I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by a like-minded and supportive community on Instagram.
People who genuinely connect, uplift, and respond with kindness to what I share. But I know that’s not everyone’s experience.
Elsewhere online—on other platforms and even sometimes on Instagram—the tone can be very different. The comment sections under some posts can be downright cruel. While some creators may invite controversy, many simply share something honest and are met with waves of harsh, unnecessary criticism. It can be hurtful, triggering feelings of sadness, anger, or even shame. I often have to resist the urge to respond when a stranger leaves an unkind remark under my content.
There’s a certain kind of fury that sneaks up on us now. It doesn’t slam doors or shout across rooms. It arrives quietly—while we’re sipping tea, scrolling calmly after a beautiful day. And then—there it is. A snide comment under a friend’s post. A cruel opinion thrown like a grenade into what should be a safe space. Or worse, the slow ache of comparison—why her and not me?
For those of us who were raised in the analog world, the emotional weight of the digital age can feel disorienting. We’ve spent years building resilience, gathering wisdom, nurturing relationships, and finding our voice—and yet, a careless comment from a stranger can still make us feel small. A misleading headline can make our chest tighten. And yes, sometimes, a deep, unexpected rage rises up.
Here’s the truth: you are not overreacting. You are not too sensitive. You are human—and you care. That’s why it hurts.
So what do we do when digital discomfort becomes too much? How do we stay soft in a world that keeps pushing our buttons? Below are seven deeply personal, science-backed ways to return to your center, protect your peace, and stay grounded in the online world.
1. Your Digital Space, Your Rules
Curating your feed isn’t petty—it’s a sacred boundary. Mute headlines that feel too harsh. Unfollow accounts that trigger comparison. Block people who disturb your peace. You wouldn’t invite chaos into your living room, would you? The same goes for your screen.
Make your corner of the digital world a nourishing place. Fill it with beauty, intelligence, kindness. You get to decide who’s allowed to speak into your day.
Soft tip: On platforms like Instagram and Facebook, you can prioritize whose content you see. Choose friends who uplift, not drain.
2. Step Away When It Feels Too Loud
If something online makes your shoulders tighten or your stomach turn—log off. Close the app. Put down your phone. Walk to the window. Breathe.
We weren’t built to hold this much information, this much emotion, all at once. Let your nervous system have a moment. Go outside. Feel the earth. Put your bare feet on the floor and remember: you are here, and you are safe.
3. Not Every Post Needs Your Voice
Sometimes we want to set the record straight. To defend. To correct. But ask yourself gently: Is this worth my peace?
When you pause before posting, you give yourself the gift of perspective. Often, that extra breath turns a reactive message into a graceful one—or none at all. Silence, after all, is its own kind of power.
4. Come Home to Your Breath
When someone online stirs your anger, come back to your body. Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly. Inhale for four. Hold for seven. Exhale for eight.
It may sound simple, but this breathwork is ancient medicine. It slows the heart. Clears the mind. And reminds you—you are in control of your response.
Soft tip: Breath before you go to bed. It helps calm the racing thoughts social media sometimes leaves behind.
5. Stop the Scroll That Steals Your Joy
We’ve all done it—scrolling late at night, telling ourselves we’re relaxing. But really, we’re absorbing more and more… until we feel drained, discouraged, even angry.
Start small. Set a time to log off. Put your phone in another room. Choose to end your evening with music, a book, or journaling instead. What you take in before sleep matters.
6. Let the Feelings Be Felt
When you feel frustrated, sad, or triggered by something online, name the feeling. Write it down. Say it aloud. There’s wisdom in that emotion—it’s telling you what matters to you.
Then release it. Go for a brisk walk. Bake. Water your plants. Dance in the kitchen. Let it move through your body, not stay stuck in your chest.
Soft tip: Journaling just a few lines—“What made me feel this way?”—can create clarity and calm.
7. Talk to Someone Who Can Hold Space
If the digital world is stealing too much of your joy, if it’s making you snap at your partner or avoid your own reflection—please reach out. Speak to a therapist, coach, or a trusted friend who knows how to listen without judgment.
Getting support isn’t weakness. It’s emotional wisdom. You don’t need to carry it alone.
Dear Woman in Her Power
This digital world wasn’t built with women like us in mind—women with depth, history, softness, and strength. But we are here. And we are not powerless.
You are allowed to protect your peace. To mute the noise. To unfollow what drains you. To pause before you react. To log off without guilt.
You don’t owe anyone your energy, your outrage, or your explanation.
You’ve lived too much life, overcome too much, grown too far—to let a stranger’s comment steal your light.
So come back to yourself, again and again. Not just because it’s where your strength lives—but because it’s where your wholeness begins.
