Oh hey friends. It’s day three away off social media and I can confidently say that getting out of the cycle of dopamine is a lot like weaning off pain medication. I remember the first time I realized I liked percocets a little too much. When I’d get excited at the slightest nudge of a headache and pop one, I knew I was flirting with fire. For a while, I was so scared of addiction that when I had to a procedure that required morphine, I stopped the drip and just held on to my nurse and Zach and yelled. There’s something about not having my wits about me that freaks me right out and I’m realizing that social media has had the same kind of affect on me.
I took IG and FB off my phone for the entirety of Advent because I was just using it so much. Now I delete it off my phone every night and don't put it back on until the afternoon. Some days I download it sooner than others. Most of the time I just want to just get rid of it entirely. I want an old fashioned flip phone for phone calls and to use my laptop when I need to do something online. I miss the simplicity. My only downfall is that I read books on my phone. I need to break out my Kindle again and use that for reading and save everything else for the laputer. It's amazing how much more time I have for things when my phone is down 🤣
Dare I ask about your supplements? Do they help with the need to mine for D? Any thoughts on a healthier approach to mining online. I'm sensing the answer lies in your cleaning and gardening. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing. I've been trying to learn as much as I can about ADHD because I think I have it. So much resonates. I grieve because I want my brain to be better. I hate how hard simple things are. . . But this is what I and so many of my loved ones have been dealt. Some struggle with worse things.
ugh, I am intimately familiar with that particular brain quirk. Like today, I'm stressed and so antsy, and I get so scroll-y (even on Substack, which is quickly exhausted, but then makes me annoyed that I'm still trying to get a hit). When I can stick to it, it's really helped me to not get on until after 1 pm. Something about having a morning without the initial dopamine hit makes it much easier to regulate the rest of the day. But right now we are in stress ball city, moving in a few weeks and my husband has not been home before 8 pm for a few nights, sooo I'm not following any of my own advice, I'm avoiding all my feelings and I can feel it. Solidarity. The IG twitchiness takes about a week or two to wear off and then it's really lovely. I still sometimes miss catching up with people, but it's just such a bad place for my brain.
Honestly I would love to hear your TTPD thoughts. I have been listening alllll week too and have thoughts. I'm afraid the internet has perpetuated a culture where someone (and their work) is either all GOOD or all BAD. I agree there are some critiques that seem necessary. I don't have any friends who listen to her so I guess I needed an outlet for that. Ha. Also convincing myself to dig into my landscaping this spring...so far I'm just chopping stuff down like crazy. Kind of therapeutic.
I've been tossing around your Ireland trip. I am on the fence if a trip with strangers is for me or not.
ha! love your essay! I am also on an Instagram break- well to be honest I did post on saturday because we attended a fund raiser and they needed the promo. But I have detoxed from Instagram/Facebook off and on for the last few years and every time I leave - I feel better! This time around I kept FB, but Insta was driving me insane and I found myself feeling anxious and upset every time I was on it and once I logged off, it left me feeling bereft of joy. I read Lore Willbert's essay last week and while I appreciate her work, I am not sure I agreed. I will keep my Instagram account but I wont keep the app on my phone. I now log in on my desktop which only allows me to see other's post and stories. i cannot post to my stories from a desktop and by having to download the app every time I want to use it- makes it inconvenient for me to use the app. Its an extra step I dont want to take. I feel peaceful, I have no idea what I am missing which is fine. I have some FOMO but it goes away and above all I am getting more work done.at the end of the day that is a win win for me!
Thanks for sharing your journey Kristen. Looking forward to continuing to seeing you around over here. Now I’m gonna have to get my LaValley news from Zach!
Atlantic, Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker all published critiques of TTPD since it came out. I thought the two in the Atlantic were thoughtful even if the one by Spencer Kornhaber didn’t respect the subjective nature of art as thoroughly as it should.
Agreed about not critiquing art! It seems like everyone’s so afraid to. My husband and I have been talking at length about how this could’ve been a collection of her best work if it had a little more time to cook (and maybe a new producer).
So glad you’re writing here and fighting for that dopamine. 🙌🏼
Girl, you’ve inspired me to do the same. My book comes out in a couple weeks and I’m currently devising a social media exit plan for after that moment. TBH I can’t wait.
Not me sitting here realizing that I think I have these gene missing you speak of. And not me sitting here realizing that I need to get my butt off of social media more often because of the dopamine addiction. Not you YELLING AT ME, KRISTEN!!!! Stop it!!!! :)
I'm thrilled for you!! I'm a new author and am newly off social media (four months sober), and I just had my best book launch EVER and regret NOT ONE THING. You are doing a good thing. And. We're still here 😘
Really, really was so relieved when you said you would still be writing on Substack. So grateful for how you share yourself. It's so relatable and delightful.
