic achievement and lifetime earnings, social and economic status. It also offers job security like no other.
It is not essential to buy a house by any specific age. Your car does not need to be a premium brand. Your holidays can be on any budget you decide, and if you can’t afford one next year then you’re not alone and have done nothing wrong.
We face a time where dentistry’s most profitable treatments will be the most difficult to convince patients to go for. The public’s disposable cash has all been disposed, and many will have a less fortunate year ahead as a result.
‘Even in a bad year, you’re still a success’
It’s important to make sure that you are prepared financially, but also mentally. Understand that even in a bad year, you’re still a success. Even if you see an old university friend posting about their new expensive car, or opening of their new practice, remember that being an associate is amazing. If you’re ever in doubt, just ask your parents (unless they’re doctors, or Indian).
It’s time to look at the hardships that the people around us are facing and see how lucky we are to be more fortunate. There are atrocities happening across the world as I write this, and more locally many people are worried about how to heat their homes this winter.
As a profession, the overwhelming majority will have less in the coming years – but will always have more than enough.
There will always be a social media profile (looking like they are) doing better than you. But how many look at yours and wish they had your life?
You’re already winning, stop looking at the people ahead – they’re in a different race to you.
For more information on financial solutions for dentists, visit vrfs.uk.
