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I quit social media cold turkey- tw addiction
Koolaid
Popstar



Koolaid wrote:
Social Media is an Addiction that should be taken seriously — And I quit

Sorry for the melodrama that ensues but here is my reality. I waste hours every day scrolling through social media the likes of Twitter, Tiktok, YouTube, Reddit, Etc. It's easy dopamine in the form of instantly gratifying, non-committal, micro-dosed bits of entertainment. It sedates me. Yet more often than not, it contributes very negatively to my psyche: politics, other people's opinions, comparing my body to others on Instagram, quarreling with people on Reddit, doomscrolling...

Social media is often what I turn to when I feel overwhelmed or want to procrastinate, it has introduced me to communities online that have helped me and shaped me. But for someone like me (ADHD), I can't contain myself to only positive experiences. The second I open an app, I am distracted by a million other things, and before I know it, noon has passed. The same unfortunately is beginning to happen with movies and TV, I don't enjoy it anymore, I only watch it because I don't want to think.

Social Media exarcebates the worst features of ADHD. Executive dysfunction: paralyzed with scrolling while I tell myself I need to be productive. RSD: I can't just "ignore" negative comments, I will anguish about them for days!

And I can't quit it. I have tried to delete Twitter or Instagram but I keep crawling back like a junkie desperate for their next fix. I am preoccupied with being updated on the latest news. With YouTube, I always scroll down to the comments to see what other people think. I am enslaved to my curiosity; and if I don't satisfy my cravings, the anxiety wells up, a sort of FOMO appears. This is withdrawal. I have wasted so much time I will never get back. If this was cocaine I would be forced into rehab.

I dream of how much I want to do in life: painting, writing, singing, cooking, working out... Yet I spend all of that time scrolling on my phone. ADHD is often jokingly called the disorder of lost potential, but I feel I can say the same about my social media usage. I could have done so much with the hours I waste, daily.

It is absolutely detrimental to me. I am very upset as I type this, in many ways I have reached an ultimatum within myself: I can't go on like this anymore. I am saying this because I plan to quit cold-turkey. The reason I take such an extreme approach is that I have tried the "limit yourself to 1 hour" method. I just can't seem to do that, I don't know if ADHD affects it but "moderation" seems impossible. Once I take a peek, I open the floodgates. When I'm scrolling I'll do anything to have "just another 5 minutes! -- just one more hit man please and i'll quit".Tangentially I will also try to cut down strictly on media consumption (movies, TV). To me it's the second drug I reach for when the scrolling becomes too monotone.


I might start a diary. I never really kept one up... Maybe I'll finally finish that novel I wanted to write... Maybe I'll fail... I don't know. I'll take it one day at a time.
17
Posts: 14620
Date: 23-07-2022 02:24 | Times changed: 3
Koolaid
Popstar



Koolaid wrote:
Social media I will completely stop using: Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, Tiktok, Instagram

Social media I will delete off my phone but still use when needed: YouTube, Discord
(This is tricky because I use Discord to communicate with friends and I sometimes use YouTube for uni, but I hope to keep it at an absolute minimum, no more YouTubers!)

Social Media I will keep using: Whatsapp (contact with friends and family)
17
Posts: 14620
Date: 23-07-2022 02:25 | Times changed: 1
Private
Youtube star



Limbs wrote:
godspeed my man
16
Posts: 9825
Date: 23-07-2022 03:16
Private
World famous



Rotte wrote:
It's such a relief mentally, i suggest it. I noticed how i formed my own opinions more, i have a better look on myself too, because i didn't compare myself to edited pics on the internet. Also it allowed me to take up other more meaning full hobbies, which i enjoy today. It's like a gut clenching, just mentally.
21
Posts: 70325
Date: 23-07-2022 03:21
Koolaid
Popstar