“Almost shook the dust off my tambourine” is the best and most relatable line I’ve read in awhile 😂🙌🏽
Thanks for being brave in leaving to care for yourself. Taking a step back myself thanks to your example. I don’t support a living with it, but I need to support my brain and heart better ♥️
You leaving instagram killed instagram for me. So I am in the now what do I do for dopamine stage too. I guess I stalk your Substack? 😆😂 so proud of you for leaving. You are so very loved and appreciated. ♥️
I took IG and FB off my phone for the entirety of Advent because I was just using it so much. Now I delete it off my phone every night and don't put it back on until the afternoon. Some days I download it sooner than others. Most of the time I just want to just get rid of it entirely. I want an old fashioned flip phone for phone calls and to use my laptop when I need to do something online. I miss the simplicity. My only downfall is that I read books on my phone. I need to break out my Kindle again and use that for reading and save everything else for the laputer. It's amazing how much more time I have for things when my phone is down 🤣
Dare I ask about your supplements? Do they help with the need to mine for D? Any thoughts on a healthier approach to mining online. I'm sensing the answer lies in your cleaning and gardening. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing. I've been trying to learn as much as I can about ADHD because I think I have it. So much resonates. I grieve because I want my brain to be better. I hate how hard simple things are. . . But this is what I and so many of my loved ones have been dealt. Some struggle with worse things.
ugh, I am intimately familiar with that particular brain quirk. Like today, I'm stressed and so antsy, and I get so scroll-y (even on Substack, which is quickly exhausted, but then makes me annoyed that I'm still trying to get a hit). When I can stick to it, it's really helped me to not get on until after 1 pm. Something about having a morning without the initial dopamine hit makes it much easier to regulate the rest of the day. But right now we are in stress ball city, moving in a few weeks and my husband has not been home before 8 pm for a few nights, sooo I'm not following any of my own advice, I'm avoiding all my feelings and I can feel it. Solidarity. The IG twitchiness takes about a week or two to wear off and then it's really lovely. I still sometimes miss catching up with people, but it's just such a bad place for my brain.
Man I relate that dopamine situation so much.
Honestly I would love to hear your TTPD thoughts. I have been listening alllll week too and have thoughts. I'm afraid the internet has perpetuated a culture where someone (and their work) is either all GOOD or all BAD. I agree there are some critiques that seem necessary. I don't have any friends who listen to her so I guess I needed an outlet for that. Ha. Also convincing myself to dig into my landscaping this spring...so far I'm just chopping stuff down like crazy. Kind of therapeutic.
I've been tossing around your Ireland trip. I am on the fence if a trip with strangers is for me or not.
ha! love your essay! I am also on an Instagram break- well to be honest I did post on saturday because we attended a fund raiser and they needed the promo. But I have detoxed from Instagram/Facebook off and on for the last few years and every time I leave - I feel better! This time around I kept FB, but Insta was driving me insane and I found myself feeling anxious and upset every time I was on it and once I logged off, it left me feeling bereft of joy. I read Lore Willbert's essay last week and while I appreciate her work, I am not sure I agreed. I will keep my Instagram account but I wont keep the app on my phone. I now log in on my desktop which only allows me to see other's post and stories. i cannot post to my stories from a desktop and by having to download the app every time I want to use it- makes it inconvenient for me to use the app. Its an extra step I dont want to take. I feel peaceful, I have no idea what I am missing which is fine. I have some FOMO but it goes away and above all I am getting more work done.at the end of the day that is a win win for me!
Thanks for sharing your journey Kristen. Looking forward to continuing to seeing you around over here. Now I’m gonna have to get my LaValley news from Zach!
Atlantic, Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker all published critiques of TTPD since it came out. I thought the two in the Atlantic were thoughtful even if the one by Spencer Kornhaber didn’t respect the subjective nature of art as thoroughly as it should.
Are you gluten free?? If so, why? (I’m celiacs) and also where were the GF cupcakes from??
Agreed about not critiquing art! It seems like everyone’s so afraid to. My husband and I have been talking at length about how this could’ve been a collection of her best work if it had a little more time to cook (and maybe a new producer).
So glad you’re writing here and fighting for that dopamine. 🙌🏼
Girl, you’ve inspired me to do the same. My book comes out in a couple weeks and I’m currently devising a social media exit plan for after that moment. TBH I can’t wait.
Not me sitting here realizing that I think I have these gene missing you speak of. And not me sitting here realizing that I need to get my butt off of social media more often because of the dopamine addiction. Not you YELLING AT ME, KRISTEN!!!! Stop it!!!! :)
I'm thrilled for you!! I'm a new author and am newly off social media (four months sober), and I just had my best book launch EVER and regret NOT ONE THING. You are doing a good thing. And. We're still here 😘
You are a great writer. Thank you for sharing
Really, really was so relieved when you said you would still be writing on Substack. So grateful for how you share yourself. It's so relatable and delightful.
“Almost shook the dust off my tambourine” is the best and most relatable line I’ve read in awhile 😂🙌🏽
Thanks for being brave in leaving to care for yourself. Taking a step back myself thanks to your example. I don’t support a living with it, but I need to support my brain and heart better ♥️
You leaving instagram killed instagram for me. So I am in the now what do I do for dopamine stage too. I guess I stalk your Substack? 😆😂 so proud of you for leaving. You are so very loved and appreciated. ♥️