To remove myself from social media?

[YellowBlankets]

Social media is a real trigger for my social anxiety and it’s gotten worse the last few days. It makes me feel crazed and needy especially when someone messages me then walks away or if someone doesn’t reply to something I’ve sent but is online and seen it. And because I could theoretically get messages at any time it’s hard to switch off. So I’m thinking of going offline for a few weeks to sort my head out.

But -my best friend is going through a really hard time at present and while they live on the other side of the world we talk every single day online. Going offline means not being available to them.

WIBU to do it anyway? I honestly can’t decide.

I’ve worked hard to manage sm better but it hasn’t worked and think I’m hoping some time out will help.

Sounds like a plan. Could you just phone or email your friend?

I think you should take a long break. You could set up a new email address just for the mate overseas to know about. And not have it on every device, IYSWIM, so you can control how often you check.

It sounds like a break is definitely needed. Tell your friend your reasons for going offline for a while, if they’re a good friend they will understand. And why not agree a regular weekly slot (or twice a week, whatever you feel is ok for you) to call/FaceTime instead?

Me and DH came of SM 3 years ago, best thing we ever did.

Are you using multiple applications? I find that makes it worse because there's more channels people can be using and you're constantly flipping between them. I now basically have a rule that I only message via WhatsApp so if people want a response (rather than just showing the world a picture of their cat/ dinner/ abs) they have to use that. I have an auto response on FB messenger saying "use WhatsApp" and any insta messages I get are generally just people wanting to know if I want to sell my soul in exchange for a trial pack of protein powder so they can stay ignored.

Best thing ever done was actually deleting Facebook competly, it was making me awfully anxious and down if I didn't get a reply or someone took me off it was horrible x
Glad to be rid of it now

If you come off Facebook you can still keep messenger. I left fb over a year ago. I feel so much better and dont miss it at all.

Social media doesn't suit everyone. I don't do it, I just didn't take to it and I have no need for it in my life. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything and I'm not tempted in the slightest to get involved. Especially when I hear about all the arguments and nasty comments and people pretending to be "living the dream" when that couldn't be further than the truth. Keeping in touch with friends is great but you can easily do that via email.
Only you can decide if you need a break from it, I personally would delete the lot and stay living in the REAL world a bit more. 😃

Can't you email each other? I don't have facebook any more so I've reverted to emailing long distance pals, works just fine.

I’ve deleted FB. Can’t stand it. I just ring or text people like we used to.

I think I’d not want to be accessible to friend either, not in an instant way. In a way I wonder if they are part of the problem too.

Unless anyone has tips for managing sm? Does it make anyone else anxious?

I’ve come off social media. I still have a Facebook profile but never go on it now, not looked at it at all for months. I had a Twitter account but stopped using it a couple of years ago and deleted it. I do still use Messenger to chat to a few friends. I’m anxious too and I’m much happier without SM.

You could try a SM ‘detox’ - log off, delete apps from phone, and stay away from it for a few weeks. Set yourself a goal eg two weeks, and see how you feel about going back on. I found that once I’d broken the habit of frequent checking, I was less and less drawn to it so it got easier to stay away.

God yes, took myself off, didn't look back, it definitely affects mental health.

I tried detox from SM, didn't work. In the end I deleted it before Christmas, and haven't gone back. It's bliss.

I think deleting FB altogether will have to be my next step, but I’m strangely loath to do that even though I never go on it anymore. Weird.

Going offline means not being available to them.

Use email

Just WhatsApp your friend. Only requires internet connection and you can video/audio talk too.

I removed myself from every single social media platform. It's been 2 years now and I am never going back! I deleted:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn

It was the best thing I have ever, ever done! My anxiety and the feeling that someone's life is better than mine, has completely diminished. I have noticed I no longer give a shit about anything as well (only important things like my family and my life).

My friend is on FB and we had a browse through it... nothing has changed! People are still the same: narcissistic and "my life is so perfect" type of bullshit.

It makes me very anxious and depressed. I was also a bit addicted as I had a fear I would miss something. I finally deleted fb and Instagram (never been on snapchat or any of the others) a couple of weeks ago and already I feel so much better. I still have a habit of unlocking my phone to see if anything there then remember it has gone and feel almost relief.

My dd 14 refuses to have any social media at all as she is of the view if someone actually wants to contact you they can call or text. She thinks the whole thing is an awful waste of life.

I deleted fb off of all my devices except the kitchen/family laptop. I check it once a week just because that's how the school communicate to parents and I'd miss stuff otherwise but I pretty much ignore everything else and it's such a relief as I'm not constantly getting pangs of envy about other people's supposedly more fabulous lives. Now I'm just addiction to to what strangers are up to on reddit and mumsnet.

PP mentioned LinkedIn and that’s reminded me that I’ve deleted that as well. Don’t miss that one in the slightest! What a waste of time it was.

I have LinkedIn in (necessary for professional purposes) and what’s app and I go on here. Other than that all I ever had was twitter and it was a total waste of life. Deleted two months ago and much happier for it.

When I joined FB I never liked anyones posts or 'used' it in any meaningful way. When around people I told them I barely look at it. This has been useful from the get go. I find FB really handy and I do look at it but because I have adjusted everyones expectations from the outset, no-one thinks I'm weird (probably :)

SM can be damaging. I have had memes aimed at me by a family member. It was really upsetting but I just maintained radio silence as normal and it all blew over.

Use email to communicate with your friend in need but only answer once a day or at whatever interval you choose for your own MH is my advice.

I’ve never used social media, don’t see the appeal and also am such a techno phone that I can’t really understand it but I keep in touch with people I want to be in touch with by email/landline. Why don’t you be honest with your friend (she needs to support you as well as you supporting her) & let her know that you will just be checking emails once a day now - or whatever time frame suits you?

Come off it. That mental state of waiting for a response is not good. It puts you in a state of being constantly alert which stops you from being present in your own actual life.
Tell your friend what you’re doing and arrange a time to WhatsApp or email.