here's my thoughts on it (which you may never read)

although you are both valid in everything you think and feel (like honestly im proud of you guys for the genuine shit you put up with, you handle things very well), and even though youtube/social media in general is a wonderful way to make yourself feel a bit better (from nice comments, advice, or just the fact that you can type or speak all of your thoughts out to the world), i feel like people like you, with the huge followings that you have, need to be slightly cautious when it comes to sharing??
your audience is full of incredibly impressionable young people. i am 17 now, but when i was in year eight i know for a fact that people all around me were being influenced by things they saw online in regards to mental health. self harm became a thing you did to be cool and feeling depressed was a huge trend. although you have every right to say whatever you want on your own platform, and i fully respect both of you and what you are going through on a daily basis, i worry that some young people will begin to convince themselves they have something because the people they idolise talk about it so much. i worry that people will start to get into a circle of doubt until they convince themselves they have a problem so much that it actually becomes a problem. i also worry that people who already have genuine problems will begin to give up or lose hope as the people they idolise often just speak of the negatives.
again, i wanna make it SUPER clear that i respect and adore you both!! ive met you both, i have merch, im a huge huge fan and i have total respect for the fact that you guys are doing your best in difficult times. this is just something to consider, as social media and people with an audience have a huge influence on young impressionable people.

i hope you get where im coming from. im not trying to be horrible in the slightest, it's just a thing i thought i should say. i love you both and i hope things are looking up for you soon x

well said meg, i hope she read this and didn't take it in a bad way but understood it and reflected on it x

i couldn't have put this better myself x

Megan Teesdale I think you are right. The thing you say about subscribers thinking that they might have something as well.. because youtubers talk about it so much. Is very true, and that makes it very scary and not a good thing. but it is hard.. because it is their life: Hazel and Dodie's life and many more. So what would they do.. they will not stop making video's, it's their passion and their job.. so it's so hard.

If they're going to fall into a deep depression because of Dodie's videos, then there was a problem to begin with. If a teenager isn't getting proper guidance or they're resisting the hell out of it, they're going to fill it with what they want. As impressionable as they may be, I don't really think it's a content creators job to police their content about serious topics, because it may trigger a 10-18 year old or somebody with similar problems. Your point sounds a lot like "violent video games make kids violent!" just switch it around with; "dodie is making my kid depressed!"

Plus it's kind of weird that we're putting someone else's shit into the hands of dodie, we're basically telling her to be responsible for mental health that's not yours. I have a quote on my wall, it reads; "It's not about me, their reaction has nothing to do with me..." It's about understanding how someone took something, it's not your fault, it's their own mind forming their own opinion. We are responsible for our own shit, so why put someone else's shit onto another person's shit because they have differing opinions/problems? This is a two way street though, if I get offended, I'm bound by the same principle, like right now, this is just a reaction with my own values.

THIS is exactly how I feel about this! The proportions are what I struggle with , I feel that there is 99% negativity on here but if there could be just 80% or maybe a break that would help so much to show that there is light sometimes xxx

UhLillian I agree. I've been in a low place for a while now and scared I might have anxiety  because of my mother's history with mental illness. But I see kids my age these days that self harm and post depression related things to keep with the trends. It really bothers me for the people that actually have this issue and get overlooked as just other teens trying to fit in. No hate to anyone but please don't make mental illness into a trend!

Megan Teesdale this is so true. Teenage brains are like sponge, absorbing information from their surroundings and in these days, the Internet. When I was 12 I discovered tumblr and YouTube and saw all these depressing poetic posts and videos and I pretty much forced myself into depression and anxiety until I had it. it was the worst time of my life, I had to go through therapy. I just thought that depression and anxiety would make me different and cool.

Megan Teesdale This is really interesting. Thank you. I'm old, so there was no Internet when I was at school. It's both fascinating and worrying to hear that this goes on.

this is so so true, obviously we need to get rid of the stigma towards mental health but there comes a point were this kind of awareness becomes too much and it can affect young people's mind sets depending on how they react to it. i totally appreciate that dodie speaks openly about mental health and i dont mean to take away from that but i know from experience how easily younger people can be influenced and its risky for dodie to be saying these sort of things about how she is losing any hope

This is an incredibly well said response, u are so articulate for 17! I'm a few years older and it's sad to see that the exact things I felt and experienced in my early teens are still an issue now~~ anyway x

I completely agree, I'm 17 too but I still feel like I can be quite impressionable and after seeing dodie talk about depersonalisation so much I started to wonder if I had it too, which made me look for signs of it and I stopped reading into it because I realised it was just me trying to relate to her issues. I think sometimes it can be dangerous to overshare to a certain extent online.

Sarah Berry I'm glad you can understand where I'm coming from !! I'm so sorry it's all had an affect on you - social media is a big scary place, I'm glad you took time to unfollow accounts and stuff because that's really helpful for getting things sorted. It's a big issue that I think is hard to recognise when you're where Dodie is. Hope you're okay x

azialif aziz I get where you're coming from, but I wasn't saying she's going to cause mental illnesses - I said she's either going to make people who already have the problems feel worse as she often speaks of there being no hope or cure and says how things never get better, or she's going to make young people question themselves and obsess over a romanticised version of what mental health actually is. She has real issues and is struggling but many young people might go 'maybe I have that I feel like that sometimes' and thus can make things worse for them. Also I'm not saying one person can cause this - she is contributing to a huge range of content across this site and also social media in general.

Point is that she is making it into a sort of brand - like it's what people associate her with now, and although she has every right to tell her audience how she feels it's becoming this sort of romanticised unhealthy mess that is damaging for both her and her audience x

Megan Teesdale I completely agree! I know for a fact the media I was consuming a few years ago was <b>destroying</b> my mental health. I unfollowed so many accounts and completely revamped my feed. There was an immediate difference. Ironically, Dodie was one of the new, better influences but now I barely watch her anymore because her content has become so negative. I know how to take care of myself, but I worry that most of her followers don't.

Megan Teesdale I completely agree! I know for a fact the media I was consuming a few years ago was *destroying* my mental health. I unfollowed so many accounts and completely revamped my feed. There was an immediate difference. Ironically, Dodie was one of the new, better influences but now I barely watch her anymore because her content has become so negative. I know how to take care of myself, but I worry that most of her followers don't.

Megan Teesdale I don't believe that one idol can be a singular cause for the beginning of mental illnesses so I have to disagree with you; it may trigger something, but the underlying cause remains with or without Dodie and similar figures. Simply put, one person - on the internrt no less - will not cause mental illness for another individual. It will be caused by the long-term perminant surrounding of the individual.<br>Respectfully, I think your point of view is too simplistic and damaging as it stops people thinking that it is alright to share the shittiness and makes them believe sharing the truth is a bad thing which is a damaging state of mind to have

Megan Teesdale I don't believe that one idol can be a singular cause for the beginning of mental illnesses so I have to disagree with you; it may trigger something, but the underlying cause remains with or without Dodie and similar figures. Simply put, one person - on the internrt no less - will not cause mental illness for another individual. It will be caused by the long-term perminant surrounding of the individual.
Respectfully, I think your point of view is too simplistic and damaging as it stops people thinking that it is alright to share the shittiness and makes them believe sharing the truth is a bad thing which is a damaging state of mind to have

Karen Karen im glad you appreciate it, it's okay💕

Lydia Treat im sorry you had to go through that:(( social media can be so so influencing and it's difficult to realise what's happening until it's happened, and im sure dodie probably doesn't realise she's having the same affect

UhLillian was exactly the same at my school - im so glad people get where im coming from here

I agree 100%. It was the same with me, in eight grade, it was like a trend to self harm. It was so bad people would draw on themselves to look like they cut and fake suicide attempts.

Megan Teesdale this is so incredibly accurate! I know when I was 14 I would watch some youtubers who constantly talked about the negatives and I began to slip into a severe depression because I started focusing on the bad rather than the good because if my idols at that time were so negative, then I thought I should be too


Dodie, I can relate to the wallowing side of feeling down (I don't want to label myself as depressed) and sometimes possible dramatisation. I don't know you personally, so I can not say that is what you do, but sometimes when we get caught up in our thoughts, I feel like we easily get caught up in thinking everything's awful and don't always recognise when things are good. What I mean by this is, when I feel really low, I forget that I had a good day or two before that and just feel as though I'm constantly depressed. It is good to acknowledge bad times, but perhaps not wallow in them. Easier said than done, but still possible. I believe anyone can turn it around, even if it may take longer, depending on where you're at. Have you tried keeping a score of how your days have been out of 10? Sometimes this helps to put things into perspective and recognise the better days. All the best x


this was so interesting but also comforting since i'm the same age as you and been dealing with the same exact things as you. and this video honestly really made me think deeply and question why i always have the urge to post my thoughts and feelings in different places on different social medias when i'm feeling like "the bad" is taking over my brain. i agree with everything you said and feel!!


It seems like the comments have made all the most important points, so i just wanted to say thanks to Dodie for having this discussion. I'm glad people are pointing out both the positive and negative points of sharing so much about mental illness and not just romanticizing it and defending Dodie blindly - a conversation always goes two ways.


