Addiction is a mental disorder that can be treated with professional help. However, the societal stigma associated with addiction prevents addicts from sharing their feelings and discussing their experiences.
So, where do people suffering from substance use disorder (SUD) go when they need help? Social media.
From Facebook to Instagram, several options are available for people in active addiction or the recovery community to post and communicate with others with similar experiences and interests.
TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms for people to turn to help them recover.
Keep on reading to discover those who are dedicating their personal and professional insights on TikTok to help you live a happy, sober life.
Key Takeaways
TikTok has become an incredible platform to foster an online community to offer help to those addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Here is how mental health professionals and those who have been through recovery make positive changes in the life of addicts on TikTok.
- TikTokers break the stigma associated with addiction.
- Offer hope that all is not lost and you can overcome your condition.
- Educate people about addiction and mental health issues.
- Encourage and inspire people to seek professional help.
- Answer the questions that people may not be able to find elsewhere.
TikTok is a helpful platform for getting professional advice, but it is important to know that TikTok is not a replacement for therapy. For professional treatment, Indiana Center for Recovery can help. Contact us at (844) 650-0064!
How It All Started
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok, a social media app known for its short-form videos, became one of the most popular social media platforms among Gen Z and millennials in the US.
TikTok’s eye-catching short clips became a highlight during the bleak quarantine periods of the pandemic. People who were confined to their homes turned to these short-form clips as a form of entertainment.
Within a few weeks, many niche genres, such as dance, education, fashion, cooking, DIY, and more, gained popularity.
Today, TikTok has become a platform for thousands of healthcare experts, including therapists, psychiatrists, and mental health activists, who use the app’s widespread reach to discuss addiction and mental health issues.
How Effective Is TikTok in Recovery?
Treatment for substance abuse and mental illness usually involves evidence-based behavioral therapies with or without medications.
However, recovery support services from social media platforms, such as TikTok, can positively impact a person’s recovery journey, particularly if they are enrolled in an addiction treatment program.
An article published in PubMed explores substance use recovery-focused videos found on TikTok. After searching 20 keywords, this study found that the most common theme was the journey and transition from having a substance use disorder to entering rehab.
Another common theme was sharing recovery milestones within the addiction and recovery community.
Popular Addiction-Related TikTok Accounts
There are over 20 million Americans who struggle with substance use disorders (SUDs). Although various effective addiction treatment options are available, it can be difficult for many people to get formal treatment services.
In many areas, there are just not enough resources to satisfy the recovery-related needs of the people, and there is still a social stigma attached to addiction. As a result, platforms like TikTok can be extremely helpful for those people who might otherwise feel isolated.
While TikTok may not be the first place that anyone would recommend you to go for help, it is undeniable that accessibility to the platform is compelling and may likely open doors to more traditional forms of therapy.
The following is a list of the most popular addiction-related TikTok accounts where specialists provide hope and strength to those struggling with addiction problems.
We hope you like this list, and if you get inspiration from these accounts, please try it for yourself! Put your recovery story out there; who knows, you could save someone’s life.
The Mindfull Podcast
TikTok Handle: @themindfullpodcast
If you are looking for addiction-related answers, need to find care, or simply want to explore mental health podcasts, The Mindfull Podcast is here to help.
The Mindfull Podcast aims to break the stigma associated with mental health. The host, Michelle, has a new guest, including mental health professionals, on the podcast each episode.
The podcast covers different mental health-related topics, including depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and relationships, over a calming soundtrack that makes listening to the clips a pleasant experience.
Mental health specialists talk about the signs and symptoms that you may be struggling with a particular mental health disorder and useful tips to help you ground yourself in situations that may make you uneasy or cope with a traumatic situation.
You can also get advice on communication, compatibility, relationship priorities, and signs that your partner is taking you for granted or not treating you with the respect and esteem you deserve.
This platform provides a secure environment for TikTok users to discover motivation to enter rehab and find answers to questions they may not be able to find elsewhere.
Courtney | Therapist
TikTok Handle: @the.truth.doctor
Dr. Courtney Tracy makes sympathetic, sometimes humorous videos on what it’s like to be in recovery. Her areas of expertise include addiction, anxiety, depression, mood swings, and childhood trauma.
She also provides quick tips for various situations (anxiety, panic attacks, procrastination) as well as reasons for why you may be experiencing particular emotions and what to do about them.
You can rely on Dr. Tracy to normalize whatever feelings or concerns you are experiencing at the moment or have had in the past.
Julie | Psychologist
TikTok Handle: @drjuliesmith
Dr. Smith is the most famous mental health specialist on TikTok because of her short psycho-educational clips that make use of props and analogies.
Her videos aim to educate, encourage, and inspire viewers. She also hopes that her short TikTok clips will encourage parents to communicate openly about mental health with their children and teens.
