Irfan Junejo returns to YouTube with an important message about mental health

The YouTuber, in a recent video, spoke about a much-needed conversation regarding men's mental health

Irfan Junejo, one of Pakistan’s most popular YouTubers, with a following of 1.11 million subscribers recently uploaded a video, speaking about the pressures of success and persisting anxiety. Previously, the famous vlogger took a hiatus from YouTube for 17 months, where he explained that he was going to prioritize his mental health over his need to create vlogs. He explained that this was his way of trying to figure out who he is and that he needs time to figure himself out. 

In his recent video, “How NOT to get a Million Subscribers”, he goes on to say that, “I am not saying I am leaving Youtube or I will never make a video ever again” but he shared that he will only make vlogs “if his heart desires for it.” He went on to elaborate that vlogs are no longer the focus of his life and that his anxiety plagued him with constant insomnia. He admitted that his struggle with his mental health was so bad that he would hide in the bathroom to cry so that his family would not find out. Junejo confessed, “I just wanted the world to leave me alone or for me to leave the world alone.”

Humbling beginnings

In his recent video, he remarked that he never thought it would take him 17 months to find himself, but he wants to explain his journey with success and what exactly happened in his life. Junejo begins telling the journey of his success by explaining the first phase of his life, “humble beginnings” where he explains how the first seed of his anxiety was sown. He explained that initially, uploading a video provided him with no sense of achievement, instead, he was drowning in his anxieties, always planning to make his next video for the day. He went on to explain that he prioritised vlogging over his “friends, family, mental and physical health.”

As he slowly gained popularity, and with the onslaught of new success and milestones, the YouTuber celebrated the happiest day of his life when he crossed 100 thousand subscribers. However, the happiness passed within a day, and it was overshadowed by the thought of a new target, the need to gain 1 million subscribers. With this new target in mind, he got swallowed up within the same rat race, all over again.

The conflict

The video heads towards the second phase of his life “the conflict”, where he was not only obsessively working, but he was also reading every comment that he used to receive on his content. Messages that were good but also included the bad and ugly. The comments made him more determined to win their hearts, which increased his vigor to do better.

However, he mentioned that his “self-worth was determined by what people thought of him.” Junejo mentions that this passion to make videos did not remain just that, instead it became a chore, a job that he was struggling to complete. “I was working for either money or validation, which made me hate what I do.”

He heads towards a sensitive topic, the rise of his anxiety attacks, which made him feel alienated in public spaces, and his heartbeat would go up to 150 just by being outside. He adds that at this point in life, at the lowest point when uploading videos felt painful, that is when he gained one million subscribers. However, no joy came out of this instead, now came the actual downfall, as there were no more goals after this, everything felt like a replay of the same scenarios.

Junejo dives deep into his feelings by explaining that he was having imposter syndrome, he was facing anxiety attacks and on top of that, he was developing an eating disorder, which left him sick. However, when he confided about his much-needed break to his subscribers, many people badgered him with comments of being an attention seeker. So, to preserve his mental health, he left his youtube channel for one and a half years.

The resurgence

In the third act of this video, titled “the resurgence” Junejo promises himself that “this might be my low, but I am not going to let it be my lowest.” He limited his social media interactions and instead, went out to make amends with his relationships, friends and family. He focused on his health, diet and routine, and figured out the distinction between the ideas of validation and fulfillment. He realised that it's not the subscriber count that keeps a person happy, but it's the content he's producing. 

Junejo heads towards the end of his inspirational and thought-provoking video by mentioning that, “my mother taught me that no matter how many difficulties and problems come, don’t give up as long as you are breathing. Give your best effort without caring about the results, and keep working hard.”

He concludes the youtube video with the epilogue, “disclosure” where he mentions his future and explains that he is back on youtube for good, but with different and new content. Content that makes him feel good and gives him full reign to his creative freedom. 

The much-needed conversation

Junejo’s video brings forward an important conversation about men and their mental health. In our society, topics such as mental health, insomnia, imposter syndrome, and anxiety are not discussed in the mainstream, and nor are they brought to the forefront.

His video provides a great opportunity to bring these conversations forward, as he has a massive following, and men are often discouraged from being vulnerable in public. Such displays and conversation can shape a narrative of openly discussing mental health and specifically, the often under-discussed topic of the mental health problems that plague the common man.

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