Heya :) I think that when it comes to discussing mental health with a large audience, it's wonderful to share but probably best to stick to what you can be a little objective about. I don't know that it's about level of detail as much as it is level of emotion- I think it can be distressing to people to hear the really low thoughts you are having, but always okay to talk about the fact that you are having them. When you say things like "I've really been struggling lately", that's completely relatable without being potentially triggering for anyone, whereas something like "what's the point" is the depression rather than you reflecting on it. At the end of the day, however, whatever you do/choose to share is completely up to you- you are not responsible for anyone else's mental health! Lots of love <3


Totally agree with hazel!! I always found it weird how you went into detail about your mental health and personal problems in places where hundreds of thousands of strangers will see it. Yes we love you and care a lot about you but unfortunately we are just strangers and don't actually know you, that's why it's important to talk to friends. You can and should still talk about mental health issues but not in the way you were doing some time ago, putting a happy picture on instagram and then a long rant about how bad you are feeling always seemed like romanticizing it. This is all really unhealthy so please talk to your friends when you need help and when you are a lil better you can share some things, but not all of it, with us and still help people

Musella it's okay, you're not offending anyone!!! I think there are other ways of her helping people like me and you who also suffer from these problems. I don't think it's healthy for her to share the deepest details of her mental health problems to a teenage audience who can't effectively help her. She also said in the video that it is a low key high key cry for help and validation. No one needs anyone to validate their mental illness so it was definitely not doing any good for her. She was bottling everything up around her friends and putting it all online, her friends were worried for her, a sign that it was not okay. I understand how it helped you and many others but it wasn't helping her. She could share her experience about treatment and living with mental illness in a positive way instead, when she is in a positive mind set. When she is in her lowest she should take care of herself first instead of relying on validation from her followers. I'm sorry if this is too long or confusing, English is not my first language, but I hope you get what I tried to say here

Emily Mayer Yess exactly, you're definitely not the only one. It's already a good thing that her friends noticed and she aknowledge it so I think she'll take more care and share her deeper thoughts and feelings with the right people, because her followers are not the ones who can actually help her with these type of problems

Marina Luísa In my opinion (which means I hope I'm not offending anyone), she's helped me with my depression and mental health issues because she goes into detail. I like how she can tell us strangers because she shows the idea of an imperfect person instead of tells the idea of an imperfect person. She is my cure. And I thank her for that. I think (again, really hope I'm not offending anyone... just my opinion) the amount she shares isn't unhealthy. I am so sorry if this offends anyone. It was not meant to hurt anyone in any way (like I've said 2,396,715 times 😂).

Oh god yes I agree with this so much. There was a while where I couldn't bare to read dodie's instagram captions because...they were just so...damaging?? Idk. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's been thinking these things.


As someone who has been depressed for a long time and still is, I actually find you over sharing helpful. I feel like I’m not alone and i shouldn’t feel the stigma and shame around it. (With that said I don’t follow your snaps so maybe I don’t really know)


I'd highly recommend writing as an alternative/something to do alongside posting videos about being mentally ill. At least for me, it's almost as cathartic as actually talking to someone about how I'm feeling, and it's extremely helpful to have a way to look back on how I've felt before on some of my worst days, and compare it to how I'm feeling now.


I loved this. Thanks so much for sharing x


Such a nice and candid video! Sometimes the raw and honest emotions of someone going through the same shitty things, wakes people up to ask for help. No shame, please.


bABE

i know telling people that you're hurting is hard. but you're gonna have to start telling your friends more often. start by telling them how your day went. and be completely honest. it doesn't even have to be a whole full story, just a short summary of what happened and how you're feeling. it doesn't have to be every single day, but it should be often. eventually you'll become accustomed to telling them how you feel honestly. take care.

Its really hard. Its very very hard to talk with someone about it. I feel like theyre gonna be uncomfortable or maybe they wont understand (because maybe theyll say oh same i sometimes feel sad too but no. You can feel down but thats not depression). Thats why i cant. Even with my parents and sister is uncomfortable.

starcrossedloverss that sucks. but the advice is meant for dodie and anyone who needs some advice on how to help with their problems.

even if this is meant for dodie this is good advice that i would use if i had friends but unfortunately today they all left me so

one more thing that it's completely okay to still talk about it online. i have a lot of friends online who genuinely help with my anxiety and panic disorder. start sharing with your friends more and you'll feel a lot better, trust me.


Your "oversharing" helps me feel ok about my crazy (亝ω亝｡) Ty I appreciate it, sharing your issues really shouldn't be this much of an issue where it makes you worry ur annoying ppl. Ur doing great doll, just keep doing things for you, you are always the most important person in your own life. ALWAYS ♡xx


Dodie,

I think I speak for all of your viewers when I say that I just want you to be happy. I care about you, which is weird since I've never met you, but you've been an inspiration for me since I was in sixth grade. Do whatever makes you feel better. (In my experience, counseling is never a bad option, but everyone is different). If that means continuing to vent your feelings online, go ahead. If it means stopping that entirely and getting a counselor and/or meds (I don't know if you're on them, but they really do help, and don't change you), then that is entirely fine with me and most of your viewers, as well.

I love you. Best wishes.


I am so so happy you made this video and it's so relieving to know other people think the same - I've unfollowed you on most social media and tend to avoid your videos, of course how you're feeling is valid! But equally we can't help you, and when you're crying for help we're not the people to cry for - and equally when you post these things it can make the most mentally healthy of your audience feel shit. People look up to you and I have friends who now relate how they're feeling to how you're feeling, they are so so negative and pessimistic and they are your biggest fans, it hurts so much to see. I'm sure this is unintentional but you tend to invalidate your fans who are mentally healthy, because I am very musical, you draw from pain to put feeling into what you do, but it hurts to be told that my work has no meaning because I'm not depressed. When I have my low moments as every human does, due to the intense feeling of negativity from you tubers etc, I worry I'm depressed and nothing will ever be right again. You say you're not but your mental illness appears romantic, you're self obssessed and when good things happen to you and you're given all these wonderful opportunities and yet you're still snap chatting into the 'void' which isn't a void but a bunch of teenagers with no life experience, it can really make us feel like utter shit. I truly love your personality and art, and hope things get better for you, but share your thoughts with those who can help, make you feel less alone - you said you were lonely and Hazel hugged you - so stop telling social media who's words are empty and tell your friends who obviously all have similar experiences and truly feel less lonely. And stop getting out of bed so late, seriously haha


personally I was relieved when you posted about feeling suicidal on Snapchat, as i hated the ambiguity with which you'd post, at 12 at night, pasted onto a black image, about how your head hurt so much and your chest was tight. I wanted to know if me jumping to the conclusion that you were feeling suicidal was just an irrational thought atop the mass or irrational thoughts my brain already presented me with.
As for this video, thank you so very much for addressing mental health - not just how you'd been doing previously, but specifically how you've done it in this video. Thank you for going into the endless circles your thoughts go round as you consider whether you're being a burden on your friend for asking for help. I can relate S O very much. As I think you're beginning to see, discussion of mental health shouldn't just come from when you're rock bottom, but rather a deeper analysis (the type of analysis that depression stops you being able to do when you're in it's tight grips)
Thank you again dodie :)


Dodie, I really want you to feel comfortable with sharing your feelings.


I think this is good, me and my best friend have depression and we both weirdly connect on it. It's casual conversation, and I'm happy not to be ashamed of it


I'm so proud of you for being so open and honest about your mental health issues. In my opinion I don't think you're oversharing because you have helped me deal with my own mental health issues. You made me realise it's ok to not be ok and that even someone as inspiring and amazing as you can go through the same things. I think you should always share whatever you feel comfortable sharing. You don't need to feel bad about it. You have helped and continue to help so many people and at the end of the day, we are all human and we all have our own issues and I believe voicing these issues and helping others by being so open is the best thing to do. For every subscriber you loose for talking about mental health you are probably gaining another 10 for your bravery, so never worry about offending people. No one can help the way they feel. Stay strong, we love you x

P.S- Maybe you should start a blog! You can always do it anonymously if it helps!


I really enjoyed the thoughtful discussion in this video. I don't watch your snapchats or instagram stories, so I can't comment on those, but I do follow you on twitter and instagram. I personally find twitter a hard medium to use in general, because of the rapid-fire changes in tone of the content-one person's tweet is funny, another's is about fighting injustice, the next person's a self-advertisement, and the following a cry for help. So in general, I don't enjoy when anyone overshares on twitter because I find it overwhelming and like I can never fully engage with the gravity of any one tweet. As for instagram, I seem to be in the minority because I appreciate your posts. I have grown up with many people dealing with mental illness (and I don't mean in a my-neighbour's-aunt sort of way, but in a multiple close family members and friends sort of way), and always felt like no one seemed to grasp the depth of ways it affects one's life and everyone who is a part of that life. I really appreciate the intensity and rawness of the posts you share, and I find the juxtaposition between the photos and captions not to romanticize mental illness, but to remind me that mental illness coexists with life, the beauty and joy of life. That has always been on the biggest paradoxes for me, that really low moments could coexist with some of the happiest moments of my life, and to me, your instagram posts reflect that in a way few other things have. But then again, I am almost 21 and I understand that this perspective comes with years of experience that not everyone else has, especially some of your younger audience. I'll echo some other posts here and say that maybe waiting 24 hours to post something could be helpful in figuring out what is helpful to share, and what is potentially damaging/triggering/too much. Thanks for letting yourself be vulnerable and making this video, it's a hard topic to explore and even harder to be self-reflective. Much love from a fan of your videos and music <3.


