As we scroll through polished images and crafted narratives, our search for validation is amplified. Comparing ourselves to the fake reality of what other people have constructed of their online persona.

We become our own worst critics, as we can't live up to the image of perfection shared. Feeling as though we aren't good enough, we will never be good enough. Each comparison sharpens the edge of self-doubt, deepening the wounds

We spiral down a path of substance use, resorting to alcohol and other substances as temporary escapes, a desperate attempt to numb the all-encompassing pain.

We mask these feelings within an outwardly calm façade, a sanctuary of perceived tranquility.