You’re having a conversation with someone you love. It’s been going on for a while, and you’ve been tuned in to what your loved one has to say. You’ve been vibing.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere, it hits.
The urge to pick up your phone, tap on your favorite app, and begin doom scrolling.
Now, your conversation partner is wondering if you’re still paying attention. (Do you still even care about what they have to say?)
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Maybe this sounds familiar. Maybe you’ve been called out for doing something like this. Maybe you’ve even wondered, “Why do I do this?”
I’ll tell you my theory.
You’re overstimulated. I can’t explain the brain science behind it, but there it is nonetheless. You’ve been so tuned-in that you need a break, a chance to tune-out. For whatever reason, some folks find peace in doom scrolling, particularly if their feed is stacked with enjoyable content.
So what do you do?
Well, for starters, you still need your breaks. That’s not going anywhere. What you can do is learn to recognize that impulse for what it is, and communicate to your loved ones (or coworkers, or _____) what is going on. It can be as simple as “Hey, I’m feeling a little overstimulated right now, I need five minutes to just tune out. I’m looking forward to continuing this when I’m more regulated!” – and if that language feels alien to you, maybe you haven’t had permission to explore this yet, so please consider this your invitation to do so now.
You can also take this as an opportunity to be more mindful in how you “tune out”. (I’ve known some folks to become anxious and overstimulated by the content in their social media feeds, so keep that in mind when influencing your algorithm!) Perhaps, now that you’re aware of what’s going on, you’d prefer to take a mindful moment, go for a walk, get a glass of water. Breathe. Process what you’ve been discussing or engaging in. Check in with your body. What is it asking for?
Note: This came up in relation to ADHD, but in reality, anyone can feel overstimulated, particularly those who have experienced trauma. Take care of yourself, y’all.