Anxiety dopamine social media reddit. Start with a Dopamine Detox, then maintain a Dopamine Fast.

Anxiety dopamine social media reddit The myth of 'Dopamine detoxes' and dopamine is 'bad' are social media trends not based on science. " Optimal levels can enhance focus, motivation, and drive, which could aid in studying and completing tasks. Drugs like ecstasy or molly blow all your dopamine levels and take many days to replenish. I am trying to get dopamine form hardwork. I spent the last two months barely using social media other than watching a lot of YouTube cause that doesn't feel like social media to me (the way that Instagram does), and having a scroll through Instagram for a couple minutes every now and then to see if friends had posted. It should increase dopamine more robustly than high dose Effexor (which, is still quite weak on dopamine). Members Online Feeling worn out, unmotivated Hmm not sure this would be enough for me. Whenever I delete my apps for a few days, this feeling goes away. Jerking of or cocaine or even social media. All addiction recovery processes require discipline and strength to endure withdrawal symptoms. Porn stimulates so much dopamine that your body reduces ghe number of dopamine receptors to adapt. The dopamine you get from online social interaction doesn't give you the same long lasting good feelings you get interacting face-to-face so I focus on the face-to-face interaction and just tell everyone I'm taking a break from social media. I also feel overwhelmed from social media seeing how my peers are getting all the life and I'm just on my bed with nothing done. this detox is my first step toward a life where I prioritize real, meaningful experiences over digital noise. Furthermore, studies often focus on a single mental health outcome, limiting understanding of This is a support group to help with impulsive behaviour towards Eating, Gaming, Gambling, Thrill, and Tech. I then refreshed over and over again because I was nervous that people wouldn't 'like' the picture and would form negative opinions about me. i will not Not sure if dopamine is they “key”, but it might be part of the picture. because the dopamine from social media isn’t exactly neutral, social media apps want you to actually be addicted. This leads to anxiety. Well its interesting how we're all different. So basically everything in life just seems like a dopamine hit and it gives me a headache and annoys me. Original Research: Closed access “Expression and co-expression of serotonin and dopamine transporters in social anxiety disorder: a multitracer positron emission tomography study”. Aug 22, 2024 · The Dopamine-Anxiety Connection: Unraveling the Mystery. I am currently on dopamine detox, i've disable all my social media , restricted my screen time to 1hr ,no short content , no PMO, started meditation and workout. Reading is already quite different from 3D activities because you are staring at a flat surface and rehydrating the pictures. No dopamine shots all day long online to leave me feeling depleted. This controlled exposure can help you stay connected without it overwhelming your life. Reply reply More replies Deleting Social media was the best thing I’ve ever done, of course Reddit is a social media but I try to use it in helpful ways like asking question and searching answers to problems I have. Going cold turkey can be challenging. Set a strict no-screens (including phones) policy for mealtimes. It literally took me years to start taking it and it’s absolutely changed my life since starting it. I struggled with addiction to videogames, pornography, junkfood, social media scrolling etc. I also always watch something while I eat, and one of my favorite parts of the dopamine detox was eating toward the end of the detox with nothing else going on, the food tasted better and I actually felt full and it was a good moment reflecting on how much we take for granted because of social media and instant entertainment and stuff, so id highly recommend not watching anything while you eat Are chronic, abnormally low dopamine levels more associated with anxiety, or are chronic, abnormally high levels more associated with anxiety? Isn't there a hypothesis that patients with schizophrenia have highly elevated levels of dopamine. I would then get anxious when I had to do something that a) I didn't know would give me dopamine, or b) I knew for sure wouldn't. Also, try setting specific times for checking your feeds. I am not bi polar- I just had a bad addiction to news social media and basically conspiracy theory. These projects consume me, remove my urge to check social media and boost my self-esteem when completed. Practice mindfulness and be aware of emotions that may arise from engaging with certain content on social media platforms such as anxiety or frustration. Recent research has shed light on how this