Wanting to give up social media because doom scrolling is affecting my mental health.

[TYforty]

It's just making me so depressed. Endless doom scrolling, reading awful things, reading opinions I find upsetting.

I feel like my brain is just not equipped to have this level of dependency on my phone and I just don't want to do it anymore but it's a real addiction.

I deleted tiktok a while ago. I also downloaded all my photos from FB as it had my kids photos from years ago so I could delete the account but still not done it.

I want to give up everything. No social media. No reddit. No tiktok. No youtube. Nothing I can comment on or read other peoples comments.

I have really serious MH issues and some days I do nothing else but scroll.

Deactivate FB for a bit and see how you go. I did a year and a half ago and haven't missed it at all!

I also switched notifications on Instagram off and it's been a game changer. Some days it gets to 9pm and I forget reels exist! Then I give myself 10 mins.

I've actually noticed many reels are from one or two years ago now!

My weak spot is now news websites (like BBC & local news!)

Edited to add : go through YouTube and unsubscribe from stuff

I just transfer my attention to another board/website.

I need to just go cold turkey on it all I think.

I haven't given it up but I have taken FB, IG and LinkedIn off my phone (and don't have my MN log-in on there either) so it means I can't use social media on my phone and have to switch my laptop on so it involves some effort and I can't doomscroll on the train. I have it on my tablet so I can use it if I go away to get alerts about things (eg if the parkrun I want to do has been cancelled).

If it's not there, you can't use it.

I understand, I was feeling exactly the same. I would see something diabolical on X then not be able to sleep because of it, or read a terrible comment on an Instagram reel and feel like shit. Then I realised this doesn’t benefit me or anyone else, the effect on my life is entirely negative, and it’s such a waste of my time!! I deleted everything except Mumsnet a few months ago. Ordered myself some books I’ve been meaning to read and started reading a chapter every night, then building up from there (scrolling had destroyed my ability to concentrate). I feel so much better, just do it!!

Totally hear you OP.

If I have a day off work and nothing specific planned, I find myself sitting on my phone for hours, drinking coffee and doom scrolling utter shite that I’m not even interested in. After a couple of hours of this my mood is in my boots and I then spend the rest of the day shlepping about the house doing fuck all. It’s soul destroying.

I’m off today but apart from 10 mins this morning and now half an hour after I’ve eaten dinner I’ve not touched my phone and I’ve got so much done with a lighter mind. The internet - whilst a useful tool in a lot of ways - can severely damage your equilibrium if it’s over used.