Don't Give Up! I Nearly Quit my YouTube Channel the Month Before It Went Viral: Keep Going!

You may feel like quitting- but don't quit, keep going.
Sometimes when you’re ready to quit, you’re almost there.
Keep going. Don't quit.
Have you ever noticed how things seem to always get worse before they get better?
Well, today is story time, with a little lesson-nugget in there too.
You see, I nearly quit my YouTube channel one month before it went viral. And now my channel reaches over 1.8M views a month and hopefully helps those people too. But it took me a long time to get traction, and I nearly gave up right before I was able to succeed.

So here’s the short version of why I started a YouTube channel and what I’ve learned about not quitting too soon.

Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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[tonjo]

Thank you for not giving up!
You're helping millions of people who can't afford therapy around the globe!
You're an amazing person Emma ❤

[mihaelaclaudiap..]

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”
― Andy Warhol

[REIAccelerator]

Wow! Thank you! My wife and I has been able to heal from anxiety, depression and trauma using some of your content and and different methods that are faith based. Now we are able to help others and doing a channel as well! So thank you so much for what you do and not giving up!

[shainabarrett]

I can’t even imagine you not being in YouTube! What I’ve learned from your channel has quite LITERALLY saved my life!!! I can’t thank you and this channel enough, I tell anyone who struggles with mental health to come here❤️❤️❤️

[InfinateRadicalLove]

THANK YOU SO MUCH 4 MAKING THIS VIDEO!! (Just so u know I am balling while I type this) I am still currently going thru a really hard dark rough time in my life and I was literally contemplating suicide. Something told me to check my phone and your video was the 1st notification on my screen and so I tapped it. It has really inspired me to keep my head up and keep keeping on, and wait for my rainbow after this storm. Thank you again. May God Bless you and your family!

[magickaldust]

I didn't actually mean to click on this video. I was just walking through the house with my phone in my hand and must have accidentally pressed, but I'm so glad I did. I needed this video. Thank you for posting it. I don't think I'll be able to put it into words what it did for me, so I'm not even going to try, just know you help more people than you will ever be able to realize on a daily basis. Most of them, like me, will never comment. You are still truly changing lives 🥰

[JohannaVeerenhuis]

I’m SO happy for you!! And for all the people you have helped, myself included. 🤪
I was feeling better, anxiety got less but the last few days, it’s sky high. I plan on going for groceries tomorrow, in Germany, we live close to the border with Germany. And tonight I thought, instead of worrying about it, why not look forward to it? So yeah, that’s what I’m doing now. Looking forward to driving my beloved old Jeep Wrangler to Germany and buying the things that I like to buy there. 💪
Also I picked up tapdancing on YouTube, to overcome that stiffness in my body, caused by stress. There’s no such thing as a stressed/cranky tapdancer! 😁

[KarenFoo]

Stuck at 400k since December 2022. Really want to quit this year. 😔

[marek]

I have quit many times in my life and missed out on many things due to depression and social anxiety, but nowadays I try not to quit. This video is the encouragement I needed today. :)

[LiftandBloom]

Thank you so much for this! I started my youtube channel almost a year and a half ago and I haven't reached the first 1, 000 just yet. At almost 100 videos, I often times find myself thinking that I should quit, even though the thought of it brings a lot of sadness too. I will keep trying, hopefully my channel will end up helping as many people as yours!

[fatcatpaulanne]

I have recommended your channel to people online and in person about 5 times a DAY since I discovered it a month or so ago. This is a wonderful thing you are doing.

[WhenEvilFollows]

I put so so soooo much into my videos…. And it’s soul breaking when your channel doesn’t take off like mine… I’d love to be able to work with YouTube. I keep going through these strange feelings to continue because I love making them xxx please PLEASE pray for me lady ❤❤❤

[BjornSummer]

I started a self-improvement channel after hitting rock bottom in my life and it is difficult to manage motivation to do it. But every know and then I get encouraging comments that keep me going. Your video is something I really needed right now, thank you so much! ☺️

[aimeekelley]

I remember when you first mentioned to me that you were making a channel. I was so excited for you and I knew other people would love you. I'm so glad you have helped so many people just like you've helped me. 🥺😭❤️❤️❤️

[sweetjoyfulsoul]

Yes. I’ve experienced this. It ‘s so essential to have a “why” and keep your eyes focused on it. I am thankful you stuck it out. I am a psychologist and I send clients to your channel ALL THE TIME. So you’re helping other therapists help their patients. I’m excited to see his your channel unfolds over the years.

[betho.]

Dear Emma, I stumbled upon one of your videos just about a year ago, and I was hooked. I have watched them all and have learned so much that I've been able to apply in my family's life. I purchased a course that helped me learn how to better communicate with my daughter who suffers from depression. Excellent course. I've started a gratitude journal and you are in it. God knew what He was doing when He inspired you to keep going! Thank you for your hard work and sharing your knowledge to help us all. You make the world a better place.

[iirislinnea]

Oh yes, I've noticed the pattern... Also that sometimes you try to force things but the shift for the better doesn't happen until you actually let go, surrender and stop forcing. These kind of stories bring us hope 🙂💙

[sleepyunikittythecreator]

I'm glad you didn't give up. You have no idea how much your videos have helped me during quarantine! Traumatic childhood memories kept coming to my mind for the first time during quarantine and when I found your "How to process your emotions" playlist I saved it in a heartbeat & subscribed ❤️ It's now my favorite channel and when I need to watch something soothing I watch a bunch of your videos 🥰

[mjgenualdi]

By the Grace of God, I found your channel. You have made a massive difference in my life. Thank you!

[grumpyguyyes]

Pls don't ever quit, your channel is really helpful! Sincerely, random guy from europe.