neurotransmitter, typically associated with pleasure and reward, can also play a significant role in anxiety disorders. Social media gives me horrible anxiety and I'm not sure what to do to help this. Triggered by perceived or actual scrutiny from others. You are just avoid a pleasure trigger. Hobbies are impossible for me with social media apps installed. I've had panic disorder ever since I was a kid (with extreme fear of death) but I could socialize well, however during my teenage years social media made people hang out less often and in my neighborhood kids and teens my age didn't go outside as much as before. When I wasn't on meds I only wanted to sit around on Reddit / Social media - because this gave me dopamine and I knew it did. Social media, tiktok, games, porn, movies, tv shows Etc. I don’t really scroll on social media, eat junk food, etc. Help! If it were easy, everyone would do it. This is a support group to help with impulsive behaviour towards Eating, Gaming, Gambling, Thrill, and Tech. I enjoy using social media but at the end of the day, I don’t think too deep into what I come across. Go on tik tok same. Well the first time I've done a dopamine detox was basically the first day in the past 6 years or so, where I didn't listen to music. I can barely handle being on other social media platforms for a few minutes. Yes it is beneficial to avoid social media if you spend too much time there, but this doesnt mean you detox your dopamine levels. I was a bit depressed. Dec 30, 2024 · Effects of social media on the brain. I recommend doing four things: One: Choose a 2-hour window where you don't have social media. ive made the decision to quit instagram and other reel-type social media for the next 30 days. All this excess stimulation stresses your brain, which in turn produces adrenaline and cortisol. Making better decision - since my brain is less stimulated now, it is able to make better decisions. The dopamine feedback loop in social media is a complex mechanism that keeps users coming back for more. Learn a song, paint a picture, reorganize your house, read a book, knit a hat, write a story, go for a hike, etc. I am pretty sure that social media, including Reddit, exacerbates my ADHD and has reduced me to a barely functional adult 53yo person. It is always good to rule out fixable issues first (like anemia) and consider a hormone panel before taking too many supplements. I genuinely believe social media is worse than smoking because it rewires your brain, making you feel more depressed. Am I feeling lonely, anxiety, angry, overwhelmed or bored? Reddit is where I spend most of my time now, but I seem to have a stronger off switch here than any other social media! The extra time I have now from cutting social media has allowed me to learn a new language and start volunteering with a cause I feel strongly about! And it has helped my anxiety beyond anything I ever imagined. Yes - my anxiety got worse at first but I think that was my own doing rather than the tablets necessarily. The relationship between dopamine and anxiety is a complex and sometimes counterintuitive one. It’s a part of your brain’s reward system, meaning it helps you feel good when you do something enjoyable. Dopamine is a chemical to be nourished, like you said it increases your motivation! A great natural supplement that boosts Dopamine is L tyrosine, the recommended dosage is one 800mg capsule a day. The #1 social media platform for MCAT advice. Unfortunately that leads to not getting the dopamine from achieving those tasks. Tik tok is designed to have this hit and get people to stay scrolling. I think it is a form of social anxiety. Archived post. Thus the point of my post. First thing I did next morning was put on some classical, while drinking my coffee and smoking a cig, then went on to eat breakfast (which I don't do that often surprisingly but in the past 3 days I have done) and then work out and meditate and have a cold shower. I can’t allow myself to be bored anymore the moment the thoughts start forming I immediately reach for my phone. That is how you start feeling those weird feelings. It begins with an action, such as posting a photo or status update, which creates anticipation for a response. You can try to find bigger satisfaction from new hobbies or crafts. See the Required Reading for more. I got away from “it all” and I feel better. It's pretty interesting that you'd mention manipulation because that's a central issue that The Social Dilemma explores. However, it’s unclear which comes first, and we don’t know for sure that social media causes an increased risk for these problems. it doesn’t happen just because social media is so awesome, it can be but it’s the intention of the companies to sell our attention for money/profit. Reducing most stimulation. grad student)have been improved . (mind you it would be like 4 days backpacking, 