I saw a post some months ago - a video (a few after one showed up, b/c algorithm stuff) - about how a dr (therapist?) asked how their patient was doing. They were suddenly very cheerful. This caused the Dr to worry.

Iirc the first video the person had depression, but I'm sure there are others that also have very similar reactions - and I didn't know why at first, until I read the comments.

Comments from friends, family, other therapists (etc) who understood the video.

It's because when someone who is Not Okay suddenly IS - and not in the they've slowly made progress, but suddenly acting like they're walking on sunshine... it might be because they've decided to end their lives.

They know there won't be any more pain, so they're living in that moment: relieved.

I saw comments from people who "noticed in time" or people who explained it themselves - "I'm doing better now" or "I still struggle, but..." - or people who didn't know why they were suddenly So Happy! So good! Until they were gone. Then they realized.

Every now and then I'll still see Reels (Instagram) or something that'll show that sort of stuff.

After the first one: I cried.

The next few ones sneak up on you. Reels are short. You don't always know what they're about until BAM.

I'd get teary eyed - reading comments. Both the good and the bad.

I eventually stopped looking at comments if I saw where that video was going.

I try to scroll past quickly during those videos - since I'm sure, originally, many

were made to make people aware. To let people know to go check on that person if it's a sudden shift. I mean. If you care about someone anyways, and can, you should, but if it's that shift.

Of course once something trends, people hop on it and it's hard to tell sincerity of things as days go on more and more that ppl can get paid for things online if you're "quick enough" to manipulate people (again, the ones that take advantage, not the sincere informative, etc ones).

Along with the way people say "If I had noticed..." or the countless things where in some cases - yes, they would've! They COULDN'T because of their own circumstances. Because life isn't fair and doesn't give everyone equal opportunity to interact with others how they WANT to.

But the amount that don't care until the person is gone.

The ones that only care if it fits into this box of when it's "okay" to care. Too much, too little, not suffering "right", too "happy" so clearly fine, not this or not that - the back and forth.

And then that video - or compilation type - is another that now adds to that bitterness of the way the world is, the way people who want to care but literally can't do anything and do care, vs the ones that can do something, but couldn't care less, vs the ones that... and it's a trail of thoughts.

But that's the thing.

If I'm not distracted.

If I'm not numb.

I'm always thinking.

/crossposted multiple places