Dodie, (I'm a huge fan btw! You are amazing!) I really suggest a digital detox-this way our feedback won't hurt you more than help you. Help yourself before you worry about helping us right now. We're always here for you. <3


Casually wants to just hug Dodie instead of answering.

Katie Ahronson yeah you're right. I subscribed to you btw 😁

Dylan Dames Ik. I think she's coped with this realisation well though. She now just needs to put what she's learnt into action

Katie Ahronson reasonable. I just felt so tense every time she looked sad in the video for years of mistakes

Dylan Dames they're just honest. No one is speaking out of hate, just concern for her and her audience

she needs it. the comments are redundant, repetitive, and mean. everyone is making her feel regretful


I personally enjoy everything you share , I started loving your songs because you talked about your mental health problems , and I related so much. I feel sad for you and I wish I could talk back to you through snap chat , but it's nice for us to know how you're feeling instead of you faking your happiness


I just want to say in regards to the physical illness thing, as something with a disability and mental health issues, it's not much different. There have been times where I've been so exhausted and in pain because of my disability and the most a got was a pat on the back, otherwise being completely left on my own to deal with it- not trying to blame those people but that's what happened. What I've learnt is that if it's difficult for someone to sympathise with someone else's situation they probably won't help, or at least will do the bare minimum to not feel guilty. Sure you'd probably like to think that is someone's showing physical signs of being not ok you'd do something but if it's something you've never dealt and/or there's no one telling you what to do with you most likely won't do much especially if it's a common occurrence (in my experience). Again not trying to blame anyone because when stuff like that happens it is scary and hard knowing what to do but just saying it's not something exclusive to mental illness (srry this is rambly and grammatically incorrect it's late here and I'm tired aha).


It's not easier to be physically sick. There isn't always "proof". A lot of the doctors I go to don't seem to believe me so don't generalise. There are many invisible illnesses. I have both a physical illness and mental illnesses and I've had way more stigma with my physical illness. But on a lighter note, JACK??? BOYFRIEND??? Since when were Hazel and Jack dating?!


I've struggled a lot over the last few years with depression and anxiety, and I relate to this so much. I stayed up late talking to people because i was down, then didn't get up until mid afternoon so i got enough sleep, but i was always tired and I then missed the stuff I had to do during the day (uni) so I felt down again in the evenings. I am always grateful for friends talking through stuff with me in down times, and offer to be there for them when they're down.
I study engineering, but music and scale models and drawing are most of what I do tbh.
I'm now on antidepressants which have been a great help to me, but my daily routine is still messed up (I'm basically nocturnal) and I lack motivation to do the stuff I should but couldn't previously due to mental health.


Dodie I love you. Dodies fan base I love you. Everyone in the LGBT+ community I love you. If you are a human I love you.

Wooooow!!!! How did I get so many likes!! This is why I love you peeps!❤❤❤

I ship to many people Yay I love you too

Blake Bezerra then you would need to learn how to accept people for who they are. And once you did that I would love you.

That Otaku Girl 😂😂😂 well they would need to go to jail if they murdered someone but if they were in jail and felt really bad about what they did and started to change they way they lived and start a new life then yes I will still love them. But if they murdered someone and didn't regret it for the rest of there lives then that person I would chose not to love.

Emma October well if they know they did something wrong and change their ways yes I love them.

The 2 muskateers I'm a trash can too so I love you

myheartu isprettyprincessjin's your probably cute potato so I love you.

myheartu isprettyprincessjin's potatoes are even better than humans so... We love you too

I ship to many people <br>What if I'm a trash can 😂

I ship to many people
What if I'm a trash can 😂

I ship to many people what if someone reading that was a serial rapist??you love them?

I ship to many people I am a kity cat. Do you still love me?

That Otaku Girl u can always count on a person like u to ruin the comment

Does that mean that if someone likes Dodie and is part of the LGBT community but a murderer you love them, but you did say that you love humans, so you love hurler, or murderers, etc.

I ship to many people what if I'm a homophobic, bigoted, racist?

I ship to many people hi !! idk you but ily2!!

I ship to many people -  it should be too many people not to

Blake Bezerra no ones a bad person they just chose to do bad things and that can always be fixed so I will still love you

Blake Bezerra you can never ship too many people

I ship to many people what if I'm a bad person

Zoeee don't get me started about dogs my heart melts when I see them 😍

Mons_InHead_Sters I will love you no matter what 😊

I ship to many people what if I'm an alien? Will you still love me? ☹


Honestly, I'm so glad Zannah said what a lot of us have been thinking. We'd never want to take away an outlet that helps you, but at the same time it can be triggering or difficult to watch. For those of us who have mental illnesses of our own it can be quite difficult, and for those who don't it can seem like it's just an "edgy" way of expressing yourself, and seek to emulate it as a trend. I'm sure you never asked to be a role model (does anyone?) but you do have a young, vulnerable and impressionable audience, and unintentionally or otherwise, nobody wants to encourage emulation of mental illness. It's not an aesthetic or a trend or a badge of honour. It doesn't make a person cool or quirky. It can engender creativity, but it's not a tool, you know?

I'm not suggesting that you have ever had any intention of portraying mental illness as a cute character element, and you can't help that some people will infer that. HOWEVER the less "cry for help" material you post the less people have to cling to and interpret incorrectly.

I've been in your shoes (I have bipolar and PTSD) and the seeming void of the internet/social media can be so inviting because it's a lot easier to throw your suffering into the void without a target and hope someone takes initiative and steps in than it is to assault your friends with it and risk feeling like a burden or getting rejected. An indirect cry for help comes more naturally to us than really asking for it.

I know you've been let down by someone you loved, and having been in an abusive/controlling relationship it's completely understandable that you struggle with trusting others to bring you up when you need it. If you've had someone break your trust that badly it's hard to open yourself up again, even to people who genuinely do have your best interests at heart.

Basically, it's ok to need help and it's ok to ask for it. Your friends all seem like Very Good Eggs, and as hard as it is to go directly to someone and say "I need help, I need to talk, I need a shoulder to cry on, I need company, I need validation, I need to ground myself" it's something that gets easier with practice. I hope you're coping. <3


I related so much when they talked about sharing when you're at your lowest point. I mean it's good to reach out but having such a big and young audience might not be very good for them. I've held myself back to sharing how bad my thoughts were to friends when I know I'm at my lowest point because I know that some way this won't affect them in a good way at all.


I have never seen your snaps so I can't comment on that but your instagram posts are half the reason I love you. You are so amazingly real and I love it, it just shows me that even people like dodie feel like shit sometimes and it reassures me it's okay for me to feel that way too, I love what you do


It's so important to tell people how you feel as then u are getting it out. I understand you feel like you are opening up too much but tbh if creating ur snapchats with how u feel is ur way out then please keep doing it because it's so important for you as a person.


Personally, i love the raw, honest quality of your videos. I love when you talk about mental illnesses, and you're feelings. But, also know that I'd still love you even if you didn't talk about those, and i watch your videos for YOU, regardless of what you create. Anyways, kisses 💋


this video is very important. i struggle with overhearing with my thoughts, i try to do it through poetry or metaphors so it's somewhat hidden but to a certain extent, i do share more than i should. i've reached out for counselling and been both ignored and denied, which i feel like is why i tend to use my platform as somewhere to talk (alongside twitter and snapchat), which means i can be a bit explicit. i am one of those many people with a "private" twitter. i tend to tweet my emotions there in the hope that people will ask me what's wrong, because i fear that if i go to someone first they will be annoyed or disinterested in my emotions, and therefore won't care for what i have to say.


im personally thankful for your posts, no matter how descriptive. it really makes me feel less alone. but i understand others being triggered by it. maybe put warnings beforehand or have a specific insta/snap just for venting so it doesnt push potential viewers away?


here are my thoughts: <br>About a year ago, i was super grateful for your videos, seeing there were other people feeling like myself and how they deal with that.. Whenever i felt down i clicked on your videos and felt better hearing you rambling about stuff. But now - idk if it is because of you or me - i'm kinda scared to click on your snapchats/videos because it makes me feel even worse, doesn't help me, tears me down even more. Though i still really do appreciate you talking about and raising awareness for mental health it got a bit much.. I'd recommend waiting a bit before uploading to see if you still want the 'depressed' content up and/or putting a disclaimer for those, who might not want to see it. But otherwise, thank you for talking about it when most don't :)

here are my thoughts:
About a year ago, i was super grateful for your videos, seeing there were other people feeling like myself and how they deal with that.. Whenever i felt down i clicked on your videos and felt better hearing you rambling about stuff. But now - idk if it is because of you or me - i'm kinda scared to click on your snapchats/videos because it makes me feel even worse, doesn't help me, tears me down even more. Though i still really do appreciate you talking about and raising awareness for mental health it got a bit much.. I'd recommend waiting a bit before uploading to see if you still want the 'depressed' content up and/or putting a disclaimer for those, who might not want to see it. But otherwise, thank you for talking about it when most don't :)


There is no such thing as over sharing - its your channel and you decide where your boundaries are <3


What I do notice is many of these celebrities on social media put on a facade that everything is amazing but you always stay real with your fans which is what I love about you. Not everything can be perfect 24/7.