1 day back with social media, then repeat), so maybe just need uninterrupted time. And due to this there is a lower "reuptake" of dopamine at all other times. Understanding Dopamine: Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that plays a big role in feelings of pleasure and happiness. g I don't want to go cut the grass because it was boring, so I didn't. I also don't feel bad about scrolling social media a lot. they literally they us this like once a year. Dude, the worst is when you have that dopamine addiction, but instead of wasting time by playing games or watching shows, you go to reddit or social media and you keep checking back every 5 minutes. Posted by u/SayVolcano69 - 5 votes and 4 comments I was so anxious about taking Prozac because they say it can make you more anxious before it helps the anxiety. Your social anxiety will make your mind think irrationally at times. Its really helping me to improve my focus levels and my ability to study for more long hours (i am engg. Unfollow/unsubscribe from accounts that create feelings of envy or insecurity that may lead to higher engagement levels when viewing them. e. Sorry I accidentally hit "Reply" too soon to get to D and let's call it E! D) I'd say that's an opinion question rather than a scientific one because the effects of social media are so multifaceted. Dec 16, 2024 · Research shows social media is linked to mental health problems including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even suicide. I suggest you take a look into the father of "dopamine detox" Dr. The problem with dopamine is that it gets us hooked on things that give us short-term gratification but not much else: cookies, alcohol and social media are all high in dopamine. In the book, she writes about one of her patients who was a teenage girl who smoked weed/vape everyday because it helped her anxiety and depression. Because ADHD craves it and it soothes trauma from my youth. the stakes aren’t the same So, to feel good, we seek dopamine seeking activities like eating, browsing social media, watching TV, etc. Socially anxious people may be shy/introverted, but shy/introverted people do not necessarily have social anxiety. I used to be very active on social media but now I have deleted every app except Reddit (although I lately find myself getting addicted to Reddit too lol). Members Online Feeling worn out, unmotivated Dopamine detox is the KEY!! Just cut what gives you short-term happiness at least for a day. Though I still have anxiety, I'm able to cope with it better. But, can super low baseline levels of dopamine cause severe anxiety (on top of depressive/mood disorders? Currently I am on day 7 of a Dopamine Detox. Additionally, consider turning off social media notifications to reduce distractions I’m super addicted to social media, nothing feels as rewarding and dopamine-inducing as scrolling through social media. Watch porn same. Sabroxy also acts on the GABA-A (I think) receptor. I am not glued to email or my phone for any reason but addiction. This as many know, is called social anxiety and is one if the most common mental disorders that leads people to seek therapy. In my case I cut watching YouTube videos, Instagram and Reddit and then my brain started to looking for dopamine by achieving my goals. It's like giving yourself a 'social media appointment' instead of constantly scrolling. The patient was advised to quit smoking for Deleting Social media was the best thing I’ve ever done, of course Reddit is a social media but I try to use it in helpful ways like asking question and searching answers to problems I have. Nov 1, 2022 · Recent research studying news seeking and emotional responses has found that more exposure to the latest headlines—whether through traditional news outlets or highlighted on social media—can undercut mental health. That along with too much cortisol. It makes me give just enough of a shit about my job to actually do it. It's all of these former social media engineers, execs, ethicists, and experts speaking out about how they inadvertently unleashed AI algorithms that have taught themselves how to hijack our minds and thoughts and even actions, and how that technology has allowed for Oh yes, absolutely. The front page on reddit doesn't change and the upvotes you get don't change. So we become demotivated to do them + we have a constant hum of anxiety as we continually search for more dopamine. As social media has become one of the main mediums of communication, it makes sense that many people feel anxiety when using social media. So apparently Social Anxiety is thought to be best treated by raising Dopamine, as well as GABA, the former being the reason MAOIs like Nardil are so considered good for the condition, and the latter why Benzos and Alcohol work well. This applies to all things that stimulates too much dopamine. If I would