Koolaid wrote:
Angelica wrote:
It's such a relief mentally, i suggest it. I noticed how i formed my own opinions more, i have a better look on myself too, because i didn't compare myself to edited pics on the internet. Also it allowed me to take up other more meaning full hobbies, which i enjoy today. It's like a gut clenching, just mentally.
ye it's insane how like i feel actual withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, bad mood, etc.) when i force myself not to use it.....
17
Posts: 14620
Date: 23-07-2022 12:48
Account deleted




wrote:
What i noticed on the list of items you want to do, none of those really are the same type of rest as one often seek or find in social media. A lot of that is hard work and takes a lot of energy w slow results. You can definitely trade your social media time for learning skills and you will have so much time to practice!! Just remember to find rest too. I wish you best of luck!! 
Date: 23-07-2022 12:59
Koolaid
Popstar



Koolaid wrote:
Eostre wrote:
What i noticed on the list of items you want to do, none of those really are the same type of rest as one often seek or find in social media. A lot of that is hard work and takes a lot of energy w slow results. You can definitely trade your social media time for learning skills and you will have so much time to practice!! Just remember to find rest too. I wish you best of luck!! 
yes def! what i meant with it, is that i indeed want to do all of those things, which take patience and slow buildup, and don't immediately show results. but my problem is that i go for the easy non-committal thing because the threshold of the 'hard work' is too much. 

but i will definitely not become a workaholic. i think there are definitely ways to make painting, for example, also feel like relaxation, or reading, or cooking, just for fun, not necessarily to 'git gud' at. or just lying down and taking a rest, or taking a walk.. etc. so much of that i feel unable to do now because i need to feel constantly stimulated.

it's like, how did people even live before the internet?! did people just stare into nothingness? the dependency i have on social media becomes very glaring when i realize that people could just sit on the bus.... and... not do anything... what?! @Eostre 
17
Posts: 14620
Date: 23-07-2022 13:09
Account deleted




wrote:
Koolaid wrote:
Eostre wrote:
What i noticed on the list of items you want to do, none of those really are the same type of rest as one often seek or find in social media. A lot of that is hard work and takes a lot of energy w slow results. You can definitely trade your social media time for learning skills and you will have so much time to practice!! Just remember to find rest too. I wish you best of luck!! 
yes def! what i meant with it, is that i indeed want to do all of those things, which take patience and slow buildup, and don't immediately show results. but my problem is that i go for the easy non-committal thing because the threshold of the 'hard work' is too much. 

but i will definitely not become a workaholic. i think there are definitely ways to make painting, for example, also feel like relaxation, or reading, or cooking, just for fun, not necessarily to 'git gud' at. or just lying down and taking a rest, or taking a walk.. etc. so much of that i feel unable to do now because i need to feel constantly stimulated.

it's like, how did people even live before the internet?! did people just stare into nothingness? the dependency i have on social media becomes very glaring when i realize that people could just sit on the bus.... and... not do anything... what?! @Eostre 
Haha yeah it will certainly be a shift to start paying attention again. It might also be difficult because a lot of people look on their phone for distractions, limiting how much they are willing to talk to you. You're right, those activities can also be relaxing. I hope you find your peace! 
Date: 23-07-2022 13:24
Koolaid
Popstar



Koolaid wrote:
Eostre wrote:
Koolaid wrote:
Eostre wrote:
What i noticed on the list of items you want to do, none of those really are the same type of rest as one often seek or find in social media. A lot of that is hard work and takes a lot of energy w slow results. You can definitely trade your social media time for learning skills and you will have so much time to practice!! Just remember to find rest too. I wish you best of luck!! 
yes def! what i meant with it, is that i indeed want to do all of those things, which take patience and slow buildup, and don't immediately show results. but my problem is that i go for the easy non-committal thing because the threshold of the 'hard work' is too much. 

but i will definitely not become a workaholic. i think there are definitely ways to make painting, for example, also feel like relaxation, or reading, or cooking, just for fun, not necessarily to 'git gud' at. or just lying down and taking a rest, or taking a walk.. etc. so much of that i feel unable to do now because i need to feel constantly stimulated.