Anna McGovern I agree with you, it is good to stay true and real with your fans but I am glad many other Youtubers mainly or completely show the amazing aspect of their lives. I do not know if this applies to everyone- but when I feel sad or depressed, I don't come to YouTube to feel even more sad. I come to YouTube to see how happy my favorite people are which in turn make me happy. I'm not saying Youtubers should always show their happy side, as that may create a more 'artificial' connection with their audience, I just believe there should be a bigger abundance of happier content.

How has it become her aesthetic though? Just because she talks about it a lot? That's not an "aesthetic."

Anna McGovern I agree. While oversharing can be a problem and as the girls said in the video the first thing to be done on bad nights is to go to friends instead of the internet but if that's what helps you then that's what helps. I prefer the oversharing than hiding it.


I honestly like when she talks about mental health because I have mental health problems and seeing how I’m not alone just really helps. But I just want Dodie to be comfortable and share what she wants.


I read the description and here's my advice (I have no mental illnesses so don't judge me if my advice is bullshit)
Try and control what you post. Also get a diary to write in. Trust me it can help to just write out all your feelings into a book and just have a rant with no fear of judgment. Also it can help you see how you are doing in terms of how bad your illness has been recently.
Hope this helps.Love you Dodie 💛💛(and anyone else who sees this also)


~I saw a comment saying 100 Reasons to love Dodie and it said to finish it off. So here we go~

1. She cares so much about her friends
2. She is so beautiful
3. She is so loving towards the LGBTQ+ Community
4. She is so passionate
5. She could talk about Window Frames for a week and still make it entertaining
6. She is so insecure and flaunts her flaws, and is learning to love them
7. She supports her fans
8. She appreciates that we all have lives and doesn't beg for views
9. I don't think she has ever click-baited
10. She is responsible
11. She knows what's good for her and follows her dreams & passions
12. She raises awareness for things that are usually pushed under the rug
13. She is so careful about what words she uses & how they could impact people
14. She loves and cares for her friends, family & fans like royalty
15. She doesn't demand things
16. She is honest and truthful
17. She is so talented, but doesn't brag
18. She is open to us, & lets us know when things are good and when they are bad
19. She is so trusting to us that she will breakdown and cry and not feel vulnerable
20. She is so kind and loving and caring and adorable
21. She is not selfish
22. She doesn't disrespect others
23. She regards people's feelings and takes into account other people's comfort zones; as well as her own
24. She is so sweet
25. She is loving to fans, even when they make mistakes
26. She'll cheer up her friends, even when she is upset/busy herself
27. She can take jokes, and doesn't get offended by butterflies
28. She doesn't overdramatize situations for views
29. She doesn't care what people think, and dresses hoe she likes
30. She is an idol for not only the Bi community, but the whole LGBTQ+ Community
31. She is a proud pride supporter
32. She can control when she uses bad language and respects what type of audience a particular video is aimed at
33. She looks after people who need care
34. She loves, supports and appreciates us fans
35. She doesn't like she is any lesser or more than us. To her, we are equal
36. Her fame and money hasn't changed her, like it did to other people
37. She never points blame
38. She'll take blame even if it wasn't her
39. She tries to avoid drama and makes other people happy
40. She is a little ray of sunshine in a world that needs a lOT more sunshine
41. Even when she's stressed, she is still loving
42. She has built up relationships with her fans and keeps them close
43. She never leaves us without reason
44. She's dedicated and devoted
45. She is without flaw, only to herself
46. She doesn't ignore us
47. She treats us as if we are human too
48. She is so talented in many different ways and aspects:
49. She is a fabulous singer
50. She is a great dancer ~ very graceful
51. She is a stunning actress
52. She is so GOOD at making people smile
53. Her laughter lightens up the world
54. Every time she smiles, it's like the worlds problems melt away
55. She is just adorable
56. She is so lovely it's unreal
57. She is ridiculously good at Ukulele ~ it's unreal
58. She is fair, and doesn't use her fans to advantage her
59. She is very kind and has a huge heart
60. She is unrealistically modest
61. She doesn't say she is the prettiest, she doesn't say she is the ugliest
62. She doesn't lie to get compliments
63. She realized her flaws ~ works them!
64. She knows what's best for her and her friends
65. She is always happy to give advice
66. She is honest about her mental health
67. She doesn't use her mental health as an excuse
68. She gets back up again after losing a battle
69. Nothing can break her completely ~ she can only be knocked
70. She is so good ~ and it isn't an act. At heart, she is pure sweetness
71. She can turn a lousy day into a bright, fun time
72. She is always willing to help others
73. She will sit with her friends for hours, helping them through
74. She can realize and admit when she has a bad habit
75. She will go out of her way to get over a bad habit
76. She is honest, in the aspect of if she has fucked up ~ she'll say 'Guys, i fucked up.'
77. She can accept people's opinions but she is strong and can stand up for herself
78. She is one of the only youtubers who doesn't get offended by Constructive Critisism
79. She takes time out of her day to respect her mental and physical health
80. Her smile is contagious
81. She is enough
82. She has impeccable manners
83. She has the best laugh in the entire world
84. Even when she's struggling & stressed, she'll put on a grave face and laugh through it
85. She deserves an eternal hug from all of us
86. On a scale of one to 10, she's a full on 7382919837474272829947473723983732783.33
87. She'd look fabulous, even on a bad day in a binsack.
88. It's clear that she brightens up the room for her friends
89. She is proud of what she has done, but still modest about it
90. She works so hard for us
91. She quit her steady job for YouTube, not knowing when it would crash
92. She quit her job to support this community
93. She is an idol for everyone
94. She is an inspiration, and she has saved so many lives
95. She would only ever try her best, and never gave up
96. Because of her determination, she has got where she is today.
97. She is such a strong, brave and loving female to look up to
98. She can accept others opinion, understand why they think what they think, and explain how she feels
99. She is not only great at talking, but great at listening too.
100. She is dodie.

~I just wanted to say a huge thank you to dodie for helping all of us through. Whether you've been here since 12,000 or 1,000,000 or you found her yesterday, i think we can all agree, dodie has helped us all. She is my inspiration, & always will be. Ilysm <3~

Emily 2.0 wow sweetest comment ever!! This was lovely to read :)

Gerard Way It's the summer. And raining.

Emily 2.0 I wish I had that much spare time


hello dodie,
so personally i find it very reassuring to know that there are people out there experiencing similar things i'm going through. when i found out i had depersonalisation i thought i was going mad but seeing your video on it made me feel like i was definitely not alone. i feel like seeing your descriptions of mental health can be very helpful, due to the fact they can reassure me, and many others, that we're not alone. but also i may have to point out the negatives. any time you talk about some sort of feeling or spaciness it just makes me feel like i need to give you a big hug and talk to you properly. but obviously, with having such a large audience it would be impossible to talk to every single person and hug every single one. which brings me on to the fact, there's always going to be a response with these things, good or bad. so you need to be aware people will ask you how you are and put sympathy on you. don't worry though, i've done the exact same. were you comment online your feelings and etc. and to begin with you get that satisfaction of letting it out and venting. but afterwards you feel rotten because of responses. i've got a really great app called vent. where you can still get that release of writing about your feelings, but you can feel accepted with it, because that's the intention of the app. make it anonymous, don't use your name, make up an entire new username. and vent, because you still can get that satisfaction of releasing your feelings to people but just in a safer way. i hope you read this. there are other things o cover but people have done an excellent job. don't feel hurt with all this. know that we all love you a lot. we are just concerned. personally, you've reassured me, but i must say things can be triggering, i hope you understand that.

thank you xx


i'm really thankful that dodie's noticed this because i think it was an issue. i haven't been able to watch most of her videos on mental health and i had to unfollow her on snapchat because every time i heard her talk that vividly about it i fell deeper into my own issues but also felt this immense guilt and didn't talk to anyone because "well she has it worse, why should i bother people with such little problems?"


love you dodie and hazel <3 i think that you need to be confident in your friends and strengthen the trust between you all, so that you feel more secure and okay to ask for help or just a rant session! i have no idea obviously about the situation you and your friends are in, and i'm not going to pretend i know, but sometimes you can be best friends with someone and still you haven't accepted and opened yourself up to trust them completely and know that you won't be a burden on them, and that you have friends because humans can't get through life alone!! we aren't meant to be superiorly strong and capable of absolutely everything, so why should we pretend to our closest friends that we love the most? :) it's difficult to ask for help or ask to talk to your friends about it honestly, because of the paranoia about being a burden for example or etc etc, but a really good way to ease yourself into accepting and opening yourself up to that trust is thinking, "if [friend] felt this way, and she talked to me, would i want them to tell me everything or would i think it was a burden?". because then it helps you realise that if you'd gladly accept to help them, they'd be more than happy helping you too! i think sharing and making this aware is great - i'm all for it. however, i think there's a line which you are navigating and exploring between sharing and oversharing, which has it's pros and cons. it's great that you help people, as it affects everyone differently and sometimes having people to relate to is comforting. however to some others, it's triggering. i can't possibly tell you to exactly know about everyone and cater to their triggers, but maybe a good suggestion is to talk about these things to camera when you're not on a low? i understand that it's extremely cathartic to talk on a low, but if you maybe wrote it down or recorded it privately thren you could have those exact emotions you wished to talk about and were able to talk to your audience about them when you were able to think a lil more rationally and were ina bit more control? i don't mean to offend you - i love what you do and i love your music. i just thought maybe a comment could help. i dunno :) stay awesome! and continue to make people smile and giggle and cry and most importantly, feel :)


