It’s interesting how the things that give us dopamine even when they’re destructive are often the hardest to control. The typical way to manage them seems to be avoiding them altogether, but that can feel like fighting (and fighting always lead to war with yourself) an addiction, you keep getting pulled back in.
Instead, it might be a question about what’s driving the behavior. Are you bored? Trying to avoid uncomfortable thoughts? Or simply filling your time with something easy and stimulating?
If I imagine that I can always talk to my friends, play football, dance, or go for a walk, then I probably wouldn’t need to doomscroll. Because dopamine is tied to positive emotions, it keeps you hooked — it’s hard to let go. But I agree that sometimes, just blocking that source of stimulation for a day can help you reconnect with your own feelings. However may not solve it completely as the roots my be much deeper down.
It’s interesting how the things that give us dopamine even when they’re destructive are often the hardest to control. The typical way to manage them seems to be avoiding them altogether, but that can feel like fighting (and fighting always lead to war with yourself) an addiction, you keep getting pulled back in.
Instead, it might be a question about what’s driving the behavior. Are you bored? Trying to avoid uncomfortable thoughts? Or simply filling your time with something easy and stimulating?
If I imagine that I can always talk to my friends, play football, dance, or go for a walk, then I probably wouldn’t need to doomscroll. Because dopamine is tied to positive emotions, it keeps you hooked — it’s hard to let go. But I agree that sometimes, just blocking that source of stimulation for a day can help you reconnect with your own feelings. However may not solve it completely as the roots my be much deeper down.