Title: Understanding the Challenges of Quitting Social Media
Written on
Chapter 1: The Struggle with Social Media
Lately, I've noticed an increase in the time I spend scrolling through Instagram. It’s exasperating because I recognize that there are countless more productive activities I could engage in. Yet, I find it hard to break away.
Why is that?
It’s because I struggle to confront my thoughts and emotions. Social media acts as a diversion for me, akin to a rat relentlessly pressing a lever for dopamine until it collapses from exhaustion.
I could easily delete my social media accounts, but that wouldn’t address the root of the issue. I would inevitably turn to another form of distraction. Additionally, I rationalize my social media usage by following educational pages that provide inspiration and new insights. So, surely that counts for something, right?
Section 1.1: Understanding the Freeze Response
I recently stumbled upon an intriguing article that discussed how fear can induce stress, leading to a freeze response rather than the typical fight-or-flight reaction.
In the analogy of encountering a bear, freezing implies that you neither flee nor confront the bear; instead, you remain paralyzed as it approaches. At that moment, you may feel completely numb.
Sometimes, we might misinterpret this freeze response as a lack of awareness. The article states:
> "All you need is a bucket of water, a cold splash on your face so you can finally WAKE UP and realize the urgency of life!" — Emilie
However, the stress buildup that brought us to this state is precisely what we need to address—adding more stress isn’t a viable solution.
What does this freeze response look like in today’s world? It manifests as oscillating between being busy and being distracted.
For me, being busy equates to working non-stop, while being distracted means scrolling through social media. Recognizing this pattern is essential.
Subsection 1.1.1: Visual Representation
Section 1.2: Taking Action
To initiate change, I’ve decided to journal whenever I find myself mindlessly scrolling. Since scrolling serves as a distraction from my inner thoughts, journaling acts as a bridge. It allows me to express my thoughts on paper, alleviating the mental burden.
Instead of reaching for a distraction, I’m learning to articulate my feelings through writing.
My second approach is to simply allow myself to do nothing.
This is more challenging, yet it’s a recommendation I found compelling. It involves sitting with my thoughts, permitting emotions to surface, and giving myself the space to simply exist—to unfreeze and process my experiences.
Perhaps these two experiments complement each other; the first encourages reflection while the latter fosters solitude.
Chapter 2: Embracing Your Journey
The most crucial insight I’ve gained from the article is the notion that you’re not broken. You’re merely caught in a freeze response.
This realization means you can explore what this response entails and how to navigate out of it. The issue isn’t fundamentally with you, so it’s vital to practice self-kindness.
Avoid drowning yourself in work, thinking you should be achieving more. Acknowledge that you’re facing challenges; there’s a bear in your path.
Do you see it? Do you comprehend it? Are you truly experiencing it?
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