Why You Feel Addicted to Social Media—and How to Break Free

You know that moment when you tell yourself you’ll scroll for just five more minutes… and somehow, an hour disappears?

In this solo episode, I’m digging into the psychology behind why we feel addicted to social media—and what we can do about it. Because this goes way beyond distraction. For many of us, the endless scrolling becomes compulsive. Especially after a breakup or during times of heightened insecurity, our feeds start to feel less like entertainment and more like a source of clues… or control.

But here’s the truth: Social media addiction is real. It may not be in the DSM, but it mirrors other behavioral addictions in all the ways that matter—dopamine hits, compulsive checking, withdrawal symptoms, and the toll it takes on your mental health.

I’ll walk you through the neuroscience behind the urge to scroll, the emotional traps baked into the platforms, and why abstinence isn’t a realistic solution for most of us. And I’ll give you tangible strategies to regain control without having to delete every app off your phone.

Whether you’re caught in a loop of stalking someone’s stories, waking up and reaching for your phone before your feet hit the floor, or just feeling like your attention span has been hijacked—this episode is for you.

You’ll walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of why social media feels addictive—and how it manipulates your brain’s reward system.
• The 3 red flags that signal your relationship with social media may be harming your mental health.
• Science-backed, therapist-tested strategies for breaking the cycle—without quitting cold turkey.

If you’ve ever felt ashamed or confused by your own scrolling habits, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken. Let’s talk about what’s really going on—and how to reclaim your peace.

Xxoo Darcy

REFERENCES/RESOURCES

www.alternativescounseling/com

https://www.askdrdarcy.com/references/

Email Amanda at [e-mail] for course purchase - Code 5FRIENDS

CREDITS

“We Need To Talk With Dr. Darcy Sterling” is a Sterling Standard Production. Editing and sound engineering by Bart Migal. Our theme music is by Trending Music. Special thanks to Amanda Cristiani and Robyn Jaenchen and Ines Goot.

 

DISCLAIMER

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Watch this episode here on YouTube. 

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