In the age of Instagram, wellness went from intimate to influencer-driven - complete with candle-lit yoga vlogs, tear-streaked confessions, and hashtag self-care routines . But is that curated healing actually healing - or just content for the ‘Gram?

Therapists caution that unrealistic wellness standards can fuel comparison anxiety and discourage genuine growth . Across wellness feeds, mental health is often simplified into one-liner summaries or emotion-bomb thumbnails - distorted, performative, and ripe for exploitation.

Moreover, the wellness ecosystem has become a multi-billion-dollar consumer industry. From essential oils to affirmation jars, social media has transformed healing into a product - making self-care a display rather than an internal process.

Studies show that performative posting often boosts extrinsic values - likes, followers, brand deals -but can erode genuine well-being and self-esteem. Meanwhile, real therapy demands messy vulnerability, quiet progress, and sometimes discomfort - not just trending June gloom posts with butterflies and moody lighting.

In short: scrolling about healing isn't the same as healing. It's vital to question whether our self-care is lived - and felt - or simply performed for applause.