I feel like yeah, you do overshare, but I find it so so helpful and validating as someone who suffers from mental illnesses to see that I'm not alone. As for the not reaching out to people directly, I think I do the same because it feels less like you're annoying or a burden, when I message a friend saying what's going on in my head they usually don't know what to say or seem quite awkward, whereas if I post something on social media that shows I'm not quite right in the head and a friend messages me, they are more prepared and have had time to think about how they can help and listen to you in the most effective way possible


dodie i really have a lot of respect for you for sharing this video, it's a very mature and difficult topic, but you need to remember that you are young yourself and you are going to make mistakes!! i'm sure you're probably reading a lot of these comments and feeling really guilty because you were geniunely unaware about how impressionable your younger audience can be and for using  this is your coping mechanism. It's hard to do the right thing all the time and i hope you don't take some of the blunt comments to heart. We all still love you and this doesn't lessen your struggle in anyway at all. we just hope you reflect on how your sharing might affect your audience and find some healthier coping methods (as scary as it can be to reach out for help from your friends!!) thank you, i hope you're doing ok xx


i say all these things with the utmost resoect and no bad intentions.

i do agree that you should make a private account or something for people who want to see that stuff. i don't watch your snapchats very often anymore and i dislike looking at your ig because its pretty negative and i'm part of your younger crowd, as a 15 year old. i do think you need an outlet, just not one so public where you post so much about it. i saw another comment about people thinking "i was to be special like dodie! i need to have anxiety and depression to create art!" and i kind of agree. i WAS one of those people who believed that and it wasn't good for me. i spiraled into a very bad place. just sometimes it gets a bit too much. i love you so much and i enjoy your videos but sometimes it is frustrating. you're a wonderful human being and i wish the best for you.


Doddie and Hazel I love you two.  Doddie Thanks for sharing your struggles, I too struggle with anxiety and depression.  And although your videos can be intense at times they do help me not to feel alone.  But I can say from experience (self-harm) that you need to find  a better coping mechanism.  I hope that I don't sound to preachy, and I don't really know anything about your personal struggles  but I am a fan who cares about you and I hate to see you hurting.  Sending love all the way from Canada.


I personally find it really comforting that I'm not alone with the same issues.


I always thought you were really encouraging to talk about your problems with other people. Most people bottle up their problems and you talking about it means others feel like they can open up about it too. You encourage us to acknowledge your sadness and let it happen so the worst can pass and not bubble up and get worse. That being said, you do need to acknowledge when you are at your worst and think before you explode. Nobody hates you for it, we're just worried about you. Please know that your audience still love you and appreciate you for being honest. HOWEVER Please don't start bottling things up because you now realized that you may have said too much. Always talk to someone, whether that be a doctor, therapist or a friend. We love you dodes, take these things at your own pace and the next time you start to feel at your worst, switch off the internet, make yourself a hot beverage and go knock on a friends door, or call someone close to you. Someone will always be there<3


i've just been diagnosed with panic disorder and bpd, after having been depressed for years. and i take great comfort in your videos, dodie. you've put into words thoughts  i've had but haven't been able to express properly. now that i've got words for them, i can explain to my therapist how i feel, and they can help me more easily than when i just say "i don't know, i don't know"! i see where everyone is coming from, but i think it's a lot easier for them to just not watch that content. it's been a great help for me, and i'm so grateful you've been sharing. i hope you can make your content AS WELL AS asking for and accepting help from the people around you though! xxx


a lot of what dodie has talked about has helped me feel less alone in things ive gone through, but i do think there is a line, and dodie is well aware of this now.
i had to take a step back from being so involved in watching all her videos for a while. i was in a place where i felt like i couldnt handle the emotional weight of it. and now i think dodie has improved so much about knowing what is healthy to put out online and what should be worked out personally..

i very strongly remember one night in high school i was watching a video on doddlevloggle, at my kitchen table, sobbing. the video was something back in 2015-2016 about a dark topic, i wish i remembered which video. long story short, i know it had a very significant impact on. my mental state in that moment. i think some of the heavy/depressing content she put out can be a trigger for people who are trying to get in a better headspace ya know? ive grown and i know dodie has too, and i wish her the best and love her! but i just do think it is healthier for everyone involved if she doesnt post such extensively heavy mental health explanations all the time.

sorry for my brain dump lol. its 2am and im just writing my thoughts. hope this made sense. <3


im so glad your friends finally brought this to your attention. during my last three years of school my brain was shit and i had this little secret instagram profile where only my closest friends followed me. i'd pour my heart out on that profile and would even make requests on my posts like "hey, my self esteem is shit, can anyone compliment me?". it worked out wonderfully cause it wasnt as hard as directly talking to friends, but since only about five people followed me, i didnt have too worry too much. i no longer use that profile, but it has over 900 posts and its amazing to have all my highs and lows from the last three years registered with such honesty.


As someone who doesn't have mental illness, your snaps and your videos really help me understand what some of my friends are going through. They won't be as absolutely honest to me as you are when you talk about your depression or depersonalization. But my education shouldn't come at the risk of you reaching out in an unhealthy way. Whatever you decide, dodie, I'll support you


I think it's okay if you feel like you need to tell us how you feel. I know you go through a lot and sometimes it really helps to just say something about it. mental health is an issue that needs to be recognized! it's important to say that youre not okay so you can find support.i totally understand where you're coming from.

I personally am not bothered by you sharing, because it makes me understand that I'm not alone, and someone as amazing as you even goes through hard times. 💖 it gives me hope, but I also do get worries about you and try my best to post a comment on your YouTube videos letting you know that I understand how you feel. I think it's okay!

I know your intention is not at all to romanticize it, but if others feel like you are  I would suggest talking about more positive things you look forward in life after you explain how you feel during those situations. I know it's hard, but that way you will feel better in the midst of that situation and you will find a reason to keep living. Also, the others who get bothered by it will feel better too. Or you can give a warning so others who don't want to see it they can have the option to watch or not!

I feel like people need to understand that you can't always be happy all the time, and sometimes you break and need to talk about it. we don't want you to lie about your situation when you're actually going through a bad time and need help.
but then again some people say they're badly affected by your sharing, so I don't know :((
It could be unhealthy for both you and your audience.
This is a very difficult topic to discuss, just like how 13 reasons why also created a lot of controversy.

It's totally okay if you want to share with us how you feel. Sometimes, it helps others who are going through the same thing realize that they're not alone. and when they see you happy and positive, they start believing they can be happy again too.
I love you dodie, and I'll support you! I just want you to be happy, so whatever is best for you of course :) you're so strong. ✨💖


I'm really glad you made this because I've been avoiding your Snapchat lately for that very reason. It feels like stuff I shouldn't know. It feels a step over the line. I understand it's helped a lot of people and that it could continue to help a lot of people, but it just seems like a step to far. You're not my friend. As much as I'd wish for you to be, you're not. And I'm not yours. Being this open on the internet could lead to people feeling as if they are closer to you then they are. Like they can treat you a certain way because you say so much. I love your content and what you're doing, but there has to be a balance somewhere.

Taylor Tomasko This. I think you just pointed out the real problem with YouTube audiences, especially young ones, and most of the Youtubers. Dodie is not the only one oversharing her life, for instance all the ones that are vlogging. It makes the viewer feel like a part of their life, that they are not. Or maybe, in a way, like one of the support of this video maker, but nothing closer. It blur the line between behavior towards a stranger that knows nothing about us and someone that we know. And most of all, the line between respect and non respect.
People like Zoella are stalked to their houses by viewers because their constant sharing of life made some of them want to be a part of it. (I'm not saying at all that she deserved it, it is a terrible thing happening to her. But it's a side effect of this type of videos).
So yeah, there is a balance to find. We may feel close to YouTubers because we relate or appreciate their personnalities, enjoy and connect with what they say and create, but nothing more.
I may seem critical towards youtubers but I sometimes feel like the only one bothered by private details of their life I didn't ask for and the "idolization" that comes with it.


babe i love you so much and i'm happy you made this video because you're taking a look at yourself and your head and really figuring out what's best for your mental state. like i feel as if your videos and snapchats and everything helps me but it might not be helping you. many people say that social media + mental illness = badbadstuff and i've definitely bared the brunt of that when it comes to the internet but thats my own shit lol i just love u and want you to keep trying and keep looking for solutions because you will find one that works for you and maybe take more breaks from social media it might encourage you to talk to your friends more and from this video it sounds like they'd really appreciate that <3


1) I appreciate the amount that you share because I feel trusted with the information you give. and I feel like I have a friend who I can relate to and also understand and be understood by.
So thank you for that.

2) I don't think I'd be able to share so much for the same reasons that you DO share so much. Because I wouldn't want people to think I'm lying or for them to think that I'm building it up to be something that it's not. But I would want to share a lot because I would want people to feel understood and give people someone to relate to so they don't feel alone. And to help people make sense of certain things.

3)  {there is more that I want to say so I'll leave this space open for a better time when I have thought some things through}


wow, I don't get how the comment section can be that negative. I understand that MH shouldn't be romanticized, but I feel like dodie is just being honest. Yes they are joking in the video, yes there are aesthetic pictures on her insta with poetic captions, but this is how she deals with it. I paint and draw and write sometimes, to sort out what I am feeling, I am just not such a popular figure. I can relate to what she is saying and it feels real.