it's like, how did people even live before the internet?! did people just stare into nothingness? the dependency i have on social media becomes very glaring when i realize that people could just sit on the bus.... and... not do anything... what?! @Eostre 
Haha yeah it will certainly be a shift to start paying attention again. It might also be difficult because a lot of people look on their phone for distractions, limiting how much they are willing to talk to you. You're right, those activities can also be relaxing. I hope you find your peace! 
thank you! <3
17
Posts: 14620
Date: 23-07-2022 13:27
Private
Princess of Pop



encrede wrote:
ive managed to escape instagram completely, and never got into tiktok, quit tumblr ages ago, never go on twitter... all i do is youtube. which has usually been fine, but with the introduction of the youtube shorts they have broken me............talk abt endless scrolling... like its basically tiktok/ig videos its the same!!!!!!!!!! evil

so i feel ok in regards to most social media but youtube is rlly starting to get problematic. i catch myself not being able to just Not Do Anything without consumin some kinda media at the same time.. like if im gonna eat? need to find youtube video to watch while i do it! wake up? better watch something quick! when i notice myself just opening discord, nothing new, closing discord, open youtube, nothing i wanna watch, back n forth back n forth bc im just desperate for anything..................feels bad

kinda feel u on the shows/movies thing too, like when ur reaching to watch something just bc u need to watch Something--anything  ... not doing it because u actually Want to watch that specific thing .... def not as enjoyable

hope it works for u ! i think cold turkey is probably the best method, yeah...
22
Posts: 19431
Date: 23-07-2022 13:36
Koolaid
Popstar



Koolaid wrote:
encrede wrote:
ive managed to escape instagram completely, and never got into tiktok, quit tumblr ages ago, never go on twitter... all i do is youtube. which has usually been fine, but with the introduction of the youtube shorts they have broken me............talk abt endless scrolling... like its basically tiktok/ig videos its the same!!!!!!!!!! evil

so i feel ok in regards to most social media but youtube is rlly starting to get problematic. i catch myself not being able to just Not Do Anything without consumin some kinda media at the same time.. like if im gonna eat? need to find youtube video to watch while i do it! wake up? better watch something quick! when i notice myself just opening discord, nothing new, closing discord, open youtube, nothing i wanna watch, back n forth back n forth bc im just desperate for anything..................feels bad

kinda feel u on the shows/movies thing too, like when ur reaching to watch something just bc u need to watch Something--anything  ... not doing it because u actually Want to watch that specific thing .... def not as enjoyable

hope it works for u ! i think cold turkey is probably the best method, yeah...
omg yeah the eating while watching youtube is too relatable haha.... i think adhd def makes that worse bc i need to be stimulated 24/7
17
Posts: 14620
Date: 23-07-2022 13:39
Pixel
International star



Pixel wrote:
I could've written that post myself. I quit social media for like a year, it was really (REALLY) good for my mental health. But then I downloaded a few apps again during my thesis. Big mistake, just as addicted as I was once again.
18
Posts: 6045
Date: 23-07-2022 14:06
Private
World famous



Suchomimus wrote:
relate to all this agh i hope it goes well for u really, the day i downloaded tiktok i spend quite literally all day on it n didn't even really feel happy just u know some random laughs now n again n everytime ppl would talk to me i wouldn't be paying attention n i just didn't like the person it made me as dramatic as that sounds qkdjdhf so i uninstalled it the same day lmao, my issue mostly though is that i want to learn so much n all that info is on the internet so it's like aaaaaaa
19
Posts: 38576
Date: 23-07-2022 14:12
Private
World famous



Hazelnut wrote:
SOCIAL MEDIA SEDATES YOU... wtf is that even possible in reality
21
Posts: 9511
Date: 23-07-2022 14:15
Koolaid
Popstar



Koolaid wrote:
Hazelnut wrote:
SOCIAL MEDIA SEDATES YOU... wtf is that even possible in reality
sedation not as it calms me down, but it sedates me from my responsibilities (so i don't have to think about doing them, because they stress me out)
17
Posts: 14620
Date: 23-07-2022 16:12
Private
World famous



misjel wrote:
woaaa good luck matey excited to see the effects
20
Posts: 52243
Date: 23-07-2022 16:41
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