have urges to surf or check my social media, I would take a step back and analyze my need to do so. Breaking those muscle memory habits can help (at least at the start) to stop you in your tracks. When we become overstimulated with dopamine, normal everyday tasks seem almost unbearable because they don't elicit as much dopamine as our phones. Create a daily goal to stay off social media for two hours. I’m not sure why but my mental health has improved a lot since I stopped using social media, I feel like I have so much more time to do things that I love. ive had enough and am ready to reclaim control of my time and stop squandering over three hours each day on distractions. So while there maybe be thousands of sources of dopamine, we can easily deduce that social media has been developed to create those toxic addictive high levels of dopamine. Reading is not as rewarding anymore so it makes it hard to focus. Jan 24, 2020 · Source: Uppsala University Media Contacts: Olof Hjorth – Uppsala University Image Source: The image is in the public domain. I decided to stop all those addictions cold turkey, 7 days ago. If you try to just quit social media without introducing replacement behaviors, you're not giving your brain a fighting chance. Sabroxy works best when combined with a dopamine Distress in social situations, causing impaired functioning in daily life. I've been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with ADHD and I have a few genes that say I'm likely to have ADHD but for me, Vyvanse and Ritalin both only relax me and increase sociability and confidence in the first 1-2 hrs after taking them and then it is followed by increased anxiety, increased rumination, increased negative thoughts, heightened self **Scheduled Social Media Time**: Instead of quitting cold turkey, allocate specific times for social media. ? Dopamine is often referred to as the "motivation molecule. So I created this sub for people suffering with social media anxiety (SMA) for:. This can also go to the lengths of smoking, drinking, watchin compulsive porn, etc. Try it! You won’t regret. The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is offered by the AAMC and is a required exam for admission to medical schools in the USA and Canada. Watch his video on dopamine and the analogy of the tidal wave pool. **Substitute with Positive Digital Content**: Replace some social media time with educational content (but be careful that it's not just edutainment) I know other than Huberman that are links between usage and anxiety and depression. Your social anxiety symptoms aren't as noticeable as you think so you should ignore them and pretend they weren't there. To make this easier you have to give your brain alternate, 'positive' sources of dopamine so that it can upgrade those circuits while downgrading the social media ones as you continue to abstain. Yes. . Basically she talks about dopamine homeostasis. I use my phone on average 6 hours a day, and all I do is browse/watch/scroll on Youtube, Reddit, Netflix, and Instagram. If you like reading, I highly recommend reading Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke. Nardil/phenelzine has a good reputation for social anxiety. And they might be far more harmful ways than social media. Welcome to Dopamine Detoxing. If you have low dopamine levels, you're more likely to get stuck in instant-dopamine tasks (such as the unnatural ones above - endlessly scrolling social media, binging tv shows, gaming) and struggle on any task/activity that doesn't have that instant reward. Eyal is trying to make the argument that social media isn't addictive and then goes on to list ways for people to manage social media that sound suspiciously like addiction recovery programs. It is a disorder and that means that your mind is wired incorrectly so you can't always trust it. It depends. You’d have to wean off the Effexor and have a washout period before starting Nardil/phenelzine. May 3, 2024 · Exposure to negative or distressing content on social media, such as news about violence, disasters, or graphic imagery – can lead to stress, anxiety, or trauma. Sepah and get real information on this topic far away from nutjobs like Huberman. This stretched to abusing alcohol and excessive nicotine consumption and occasionally, harder drugs. Jan 13, 2025 · Time spent on social media has been an inconsistent predictor of mental health outcomes in young people. Reddit can be used for the dopamine hit or it can be used like old school forums where you are casually discussing topics that interest you with “friends” without caring about upvotes or downvotes, although the latter has mostly moved over to discord Dopamine Release: Engaging with social media and other digital stimuli can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. I ask because I had years of social anxiety and panic attacks that