I think towards the end that's a very good point about "digging up" your problems to use creatively. I think it requires a kind of self awareness that you're more likely to find in creative people. I think pondering your mental health is inherently a pretty self reflective thing, more likely to affect more self reflective people.


As someone who also suffers from anxiety and depression, I understand where you're coming from when you post your dark descriptions and can relate to/appreciate them. However, I also recognize that it's not healthy for me to do so, and because of that I have to distance myself from your content. I struggle with feelings of life not being worth living/life being boring and lonely, and it's pretty bad. So seeing someone like you also struggling is relatable, but also very disheartening because it makes me further feel like there's no hope if even <b>you</b> can't overcome it. It's really up to you what you want to share, because people like me can decide for themselves whether they want to view your content, but personally it's not good for my own mental health.

As someone who also suffers from anxiety and depression, I understand where you're coming from when you post your dark descriptions and can relate to/appreciate them. However, I also recognize that it's not healthy for me to do so, and because of that I have to distance myself from your content. I struggle with feelings of life not being worth living/life being boring and lonely, and it's pretty bad. So seeing someone like you also struggling is relatable, but also very disheartening because it makes me further feel like there's no hope if even *you* can't overcome it. It's really up to you what you want to share, because people like me can decide for themselves whether they want to view your content, but personally it's not good for my own mental health.


So I've been struggling with mental health for a very long time, it first came to light (family noticed) just after I had my son. I got "help" I've been on and off medication for a long time, seen so many different therapists/psychiatrists. Only two years ago I got a diagnosis of bpd, bipolar type two and anxiety. I am still learning to cope with it.

I've always wanted to share my stories and struggles, maybe make videos and posts as I wanted people to understand and see what life is really like. But I don't want to show my weakness and for people to pity me or think I'm attention seeking or even worse that I'm not a fit mother, which then made me think of posting anonymously but then I worry that I'd over share. I will be honest, I watch every snapchat and I can relate. I write down everything I feel or try to and I have joined a group on Facebook and we all share things and it just feels good to get it out some how.

Anyway I ramble on all I wanna say is thank you x


I think you are incredibly brave to be so authentic and open


i love u so much dodie. you are the most incredible human beannn!💓


personally, thank you for opening up, because i feel like im not alone. it creates such an open, real bond with your audience and it allows us to connect to you as a person and your art. when you "overshare" its as if a close friend is confiding in you, so you see those thoughts and feelings in their art and songs and music. its a tricky line to balance, as to not trigger or bring up negative feelings in your audience, but i always listen to your videos and snaps that are personal.

sometimes on social media, people only show their best selves. when im sad, i feel like i am the only one feeling this way, because no one on social media shows when they are sad or unhappy. your posts are refreshing because its humanizing and relatable. its honest, and not a front. you dont pretend to be happy when youre not, and when you are happy, you express it and it feels genuine.

i do think you should turn to your friends or a counselor, but there are people in your audience who are now learning that its okay to feel sad, its normal and okay to feel things, be sensitive, and that mental illness doesn't make you weak.

however, mental health is not romantic. as long as youre respectful and dont glorify it, its okay to share your feelings. its okay for people to share when they are happy, why not when they are not happy?? everyone in life is going to face struggle and hard times and its comforting to see that someone else in your same position surviving.

just some thoughts

personally, thank you for opening up, because i feel like im not alone. it creates such an open, real bond with your audience and it allows us to connect to you as a person and your art. when you "overshare" its as if a close friend is confiding in you, so you see those thoughts and feelings in their art and songs and music. its a tricky line to balance, as to not trigger or bring up negative feelings in your audience, but i always listen to your videos and snaps that are personal.

sometimes on social media, people only show their best selves. when im sad, i feel like i am the *only one* feeling this way, because no one on social media shows when they are sad or unhappy. your posts are refreshing because its humanizing and relatable. its honest, and not a front. you dont pretend to be happy when youre not, and when you are happy, you express it and it feels genuine.

i do think you should turn to your friends or a counselor, but there are people in your audience who are now learning that its okay to feel sad, its normal and okay to feel things, be sensitive, and that mental illness doesn't make you weak.

however, mental health is *not* romantic. as long as youre respectful and dont glorify it, its okay to share your feelings. its okay for people to share when they are happy, why not when they are not happy?? everyone in life is going to face struggle and hard times and its comforting to see that someone else in your same position surviving.

just some thoughts


I really do admire your honesty. The trouble is when we are so deep in the depression black hole we just don't think. We reach out into the void of social media because we are so desperate for someone to help us. In that moment the awareness of how it appears to other people goes out the window as we are just so desperate for someone to understand. It's not done out of malice we are just not in our right minds. In that situation it's hard to assess whether what we are doing is productive or helpful we just do it.


If you feel like it helps sharing this stuff then you should, if you feel like it makes it a negative place and it doesn't really help then don't share it. If you are going to share your emotions then try to say the negatives(if there are any) and then end with a positive so it doesn't worsen it. You deserve to be able to do what you're comfortable doing. Love u Dodie ♥


There is such a fine line between sharing too much and not sharing enough. I've had times where I kept it to myself and I've felt incredibly alone, but I've also confided in someone that soon became annoyed with me being constantly down


I'm half way through the video and i just wanna say please don't stop posting these type of videos. If talking to the camera and sharing about how you feel is something that makes YOU feel good about then please. don't. stop. i love it when you open up to us, it makes me feel somewhat less alone and it reminds me that i'm not going through this by myself. whatever you do, people are gonna say something about it so don't let them stop you from doing what makes you feel good. Stay strong, Dodie. x


I have to admit I tune out a bit from your long posts - particularly on instagram - I find they're almost like diary entries, and with all the love in the world, that can be tedious, however heart felt. My impression is that social media has really given an unhealthily heavy emphasis on nostalgia, which seems to really overwhelm you. I know you have actual mental health issues, but the nostalgic element is what really stands out. I don't know if this is symptomatic of our new social world, but I feel like it does promote a more wallowy side, and gives an outlet to obsessively look at your past and feel the present is lacking, which I think is really unhelpful. Obviously everyone tends to romanticise their pasts, but I just think trying to imagine the present as the past of your future (if that makes sense) can help you to appreciate the moment a bit more. Like the present is an act of making memories. Obviously you can do whatever you want to do, but I would just say that if it doesn't really help you, then don't bother. You could always just record the videos and not upload them - then maybe go back to them when you're feeling better and THEN make a video about it, using edits from those vids - once you have a bit more perspective. Because that would probably be actually helpful for people going through what you have, as they would be able to see that you can get out of it. Anyway, hope you feel better soon - maybe try having a social media detox (not because I dont enjoy your content, just because it might help you to change things up for yourself a bit) xx


man i loved this video. it's so fulfilling to hear people talk about this thing


I've been waiting for this video for who knows how long. Like pretty much everyone else has said, I am a huge fan of you Dodie! Your videos are great and you are very kind and talented. But I've unfollowed you on all social media. I completely agree with what Hazel and Zanna said about you posting everything while you are in the pits rather than in hindsight. It's dangerous and I feel that it does more harm than good, and even romanticizes depression a whole lot since so many people look up to you-- not because of the way you're talking about it necessarily, but the mere fact that it is you saying these things can me romanticizing, not to mention triggering.

Although it will help many people who are suffering from severe depression like you to see someone they look up to sharing their experiences, it is harmful to those of us who are young and highly impressionable, those of us who are shaped by what we see on TV and on YouTube. It is also hurtful to watch this type of video because we are seeing things only through your eyes, not the objective reality (though that is not to say that your view of things is wrong in any way, but it is only one way of seeing things). It makes it feel like your form of depression and your experience with mental health is the only one out there, like anything other than your experience is somehow insignificant compared to the way that you talk about your mental health (granted you are one of the only narratives out there). So it's invalidating to watch you talk about your personal experience because in the minds of a young person who looks up to you very much, it seems like that it is the only experience (ie the right experience), and that makes it really difficult to understand ourselves. This is a topic that is so specific to each person, and your viewers should not be influenced in the way they think about their mental health in comparison to yours because they're so different! I am not saying that your experience is invalid, I'm saying that some of your viewers see this as the cut and dry way of experiencing depression, which is not true for everyone. But I want you to know that we believe you and that your experiences are 100% valid. But they are, as I said, your experiences, not those of every single person out there who suffers from depression and that's important to note.

All that said, I really truly hope that you find something to help, Dodie.  If you truly are going to share less/do it more positively, then I am rooting for you because I think it could be a really big step forward for your healing. Feelings change, sometimes we learn from them, sometimes they're just meant to pass. I'm sure you know that very well. Social media stays though, and its not always accurate to how we feel later. Thank you to Zanna for saying what many of us were thinking, and thank you Dodie for taking our opinions into consideration for the topics discussed in the video.


