Psychologist warns against ‘candy salad’ TikTok trend that see Gen Z ‘trauma dumping’ with their friends (over a bowl of sweets) and urges people to get mental health support instead

For most of us, the mere mention of “salad” brings tears to our eyes — usually at the thought of kale, cucumber, and cold chicken — but the latest “salad” trend on social media is making Gen Z cry for a very different reason.

Instead of mixing different vegetables and superfoods, Gen Z is sharing their ‘trauma’ on social media by making a ‘candy salad’ of sweets, showing their life’s suffering by putting sweets in a bowl.

The growing sugar trend has now been viewed 70.2 million times on the app, with young people sharing their ‘trauma stories’.

In one clip, a creator says: “Hi, my name is Abby and when I was 16, my aunt drove me off a cliff,” while another scandalous “dump” revealed: “My name is Bella and when I was born, my dad hid his drugs in my crib.”

With each emotional display, users throw a packet of candy into a large mixing bowl, usually while laughing painfully.

But now a leading psychologist is warning that expressing your emotional feelings to friends may not be so healthy.

Vikas Keshri, clinical director of Bloom Clinical Care Counseling and Therapy Services, said that while the trend can be helpful for some in processing their trauma in unique ways, it shouldn’t overlook more pragmatic healing methods.

Pictured: In one of the more lighthearted clips, social media influencer Joseppi Baggzelini filmed a ‘candy salad trauma dump’ with his family, revealing a humorous story from his childhood

In another clip, two British social media creators share their ‘trauma’ from their work as influencers.

The video opens with one of the creators saying, “My name is Angelina and once a group of 16-year-old boys threw rocks at me while I was giving interviews.”

This confession is followed by a second trauma dump from a friend who reveals: ‘One time I got so much hate on a video that I was driving while crying and then I crashed my car’.

In another dramatic video, as piles of candy were thrown into a bowl, the following was revealed: ‘I was robbed at gunpoint on a first date and the guy ignored me afterwards’.

Another ‘dump’ revealed: ‘My mom blocked me on Facebook and we haven’t spoken in over two years.’

At the end of the video, the two young women are even seen standing next to a pile of medications, showing a dark side to the trend.

A few American TikTokers shared their horrific memories from their childhood, including an incident where one of their mothers used their money for drugs when she was younger

In one of the more lighthearted clips, British social media influencer Joseppi Baggzelini filmed a ‘candy salad trauma dump’ with his family.

In the clip he tells the bizarre story: ‘Hi, my name is Joe and when I was two and I was potty training, I saw my own poop for the first time and I was so scared I didn’t poop for 11 days and I had to go to the hospital… these are Minion poop bags.’

The next in line to offer a comical ingredient said, “Hi, I’m George and when I was in seventh grade we ran out of moisturizer so my mom put a self-tanner on me and I got bullied… I have Randoms.”

Several viewers immediately responded to the commenters, expressing their concern about the creators of the video, who seemed to show their deepest feelings.

One concerned viewer wrote: ‘I’m so glad you found each other. I’m so sorry for all the trauma you’ve both been through. I hope you’re living a great life now.’

One commenter wrote: ‘You are all so strong for getting through all of this. And that candy salad looks amazing too.’

A third said: ‘The way you all seem so sweet. My heart aches for you all, I hope you’re all well.’

Several viewers took to the commenters to express their concerns about the makers of the videos that seemed to reveal some of their deepest pains

A few American TikTokers shared their horrific memories from their childhood, including an incident where one of their mothers used their money for drugs when she was younger

Psychologist warns that excessive sharing with ‘trauma dumping’ is not always healthy and should be avoided

However, the recent trend of ‘trauma dumping’ has raised eyebrows among psychologists, who warn that sharing your emotional feelings with friends may not be the healthiest thing to do.

Vikas Keshri, clinical director of Bloom Clinical Care Counseling and Therapy Services, said that while the trend can be helpful for some in processing their trauma in unique ways, it shouldn’t overlook more pragmatic healing methods.

He told FEMAIL: ‘Everyone deals with trauma differently, so this could be a way to deal with traumatic events by doing something light-hearted and humorous, like the candy salad trend.’

He noted that several passages deal with “traumas” that occurred years ago, and that a number of passages also addressed childhood grievances.

Vikas warned that it is essential that people seek professional help rather than relying on their own fun on social media.

“In general, if you are experiencing flashbacks, insomnia, or struggling with traumatic memories of events that happened more than a few weeks to a few months ago, it is best to talk to a licensed mental health professional,” he said.

Psychologist, and Oxford University lecturer Nelisha Wickremasinghe has previously advised people who have suffered traumatic experiences to avoid “trauma dumping”.

Psychologists warn that people should not rely on condoning traumatic events and use more pragmatic tools for healing

A woman shared her horrible experience when her ex-boyfriend told her he wasn’t interested in ‘bigger women’

“People who ‘dump’ traumatic thoughts, feelings and energy onto others – who speak and behave with ‘wild vulnerability’ – find it very difficult to properly organize, process and filter their feelings,” she said.

She said dumping trauma can sometimes mean someone is dealing with a deeper psychological problem, such as borderline personality disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In everyday life, the line between what you share with a friend and what you keep to yourself or discuss with a professional becomes blurred, the expert said.

“People are increasingly confused by culturally mixed messages about what and when they can share,” she said.

The author also explained that there is such a thing as oversharing and that it has become the norm.

‘Showing excessive emotions is encouraged and has become the norm on social media and in talk and reality shows.

“Plus, there’s a mountain of self-help books and messages out there these days that encourage us to get in touch with our feelings and tell each other about them,” she explains.

She explained that trauma dumping is also a consequence of what she calls the “threat brain,” the “part of our emotional system that is alert to and responds to danger.”

“An overactive, threat-focused brain floods us with powerful feelings and thoughts that, if not managed and controlled, will eventually spill out into our daily lives and relationships,” she explains.

‘Our threat brain can be activated by both real and imagined threats. That’s why relatively minor problems can feel scary to some people. This is because of our ability to relive, imagine and overthink things.’