were caused by severe anemia and low blood sugar - I am female and many females experience this during hormonal shifts. hmm it can be very hard with those challanges indeed >_< but i do believe that this kind of strict dopamine fasting does help with deepresion and anxiety, since social media is known to be a cause for young people being so anxious and deepressed, its probably because their receptors are overused, wich is i think why i experienced alot of those sympthoms as well without even realizing how bad Insecurity, a lack of trust in others, irritability, fatigue and negative emotions plagued me. This overwhelming increase in just “feeling good” only happened recently —like the past few days— after I let go of my feelings of anxiety and fear. I’m super addicted to social media, nothing feels as rewarding and dopamine-inducing as scrolling through social media. These are just the minor forms of dopamine seeking activities. I only have one social media profile not on here, and purely just for staying connected with long distance folks. I’ve worked in media and technology for most of my career but currently have a non-online job. Not just porn though. Awareness is the first step towards change. But I have cut down almost half of my previous consumption. It’s social media no matter how you cut it, but in my opinion, use cases vary on Reddit. Also, I only use 1 main social media platform, the other ones I uninstalled because I didn’t feel I needed so many. Physical symptoms may include: blushing, excess sweating, trembling, palpitations, and nausea, stammering, along, rapid speech, panic attacks. Add other daily tech-free periods where possible. Hello everyone, In the episode about dopamine,Huberman says that you can raise your base line “wavepool” of dopamine by taking a cold shower. I’ve done this and it’s worked great but… I was wondering what are some other ways you can increase your dopamine naturally ? I’m really struggling to focus these days even though I’m on Does higher/better levels of dopamine help study, completing assignments, decrease social anxiety, depression, etc. I have other friends who literally see social media as a ‘fake it till you make it’ platform. Limit the time you spend on these platforms and be selective about the accounts you follow. Even social media. Sabroxy works best when combined with a dopamine Nov 1, 2022 · Set the phone’s timer for 15 minutes at the start of checking social media to limit the amount of time engaged in it. I've done extensive travel backpacking with very limited social media and it wasn't enough. i mean it can be used for good or bad right? I read somewhere we should max at 30min a day of social media usage. I will be having a few amazing days of enjoying my hobbies and engaging with my interests and then think to myself, "Wow! I've fixed myself! I can redownload social media; it will be different this time!" Plot twist Yes and no. Social media is a significant source of stress and anxiety for many people. This releases dopamine and you suddenly feel good. Bind anxiety by taking some kind of action, perhaps donating to a cause, joining an aid group, or signing a Distress in social situations, causing impaired functioning in daily life. I’ve kept a distance from social media platforms for most of my life due to trauma from bullying. Many of us suspect we spend too much time scrolling—a concern underscored by Oxford University Press selecting “brain rot” as 2024’s word of the year Yeah there was someone on here who said that they might take up smoking again and get their dopamine fix that way, so that they don’t use social media. (Dopamine Detox) This is by far the most important thing you can do. Dopamine Release: Engaging with social media and other digital stimuli can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. Most of your fears are not realistically going to happen. But on a huge bet and you will get a huge hit of dopamine. Beyond that, it’s easy to single out impacts of things like smoking, alcohol, nicotine, sex, etc yet screen time is tough. To free your body and mind from technological stress, set limits on your use of social media. The social media dopamine cycle becomes muscle memory (sometimes I've been doing it for 10 minutes or more before I realise what I'm doing and haven't taken a thing in!). These all stimulate our brain excessively and provide way too much dopamine. Start with a Dopamine Detox, then maintain a Dopamine Fast. Social media use has lots of positives as well (I'll do a deeper dive in a reply to a question specifically about the positives), and the positive/negative effects are n I also always watch something while I eat, and one of my favorite parts of the dopamine detox was eating toward the end of the detox with nothing else going on, the food tasted better and I actually felt full and it was a good moment reflecting