If what you do is considered "oversharing" then thankyou!!<3:) Plz never stop being so real and honest


I personally find it helpful and fascinating to see what over people think because I also sometimes have the same emotions and instead of lying in in a pit of self pity i can see what you have said about it and I feel realated to and less alone but sometimes it gives me less hope so before posting maybe put a trigger warning or some kind of disclaimer obviously I'm not trying to tell you how you should use your social media but personally I think this is the best way to handle it again, totally up to you! Love videos like this with important and interesting topic!!! Xxx


Personally I think it's wonderful that you are so open on social media and I'm sure that it helps a lot of people to feel less alone in their feeling. But I can also see how this may not be helping you in the long run which I wouldn't want so I hope that if you do continue being so open online that you also reach out a lot to friends and people who you know personally for support. Aside from that I also just wanted to say that your videos make me so happy no matter what the topic is and I hope that whatever you do it turns out well for you. 💕💕💕


On #2 from the description, I actually shied away from watching this video, even though I'm a subscriber and got a notification when you first posted this. I do think that it can be really hard to see someone else's struggle when you're in a low place yourself, and that this can end up pushing people who could use your words of support away from your content. Because now, having watched the video, I feel a bit better about having the strength to reach out to my friends when I was in a bad place. To me, that makes the content valuable, but if it became all I could expect from you, it might make me hesitant to always watch your videos, or follow you on other social media, in fear of the triggering.


I like that you share. I suffer from depression/ anxiety as well. It makes me feel less alone. I talk about my mental illness and I'm not ashamed to say I'm seeing someone and prescribed meds.


My friends always thought I was bright and cheery and I felt such pressure to repress my depression and negative thoughts bc I didn't want to upset them but it felt good to see someone who also had a cutesy "brand" also have a dark side. It's so fucking real to me. On the flip side, I feel like it's also becoming trendy for the younger viewers especially. As a kid, it was trendy for my peers as well.


I want only the best for you, you know that and everybody else here wants the best for you as well. I see what you and Hazel are saying about over sharing too much and maybe triggering people or maybe seeming too needy and not dealing with your problems, but please don't stop talking about your mental health and mental health in general. For some people like me, the only way we find happiness and we know that we're not alone is through YouTube and Twitter and Snapchat and Instagram etc. if that'll stops I will feel so alone and so will a lot of people out there. So please please please I cannot say this enough please just try to find a balance but don't stop talking about it. Talk to your friends more and try what Hazel said and not talk about these things at your very lowest point but please don't stop talking about it. I love you so much and if you stop talking about it and you weren't being your true self online I don't know what I would do.


dodie, I watched your snapchat about how the responses are completely varied and I agree but I just wanted to say, you have helped me so much. I'm 13 and I've had anxiety as long as I can remember but it was only recognised when I was about 10 or 11, you've helped me put things into perspective and understand that it's okay to not be okay sometimes. As for the depression side of things I have watched your Snapchats and I now understand (even though I will never truly understand) what it must be to go through something like that and have even been able to learn from it. Thank you so much for always being here for me. Lots of love xx

(Also quick side note, I personally don't think that you're romanticising anxiety and depression and I think that you're just telling it how it is but if it helps other please don't share too much)


[Brief context: I'm 21, I have depression, anxiety, OCD and PTSD]<br>I also massively overshare about my mental illnesses - not in the same way because obviously I don't have (or want) an audience in that way - but by talking about it all the time in a way that eventually becomes the 'empty calories' you were talking about. I think that's why I see what you put out there in videos/snapchat/instagram as helpful and validating - because it validates the way I cope? This video has given me a lot to think about too. Much love, keep being grand, keep letting your friends look after you - they care and you deserve their help! <3 (I'm trying to remember this myself, too.)

[Brief context: I'm 21, I have depression, anxiety, OCD and PTSD]
I also massively overshare about my mental illnesses - not in the same way because obviously I don't have (or want) an audience in that way - but by talking about it all the time in a way that eventually becomes the 'empty calories' you were talking about. I think that's why I see what you put out there in videos/snapchat/instagram as helpful and validating - because it validates the way I cope? This video has given me a lot to think about too. Much love, keep being grand, keep letting your friends look after you - they care and you deserve their help! <3 (I'm trying to remember this myself, too.)


this was an important conversation to have. i appreciated watching it!


Thank you for sharing. You make me feel less alone. Love and support you always 💚


I think it's easier to talk to a camera because you have complete control. You can say what you want and turn it off when you want. You don't have to hear anything you don't want to hear in that moment back at you. If a friend was there, they'd talk with you and help you do the hard work to get down to why you feel that way, or to go take a walk, or cry with you, or do whatever it takes to help your mood some, and maybe then you'd feel better afterwards ... but that's work. And when you feel like crap, you don't want to work. You just want some sense of relief. I think that's what the camera is. It gives you that ability to feel like you did something without actually doing anything productive for yourself. Your videos do help others, and I don't want to negate that at all, but for you personally your videos may be a way of avoiding dealing with what you're going through. It shifts your focus away from yourself. That can be a good thing, actually, but it can also just be avoidance.

I don't know though. I don't even own a camera. I think Zannah's a good friend to encourage you to reach out to real people in your life instead of a camera, though. I love your videos, and I've benefited so much personally from watching them, but I want you to be well too. Your friends are worth listening to in this regard. If the camera is therapeutic, use it, but if it's a crutch, reach out to your friends instead. Be well, Dodie (and Hazel too)! <3

xzonia1 this is so true. From a camera you hear exactly what you want to hear but sometimes you need a real person to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want


I text my friend about this last month, just found the texts which read -

"Whenever I see Dodie on social media these days it's always something to do with mental illness. If that helps her then that's great, but I can't help but feel that it adds to this whole glamorization of mental illnesses. Not that she's intentionally glamorizing it, but when it's all that someone of that status is talking about it's hard to differentiate the two. Cause I don't think seeing big social media stars talk about mental illness actually helped me when I didn't have the best mental health at 14/15, if anything it made me want to use those mental health issues to fit in, which is not ok at all"

Obviously conversations about mental health are so so important and it's great to raise awareness, but i think it becomes damaging when someone's mental health is such a huge part of their high status online persona. Sending you love Dodie, it takes a lot of courage to open up this kind of discussion. X


Dodes, I think the points you made in the description are really valid and important. You pretty much summed my concerns up. I love your videos where you discuss everything going on and I do believe it's healthy for  you to express all of that, but to a certain extent. It is very helpful for me to remember I'm not alone and people out there feel just as bad as I do some days, but on my good days, it hurts to see you so unwell. I dunno, just hoping you work out what's best for you! Thanks for being here xx


dodie - i love this video. i have no words to tell you why, but i love it, especially hazel's chicken and egg analogy. noone seems to get it but you guys.


You help me SO much. You're literally the only one who understands me as crazy as that sounds but without you online and me knowing I'm not really alone some days seriously keep me going like...YOU ARE SO INSPIRING. Please god keep being real...and doing what feels good and right in your heart. There is no other YouTuber like you at all and I just feel like without you being totally real it's like....what's the point? Yano. Anywayyyy I genuinely thank you from the bottom of my heart for being you. You're amazing.


As a 13 year old anxiety and depression sufferer, I feel like I can relate you and your little Snapchat videos and I personally find it helpful and reassuring to have someone who is so famous and such a role model to me to be so open about their true feelings. I know exactly how you are feeling and tbh I'm always up when you post the 3am snapchats!! You could make a series dedicated to mental health related stuff because soooooo many other young people are going through this and I feel like this taboo needs to be talked about? Thank you so much for raising this topic and I hope you don't think that this means you can't ever talk about your feelings on social media because you can and there will always be someone there to listen!! Xxxxxx lots of love charlotte


i believe there's a certain responsibility when it comes to talking about mental health. Especially when your audience is younger, which yours is. i am 22, and i know how impressionable younger people are, being an impressionable young person myself. I remember watching your videos, and then having a small panic attack thinking maybe i had depersonalization, which I dont think I do, but when you describe it so vividly, some people might look for the signs and make it fit themselves. that's not to say, I dont think you should feel responsible for how your audience reacts, because that is ridiculous, but I think you should feel responsible for how you present it. i think this kind of new era where oversharing is pretty common is still being navigated. i don't want you to think i blame you for anything, because you are just experiencing what you are feeling and you want people to know that if they're feeling the same way, they're not alone. I think you are a brilliant creator and i love seeing how you take your feelings and make art with them. just my opinion on oversharing mental health issues


I think that we have the idea that bottling everything up ends up badly a lot of the time but I think spilling it all out can end badly as well. You need to find a balance between both.


Statement:
What I like about, and what draws me to you is your honesty, and your integrity (not to mention your BLOODY TALENT.) I believe that even having such ethical questions in mind as these, is what separates you out from other creators on the platform, and keeps me coming back to your channel. Thank you for what you do. I, at least, consider watching you to be a valuable part of my day.

But:
I don't always agree with, or particularly even like some of the things that you choose to discuss, and sometimes skip your Snapchats because they tend to make me uneasy. I often feel as though I am invading your privacy, as though what you are saying was not meant for my eyes, even though you're speaking publicly.

That said:
What I watch is my choice, and what you say, and how you choose to say it is yours. I enjoy the majority of content that you make more than anything else on YouTube so you better believe I'll keep coming back to your channel time and time again. I skip your Snapchats, that doesn't mean I won't have Party Tattoos on repeat from now until forever. I don't have the right answer, and no one does. My advice (if I have any place at all to give any) is that whatever you do it's going to upset someone, just try not to make that someone you.


I think that you can do whatever you want, you're a wonderful person with some horrible monsters fighting with your happiness, and that's ok, because life and live depends of that, having rushes and fails and if you feel better sharing your feelings with us, go ahead, because I'll always be here. Ily, Doddle💕 Have a nice day.


