Social media and OCD

How are you guys that are triggered by social media balancing with having it ? I feel like I always delete and redownload because I either need to reach out to someone through DMs, or wanna go on it and scroll but it’s so triggering now that we have reels and constant access to other peoples thoughts. Videos about relationships, violence, poor health, body image and politics always put me in a spiral and causes me to have to delete the app, and sometimes it takes a day to get over it, but other times I’ll be stuck in a loop for weeks because of how ONE video makes me feel. I want to be on social media because I like to be in the know with what my friends are up to, but I can’t stand how addicting and stressful the videos and reels are. Also it’s just insane to me how I will scroll and watch a lot of videos of memes or cats and it’s entertaining and good, then out of nowhere I get a fear mongering story or graphic video of someone dying. What a world we live in now.

Anonymous He...

Date posted: Yesterday

There are parts of social media that are damaging to mental health. The constant stream of reels, fear-based content, graphic videos, and other people’s intense opinions is not neutral. It affects your nervous system, your thoughts, and your sense of safety. What you’re experiencing is a very real reaction, not an overreaction. Think about it this way. If someone is diagnosed with diabetes, they absolutely have to approach food differently than someone without diabetes. It’s not weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s taking care of your health. In the same way, if you’re diagnosed with OCD or you know certain types of content trigger spirals, then yes, you will need to use social media differently than other people. That isn’t unfair or limiting. It’s simply understanding your brain and choosing what keeps you healthy. Social media is not one-size-fits-all. Some people can scroll without much impact. Others get overwhelmed, flooded, or triggered because their minds process information more intensely. That’s not your fault. It just means you need boundaries that match your mental health needs. A suggestion that might help is to decide ahead of time how you want to use social media, instead of letting the algorithm decide for you. For example, use it only for messaging friends, or limit yourself to accounts that lift you up. You can mute reels, hide triggering content, or even set a short daily time limit. That way you stay connected to the people you care about without exposing yourself to the content that harms you. You’re allowed to create a version of social media that supports your mental health instead of damaging it.

Anonymous

Date posted: Yesterday

I also get triggered by social media and have deleted the apps on my phone (and have gone as far as blocking the social media websites that I can access on my phone web browser). This has helped me a lot. I do sometimes go on FB on my computer but it’s only 2x a week and I usually scroll for a few minutes then just get bored. I have tried to find alternative apps to “scroll” when I get that urge but I realize that those moments for me are likely compulsions. On FB at least the messaging app and FB apps are separate so that has made it easier too. I have the messenger app but not FB. I hope that makes sense!

AnAnxiousPerson

Date posted: 14w

thinking about quitting social media

im not sure. i think i might heavily limit screen time. ive been so insanely anxious. it feels like everytime i go on social media, people are panicking or complaining and its so stressful. half the time, im not even scared of the things theyre complaining about, but them panicking is making me panic. also, a lot of paranoid theories online, echo chambers, etc. i used to watch really fun art trends, cosplays, etc, and now people are just being really mean to each other, being performative, or just complaining has anyone else considered this?

madder

Date posted: 10w

Anybody else feel this way?

I feel unbelievably stressed out all the time, especially in the state of the world today. It seems like every time I open social media I’m shown grief in every capacity of life. What is happening here (the US), what’s happening overseas, etc. I have no idea how to navigate how I’m supposed to build a life and my career when it feels like the world is sort of falling apart around me. I feel really depressed and hopeless about it. I think it’s really easy to self isolate, especially being diagnosed with a deeply internalized anxiety disorder like OCD, and I’m just curious I how many people are feeling it too? I deeply crave community and I find it harder more and more everyday to get myself to a point where I even feel like it’ll do any good. I know this isn’t the first time in history that people have had to try to figure out some kind of normalcy in the face of political turbulence.. but with how much news and information we’re getting at every second of every day, I’m wondering if there is more damage being done than what we realize. It feels completely irresponsible to ignore everything that’s happening around me, but it’s overwhelming and making it to the point where I don’t know what to do with myself anymore.

ocd_junkie

Date posted: 10w

Staying off the internet to make OCD better

Has anyone actually experimented with this? I don’t really have a social media presence, but I do use YouTube a lot to watch videos. I’ve thought about whether restricting my usage of my phone/of the internet in general might help turn me in a better direction. I’ve been in a rut for a couple months. I haven’t ruminated so much during each day in 2 years. It’s gotten pretty bad. But I’m still in therapy and trying to be honest about everything with my therapist.

Young adults with OCD

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

Social media and OCD

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community