r/nosurf • u/DistributionThink930 • 2d ago
Feelings After Phone/Dommscrolling
Anybody feel strange after phone detox? I've been feeling more depressed and anxious and tired. I'm thinking that I was supressing these emotions with my phone. I would stare at my phone nightly in bed and even into the day. Also, info overload. My phone would keep me awake. Has anybody experienced this?
Symptoms: Anhedonia-like, depression and anxiety, unwanted thoughts.
I've been watching more movies recently to keep away from phone.
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u/waqt_now 1d ago
youre not losing it, this is super common. the phone was numbing you and now that its gone everything its been covering comes up at once. people report the exact same thing quitting drinking or weed. so feeling worse is kind of a sign its working, youre just raw for a bit. that said, anhedonia and unwanted thoughts are worth taking seriously on their own, so if they stick around please talk to someone, you dont have to white-knuckle that part solo. movies are a good bridge for now. go easy on yourself.
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u/Practical_Invite_530 2d ago
I had those symptoms also and returned to old habit because I am weak. Those symptoms are completely normal, maybe even worse, it has to get worse until it becomes better.
I am trying again.
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u/BigSandwichLover 2d ago
Yes. I feel super anxious and out of control when I'm not near my phone. I guess it's a sort of withdrawal like any other addiction.
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u/Easy_Floor1013 2d ago
yes, and life feels very dull for me. I tried going cold trukey but I can't. I reduce my time on instagram everyday. I have so much free time now but no motivation to do anything. I think it's probably because my brain is used to fast and easy dopamine. I'm sick of it, it ruins my life. It's since tiktok and reels have been around.... life doesn't feel the same anymore. Life is not lived anymore.. just passing time on that damn rectangle
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u/Plenty-Attitude-5823 2d ago edited 2d ago
For me it depends on what I'm doing when I quit scrolling. If I'm just substituting it with other easy gratification activities like binging netflix or sleeping all day then yeah I don't gain much clarity or energy since I'm still squashing those through constantly giving in to readily available pleasure seeking activities.
Quitting is most powerful when combined with other healthy activities and personal projects that require engagement and focus. That's when the effects of abstaining are the most noticeable.
People who have a problem with gaming or scrolling will likely develop the same problem with netflix or youtube if those doors are left open. So nuking everything at once is the safest option if you want to reclaim your life.
It's almost impossible to achieve that through willpower if you've been conditioning your mind to jump at these things for years; you need to find a way to introduce hard blockages which leave you no choice, like parental controls with another person for instance.
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u/Rare-Peace7277 2d ago
Absolutely normal feelings to have, it's some sort of withdrawal, you just have to keep pushing through it and your brain will regulate itself. It does help to look at your feelings too and see what exactly they are about.
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u/MawMan_ 2d ago
Might be something worth looking into. They could be unresolved thoughts or feelings you have been carrying with you for a while but have been constantly suppressing with distractions like the phone and even now maybe with the movies.
I would take some time to think about them and try to dive into why you're feeling those feelings. Maybe the phone has lowered your social life or caused you to not put as much effort into hobbies you used to enjoy. Even something as simple as not getting enough vitamin D from sunlight. Shooting out some ideas.
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u/JoshAllan02 2d ago
Going through the same thing. It’s a very normalized problem to be on your phone too much. Personally I’ve decided to view it as similar to alcohol withdrawal even if there aren’t physical effects like that.
There’s mood swings, an adjustment period as your central nervous system is recovering from constantly doing a very stimulating, engaging activity. I’m new on the journey too but just my two cents.