Oh god that description from Hazel, that's just how I feel all the time. Bless her for putting it into such perfect words


Wow I thought it was just me. I had to stop watching your Snapchat story for a while because of how it was making me feel, and it honestly did make me feel better. Gotta be honest - I have started watching it again and I do think it plays a role in my mood, so I may have to stop watching it again. Idk, I do get that it might help some people, but at times, it can definitely be a bit too much. I think this video is great as it shows how self-aware you are of these things - it is important to take a step back sometimes :)


I've honestly never related to a video more. I've always struggled. When I would reach out I would apologize profusely for bothering them.


I like hearing dodie laugh, just keep smiling gurll


From what you tell us, I relate to you quite a bit, and like to add that I always wonder we people with mental illness and disorders sometimes because obsessed with it, they're own mind. Probably because it corrupts our thought process and that's all we ever focus on, at least that's probably the reason for why I seem to do that. I can't really go through a long conversation without bringing up my own depression/ocd/anxiety or at least make a sarcastic, dark-humoured comment on it. I feel like a burden myself just even mentioning I have a disorder. It really sucks.


Watched 1 second of the video

What a beautiful bean

(Edit: Watched the full video! She's a beautiful AND caring bean)

(But obviously we already know that)

Watched 1 second of the video

*What a beautiful bean*

(Edit: Watched the full video! She's a beautiful AND caring bean)

(But obviously we already know that)

Meghan Lyle <b>We're all beautiful beans!</b> <333

Meghan Lyle *We're all beautiful beans!* <333


I like this video a lot because I tend to share my feeling on the Instagram stories a lot and I rarely think about how it could affect others. So this kind of opened my eyes. Thank you


I think it's absolutely lovely that you talk about mental health. There are day's for me where I wish I could just simply talk to a friend about all the things i'm going through. I've noticed recently that I spend my whole day dwelling on who I am and who I want to be; all while trying to create   and be the writer  that I want to be. I wish I could find more people like you that are  open to being able to say i'm having mental issue day and here is how I feel about it . I struggle  to even admitting I need help and i'm so grateful that Ifound your channel a few years back because  i'm finally starting to talk to my friends about my feelings. Doddie ,I really do appreciate all that you do ,what you represent , and I deeply appreciate the fact that you want to let other people know that they are not alone.  I cant express how thankful I am  continue to get  better  and please know that your friends are there for you and  they will support you.


This feed of ideas and comments on mental health, art, and social media in the world is amazing. Whatever your conclusion about this video, it's raised some hugely interesting issues for debate which I'm finding really cool to flick through.


(i’m late) but i feel like you have every right to share your feelings. but i feel like you do have somewhat of a young audience that can feed off of the energy and things you produce. it’s like a placebo effect, your audience starts to feel like you do, almost like living vicariously through your mental state. i understand how hard it is but you have t o n s of people around you who care about you and are there for you. i recommend venting to those people, instead of the entirety of the internet. i don’t mean stop making videos about your mental state completely, but little tips and an update on your mental state would be great! love you dodie 💛


This is really interesting. I never really share my mental health struggles on public internet because of the shame I know I'll feel and shit like that. Occasionally I'll put a photo up on snapchat saying that I've had a bad day but all the wrong people would reply to it so I stopped. I used to reach out to a friend but after that got shitty and toxic I stopped that too. Now I only reach out in my lowest moments but even then don't share the extent to what I feel. I don't have counselling or help from my parents so it's very lonely. I'm kinda at a point in my life that I feel if I don't get help soon this might not end well, end being the key word but I have unsupportive parents and am terrified of being as much of a burden on my friends as my old friend who I used to talk to was to me. It's tricky to know what to share. It's tricky because a lot of the time for me it's very graphic. I don't want to make my other mentally ill friends (and that's all of my friends) worse in any way but if I don't talk I often drag myself down to a really shitty and suicidal point. Idk. Easier for me. I'm a needle in a haystack.


Ok so here are the many thoughts I thought when watching your vid. 1)I 100% agree that there should be an outlet where you can get whatever you're feeling out (which is VERY IMPORTANT). Whether it be through social media or not there will be some weight lifted off your shoulders, even if it's just a little and barely noticeable. How you get it out is optional. If you now feel a bit hesitant on how much you say on Snapchat in fear of the people's response then do not think that you can't get whatever you are thinking out at all. Write it down physically on paper which is what I do and I sometimes feel so much better. If you find yourself going to Snapchat and start recording yourself then at least save them and don't post them. Like Hazel said, especially on those extremely low nights.  2)I think there is a way to open you're Snapchat to people who added you but you didn't add back to get feedback from them and you could always close them after 3)I have the opposite problem where I suppress my feelings and only get my thoughts out on paper. I don't really have anyone that fully understands what I'm feeling or that can help me feel better, but you do ❤4) people just assume I'm better because I put on this facade of me being better and happy so I feel people won't believe me when I say "I'm not right in the brain, especially today". That's all, probably. I hope this helps you or anyone else who reads this 😚


this video has made me realise why i've been feeling mentally bad recently because i've been watching you pour your troubles on your snapchat story which has led me to question my mental stability which prior to the last few months has been okay and i've never had problems. i think it's a good thing you share what's going on in your life to show others the normality of mental health problems and that they're not alone but it is affecting other people because your indepth talking has caused their problem to maybe resurface. the past few months i've been more emotional and crying and unsure about myself and i don't think your snapchats are the direct cause but i don't think they're helping me.


Paper. Burning paper.
I get exactly what you say, I overshare on social media and I regret it and I regret it and I regret it
So I write it on paper and burn the paper
And watch the smoke
It drifts up and up and with it I let go


Dodie genuinely makes me feel so much better about myself


I'm not going to comment on behavior/oversharing, but I will say that this video was such a good and real discussion about pitfalls and struggling and reaching out to others and it was so comforting and helpful. It's really nice to see friends talking about this and helping each other because it encourages others to have the same discussions with their loved ones.


I have an anxiety disorder and have dealt with depression for many years, and I have always been a musician and a creative person and for so long I put off getting help because I had this romanticized view that my mental struggles was what made me a good artist and fueled my creativity, and as my mental health deteriorated it got to a really really dangerous place. This concept of tying creativity and artistic expression to being mentally ill is a slippery slope to go down, and it can be really harmful. A healthier way to look at it is to see creativity and artistic outlets as a coping mechanism that’s separate from your mental health, not as something that depends on your illness.


At the end of the day if you find its helping you and some of your audience I don't really see the harm in it. Personally I don't mind you sharing about mental health until it gets to a point where it's so descriptive and vivid that it's triggering. I also just worry that now you are a bigger youtuber that it's not healthy for a large amount of people to know so much about you and it could be dangerous for you in the long run. Love you Dodie, just a few thoughts X


Yeah, I've been starting to share some of my writing. And some of it is emotionally deep stuff. And it's hard, one you start to open up, to shut the door. But I have a folder for stuff I think is too much or something I can't handle sharing, or something that I couldn't handle a negative/dismissive opinion on so I see that stuff but no one else does. And the very open stuff I also screen it through a close friend and say "is this okay to share?"


I think the main point many people are trying to get across is, that while it is good to break down the stigma of mental health, a large portion of your audience is composed of young, impressionable viewers. Viewers who can be swayed to think of mental health in a certain light. Or viewers who have been diagnosed with depression, but experience it in a different way than you do, therefore not feeling truly "valid" in their feelings. It's a hard concept to flesh out. Personally, I'm a bit more reserved with my mental health, so it's hard for me to understand when people turn to social media, as I'm afraid of people having preconceived notions about me. All in all, Dodie, you're such a lovely and kind hearted person and I love what you're doing. Just remember that your influence reaches a large audience of variety. :)


Dodie I love you a lot and it's heartbreaking to see someone you look up to be so sad all the time yknow? I know you do seek out some mental help but this is probably something hat should be a big priority?  I do know that it's really hard to get up and out to take those steps to get better though... but I believe you can do it!


I have very mixed feelings about this after watching and reading the comments. One the one hand I can understand how people can look at posts about mental health and believe it to be romanticising mental illnesses but on the other hand it might not necessarily be their intention and they just need an outlet.
As someone who has gone to therapy and been diagnosed with depression, I think it is a good idea to talk to someone and go get help (even though I know sometimes it's not an option or it's hard for a lot of people), I find it quite difficult to talk to people face to face but I am glad that I went to these sessions. Even if you just want to message a friend about how you're feeling and say 'hey, I've been feeling pretty terrible lately' but I also understand that it is a lot easier to talk to yourself or a camera and have people approach you.
As a musical person, from watching dodie's videos and snaps, they have really helped me see that I'm not alone and I could potentially use my sad thoughts to make something good with them. Also I just think mental health is really interesting and how the brain works is fascinating (I am not saying I love mental illness or encourage it, in fact I absolutely hate it).
I agree with the idea of filming a video or writing things down but then waiting a bit and seeing if you still want to click upload. So I think that this kind of content is potentially harmful but I don't want dodie to have to censor herself especially if it could help someone. <3 <3


I did my GCSE speech about Dodie and I got a distinction which I was told was because of my passion towards the subject of her and all she's done. I mentioned her videos on this channel about mental health (and sexuality) and how they are so incredibly helpful by removing stigma/being a place I can come back to. I don't really know what I'm saying, but please don't stop posting about these subjects!!