does social media wear you out?

ive noticed lately that social media, especially instagram, has been really triggering my anxiety lately. it just feels like an overwhelming amount of information to take in and ive been catching myself using informational posts on social issues as a way to do mental compulsions regarding my morality. i feel a little guilty needing to skip those posts because i do personally really value social justice and political activism - its just so much. im trying to find alternatives to just doomscrolling on social media seeing bad things happening as a way to stay politically informed and active.

madismith

Date posted: Yesterday

this happens to me too!! some of my OCD themes have morphed into other themes due to social media. i would say it’s not a bad thing to stay off of it for a little bit and do something else. i’ve found doing something creative like coloring or building legos has helped. even something as simple as stepping outside for some fresh air for a few. definitely not a 100% cure but i try to do these things while my OCD may be screaming in the background. we got this!

Kaykay

Date posted: Yesterday

I 100% understand I would definitely take your time off of social media Tik tok insta etc.. I’ve had to get off them from seeing one thing that triggers my ocd and I will become obsessed with it and it would be a cycle of unhealthy compulsions. And if you want to stay politically informed maybe find safer websites to read off of then necessarily watching or viewing it and it’s completely okay to take time to yourself for a week or two from viewing those things the world is definitely a hard place but there’s nothing wrong with looking out for yourself at times as well

s 🫶

Date posted: Yesterday

@Kaykay ive definitely been limiting how much time i spend looking at them and if anything political comes up i just have to immediately close the app :( its been helping me a bit though which is good!

Kaykay

Date posted: Yesterday

@s 🫶 Also if you didn’t know you can tap and hold the video on instagram and some options will come up and there’s an option that says like “not interested” or something like that and less of it will come up

SomeoneToMe

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 17h

I have not had any social media for about three years and i got to say, it’s been a much less stressful three years. The place i was in, in my heart and head was not good at all. Social media provided an outlet, which was nice at first. Make some videos, let out the frustration, anger, depression etc. Then i started engaging with those who commented, made comments, and got way too involved, and into relationships i had no business being in. When you make a lot of connections on social media, there’s lots of paths for people to hurt you when you aren’t on their side or did them wrong. All of those paths were trodden at my expense and it caused some serious problems. Some truths, some lies, but all destructive. It was my fault for getting myself where i was, but it was so damn easy through social media. That’s my take on it lol, just a small bit of info. Needless to say, I’m done with it and a better me because of that. Some people don’t have an issue with social media. I had too many issues to be on it lol. Lesson learned.

s 🫶

Date posted: 12h

@SomeoneToMe ive had to slowly back away over time and try to limit my usage but its hard bc i do have to use it to at least some extent for my career bc i am an illustrator. turning off the apps when i see something negative or triggering and finding something else to do has been incredibly helpful these past few days!

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