Many individuals feel compelled to share mental health tips online, but which ones are genuinely effective?
There is a plethora of advice available when it comes to simple actions you can take to boost your mental well-being. Suggestions range from spending time in nature, eating a balanced diet, meditating, to even taking ice baths.
However, if you’re short on time, it can be challenging to determine which of these health tips actually make a difference.
Fortunately, psychotherapist Booker Woodford is conducting the research for us by examining various online theories about activities that are believed to enhance mental health.
Booker explored the web to find out what people claim helps with their mental health, and one recommendation he encountered was the use of an enema.
The Cleveland Clinic describes an enema as ‘an injection of fluid directly into your rectum that helps you poop’.
Some individuals may visit a clinic to receive an enema, or they can purchase kits for home use.
While enemas offer some health benefits, such as alleviating constipation or preparing for a colonoscopy, their mental health benefits remain debatable.
Meanwhile, some ‘wellness influencers’ recently have touted the ‘detoxification’ advantages of enemas, particularly coffee enemas, but the evidence supporting these claims is still inconclusive.
Booker decided to experience an enema at a clinic in Australia to assess its effects on his well-being.
Discussing his findings, Booker mentioned: “I saw people online claiming enemas cleansed the body of toxins, relaxed the nervous system, and led to a healthier body and mental state. Clean arse, clean mind.”
Though initially skeptical, Booker approached the experiment with an open mind, willing to challenge his own beliefs.
After undergoing the procedure, Booker shared: “I felt angry while having it done. From the context of mental health recovery, and as a mental health practitioner, it felt extremely dangerous and vulnerable to suggest that getting water fired into their ass would aid in their mental health journey.
“If someone is at their most desperate for mental health relief and they turn to this as a last option and it doesn’t work, then where does that leave them? Mental illness is life-threatening.”
He continued: “Following the procedure, I actually felt fed up, exhausted, and sad. If I was getting an enema to have cleaner, funner sex then I’d get it but I didn’t feel any relief from mental anguish. I felt like I’d been used for someone’s online clout.”
Booker expressed concerns about the risks of relying on platforms like TikTok for mental health advice, stating: “Especially if the person espousing ‘expert’ advice is making claims on behalf of everyone.”
“No science-backed therapeutic mental health recovery technique works for all people, let alone an enema,” he continued. “People who are really suffering from mental illness are often particularly fragile and can be desperate to find at least one thing that relieves their pain. That makes them potentially susceptible and that fills me with fear.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.