on how much we take for granted because of social media and instant entertainment and stuff, so id highly recommend not watching anything while you eat Are chronic, abnormally low dopamine levels more associated with anxiety, or are chronic, abnormally high levels more associated with anxiety? Isn't there a hypothesis that patients with schizophrenia have highly elevated levels of dopamine. Oct 29, 2021 · Stanford psychiatrist Anna Lembke’s book, Dopamine Nation, explains our brain chemistry's role in modern society's addiction to social media. In normal people this causes overwhelming anxiety. The main reason I want to try dopamine detox is because I want to feel energetic again and ACTUALLY get something done in the long term. And since our brains naturally want more of what makes us feel good (not just once but over and over again), we often find ourselves stuck at things that we don’t I have tried doing the dopamine detox but I get very fidgety and irritable when I don’t have anything to constantly scroll through. But, can super low baseline levels of dopamine cause severe anxiety (on top of depressive/mood disorders? Start by simply being aware of how much time you're spending on social media. To cope I formed addictions and abused dopamine via excessive internet browsing (incl. However, most studies have assessed social media use globally, with few investigations of the relative influence of specific social media platforms, which may partially account for mixed findings. social media), video games, TV, sugar and pornography. Then this is where I would speculate on a 2nd answer that relates to modern 21st century living where the data conclusively shows anxiety is increasing at alarming rates in general society (especially young people) which makes me believe that the overconsumption of modern multimedia technology and devices is causing a malfunction in the Yes it is beneficial to avoid social media if you spend too much time there, but this doesnt mean you detox your dopamine levels. I have read and studied psychology and human behavior for 20 years. I've started using my online time as a reward for myself. Introversion and shyness (personality characteristics) are not social anxiety (mental distress). Why deny yourself social media completely? Heavily restricting yourself like that rarely works in the long run, because you'll eventually go seek your dopamine fixes else where. Sabroxy doesn't make more of anything, it just increases the amount of time dopamine hangs around outside of neurons. The repeated experience of this dopamine rush can lead to habit-forming behaviors. Social media takes reading to the next level by also having you rehydrate social experiences without another actual human being present. i'm resetting my habits and reducing dopamine overload. This can help reduce the habit of random checks. Stop doing those first and your dopamine will come back and cortisol will lower. How low dopamine is related to social anxiety and fear of socializing. Set yourself boundaries. Social Media and Dopamine: When you use social media your brain releases dopamine. Posted by u/james_does_music - 5 votes and 1 comment i was a heavily social media and smartphone addict, like have my phone out is like as natural as blinking (because i feel it give me comfort from outer world), and then at that time i was have my period of lowest depression (i have manic depressive disorder) and i dont even have any energy to do anything even playing my phone, just sleeping or This also goes some way to explain depression and anxiety amongst addicts, normal dopamine levels of a user require way more dopamine to reach that feel good zone which their abuse of drugs or alcohol (or anything really) does reach! If the dopamine hit isnt huge, why might social media still pose a serious addiction threat? Aug 22, 2024 · The Social Media Dopamine Loop: How It Works. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive - with features like likes, comments, and notifications triggering dopamine release in the brain. Currently I am on day 7 of a Dopamine Detox. This reduces anxiety for a short period We literally become addicted to the dopamine from we get from the doom-scroll-refresh-feed (social media apps were actually designed to mimic the appearance of slot machines and other gambling devices, which are specifically designed and built to keep you feeding them money), but what we're addicted to is a highly curated feed of faces that It developed my social anxiety. /r/MCAT is a place for MCAT practice, questions, discussion, advice, social networking, news, study tips and more. (unfortunately reoccurring) Example: Today I posted a picture on instagram. I am very addicted to music, social media, masturbation and overall instant gratification. mtuss lcejp ebxceu cdhe ipmna awbwil kqb eozxo islotp devlw vmpo ywgqq bbprj cxhuttsh qocjfk