B Addiction Recovery
TikTok Handle: @addictionrecovery
Dr. B uses his medical experience to provide his viewers with scientifically accurate information about medication-assisted treatment, signs of substance misuse, useful tips on how to maintain a healthy and sober lifestyle, and the general medical history of drugs that are abused.
Pej The Interventionist
TikTok Handle: @pejinterventions
Pej is an alcohol and drug interventionist who has been sober for almost 14 years. On his TikTok profile, he shares his genuine feelings with his viewers about the many addictive substances he has used in the past, how to avoid enabling loved ones, and his strong belief in the 12-step process.
So, if you want to immerse yourself in 12-step recovery content on TikTok, Pej is the account worth following.
Christine H. Moore
TikTok Handle: @christinehmoore
Christine H. Moore, a qualified peer recovery coach, shares her experience with addiction to opioids and sleeping drugs on her TikTok profile.
Her addiction nearly cost her everything. Her spouse had issued divorce papers to her. She changed her life and is now using this platform to share her experience with other addicts.
theshaniproject
TikTok Handle: @theshaniproject
Shani joined TikTok with the purpose of creating a safe platform for people of color to feel confident about addiction treatment and mental health.
Shani says on her TikTok profile that defining her life based on the opinions of others has left her “lonely, crying, and pondering” making a suicide attempt. She felt it was time to accept herself and wanted to help others do the same.
Her TikTok focuses on the significance of a culturally competent therapist and shows the progress that may occur when you find someone you can trust to confide in.
Justin Puder, Ph.D.
TikTok Handle: @amoderntherapist
Justin Puder is a psychologist/therapist who uses jokes and humor in his TikTok videos to educate his audience on a range of issues.
In his viral videos on TikTok, he talks about various topics, including managing social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, active listening, labeling thoughts, and anxious vs. intrusive thoughts.
Ronny Morales
TikTok Handle: @ronnymorales
Ronny has been sober for over a year. He was addicted to alcohol and opiates but is now an active member of the online recovery community. He often facilitates Zoom recovery meetings and offers to assist anybody in need.
Rachel Havekost | Author
TikTok Handle: @rachelhavekost
Rachel Havekost is a mental health warrior who overcame her battles and is now using her voice to help others in their recovery journey.
She is not one to remain silent about severe mental and substance abuse issues, and she is now a best-selling author who helps others discover the beauty in life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is sober TikTok?
Sober TikTok refers to the side of TikTok where mental health professionals, therapists, psychologists, and even people who used drugs in the past make videos to encourage everyone to become and stay sober.The most popular videos range from honest flashbacks of an addict’s most difficult period to skits, dances, and lip-syncs under different hashtags (such as #sober and #sobriety) on the app.
In the comment section of the TikTok videos, people indulge in useful discussions of sobriety and recovery, creating a safe space to share and get help.
How can a person recover from an addiction?
Addiction to drugs and alcohol leads to changes in the brain which make sobriety seems an impossible task.However, some useful steps can help any person recover from addiction.
The steps include:
Admit that there is a problem
Learn about addiction
Stay away from temptations and triggering environment
Seek professional help
Exercise regularly
Eat healthy meals
Build a social support network
How do I get over an addiction fast?
Studies show that if you follow the steps listed below, you can achieve your recovery goals fast. You have a higher chance of success if you adopt all five measures.Choose a date to quit taking drugs and drinking alcohol.
Change your environment, including people, places, and objects, that can easily trigger your addiction.
Distract yourself with valuable and healthy activities.
Review your past attempts to quit and make changes accordingly.
Build a supportive social network.
What is it called when you recover from an addiction?
Addiction recovery is a process in which people improve their overall health, live self-directed lives, and try to reach their full potential.Even those with chronic and severe SUD can overcome their condition and restore health and social function with the right support. This is known as remission. When such values and positive changes become part of a lifestyle, you are said to be in recovery.
While many individuals in recovery think that abstinence from all drug use is a necessary component of a recovery lifestyle, others report that dealing with destructive emotions without substance use and leading a productive life are more significant aspects of their recovery.
Indiana Center for Recovery Helps You Get Life That Inspires Others
TikTok is filled with all sorts of content that you could ever imagine, but it’s inspiring to know that there are people there providing others guidance about living a life free of drugs and mental health issues.
While TikTok might be a great way to look for advice from mental health specialists, it’s important to note that not everyone on the platform is qualified to give advice.
For professional advice and treatment, you can turn to Indiana Center for Recovery. We treat all addictions, including alcoholism, benzo addiction, cocaine addiction, meth addiction, opioid addiction, and many others.
We offer a comprehensive range of treatment services, which include detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, dual diagnosis, family programs, and evidence-based therapies (such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR).
For additional information about our services, feel free to contact us at (844) 650-0064!