I hear you loud & clear this came at the right time, I'm off "social media 8 months (Facebook, Instagram) were the 2 I was on as the wks & months past I felt my addiction veered elsewhere (youtube, reddit,Google, medium, substack, netflix😔) I made excuses that it's not as bad as" social media" but I felt nothing but anxiety & depression creeping in, I realised this wk it's not a social media addiction it's a (smart) phone addiction, I feel lost & like you I need to do something before I sink to the techno grasp over my life especially with my obsessive personality trait I need creative art again which I had a big passion for before the smart phone was not so smart 🙈 thank you Charlie your content on youtube has honestly been a balm to my soul if only I stopped there before the endless videos took over my mind, we've got to do what's best for us, as a mum I need to come fully away from my smart phone & figure stuff out "the hard way" aka the right way.... Before life gets away from us, bless you Charlie ❤️
“Techno grasp” - yes!! It’s a difficult one because I certainly understand why, especially for neurodivergent people, consuming content can be helpful (for example to deal with overwhelm and big emotions). If only it was as easy as tapping in for a certain amount of time and then being sure we can trust our brains to switch back to reality again right on time! I have faith you’ll figure this out for yourself Christine, it sounds like you’re asking yourself all the pertinent questions about how tech can serve but not consume ❤️
I think there’s another side to this. YouTube, Instagram, substack etc suck us in; but why are they able to do that? Thinking out loud here:
1. They represent a distraction from something: emotions, feelings, affect; relationships, work; loneliness. On loneliness; they simulate relations, as we interact with people (as profiles, as videos, as chat) in a very diluted way. The parasocial relations we form with the internet-people distract from a (unmet) desire for IRL social relations.
2 . The rest of our lives aren’t filling us up. Our perceptual capacity isn’t being met by everyday life, and we need something to top us up. They represent an activity, a steady supply of images and ideas which makes up for the absence of these things elsewhere.
The rest of our lives is filling us up too much! Social media provides a comfortable background blur of images, ironically offering respite from the intensity of actually processing the huge quantity of images that we’re bombarded with constantly in modern life.
Totally agree Laurie! I wrote about this in my previous letters on digital minimalism explaining why I believe my step away from screens is finally starting to work for me - I am learning how to relate to others and deal with my emotions in a healthy way through therapy, and I am filling my life with real-life hobbies and activities that fill the void of time otherwise spent on screens. This is what I think is so insidious about the software of social media - it’s literally designed to draw users away from both of these things, so as time goes by it feels harder and literally is harder to reestablish life offline.
You know what's wild? I've *almost* given YouTube up after figuring out it was hacking my focus - I still fall into the trap sometimes, I'm getting better at closing the browser - but, the last few days I've found myself on Facebook Marketplace instead, browsing local for sale listings I just don't need, a LOT. I'm starting to get suspicious of anything with a screen in my life!! It's all just too easy. When I'm overstimulated, it seems like a chance to block out the world. When I'm understimulated, it seems like a shiny distraction to pump up my brain. Meanwhile the things my brain actually needs are out here in the real world, like in your illustration, which I love. But I've started to get angry about all of this and am to the point where I'll pull the literal plug on almost anything that's sapping the vitality out of my life. I'm wondering now whether I need to put more guardrails in place around my computer usage; I thought I was okay since it's not a phone, but the simple fact that it isn't as portable is not enough to stop me making the same mistakes with it.
Courage, friends. We're in this together and we can get out of it, together. I'm so encouraged to see discussions around these issues and thank you, Charlie, for sparking this conversation!
“Most of these I probably watched less than a third of before finding them too under-stimulating and clicking onto the next video that popped up. This is the irony of YouTube - I tell myself that it allows me access to my interests, but it actually traps me in a shallow cycle of content consumption that requires little thinking power and never gets me into the nitty gritty. Those hour-long documentaries I found on various creatives’ channels through time have been sat in my ‘to be watched’ playlist for months if not years because they’re simply too long and relatively slow and under-stimulating.” (Sorry to quote such a long bit but…) Wow, wow, WOW! Honestly this post couldn’t have come at a more apt time for me. I am just accepting my autistic burnout, and I feel as part of the emergency recovery I need to come out of YouTube. I too thought it was healthy, I watch it perhaps a similar amount to you, I only watch it at meal times when I’m alone or have it to listen to when doing chores, but all of what you wrote, especially the part I have quoted, is so relevant to me. I have cut Instagram and all other short form content a few months ago but I feel YouTube exacerbates my ‘chameleon-ing’ and also contributes to information overload (so many videos I have watched but not digested or done anything useful with, so mainly gives me that stimulating ‘hit’ then dies down as I look for the next one). It’s crazy how much it can affect attention span as I rarely watch any ‘normal’ tv or films because I want that hit/information.
I’ve said I’m giving myself a month off (aside from using it to watch my daily yoga videos as I do follow that and obviously won’t scroll mindlessly through those!) and when I usually watch I will either do a crossword or try and watch normal tv or just be. I’m so proud of you Charlie having this realisation, owning it and speaking about it, and also for having compassion toward yourself. It’s not easy. Keep being kind to yourself as best you can, take each day as it comes and enjoy your freedom as it grows. xx
Thanks so much Charlie! I made a mental note to let you know how it goes, however my apologies on it being a little into June! Well I did May off YouTube, aside from if I needed it for a tutorial and for my yoga practice. I did miss it and don’t think I will come off it forever. I did, however feel a lot clearer in my mind, not as much information overload and chameleon-ing. Of course these things take considerable time to heal so I am not out of those old patterns yet. I started watching Gilmore Girls (again!) when I would have otherwise watched YouTube (mainly lunch times when I’m alone) which was wholesome! I did also unsubscribe from all channels aside from Yoga with Adriene (where I do my yoga) and Hollow Coves (my favourite band and really how I would keep up to date with their music videos!) and since going back, I have only added the channels I find very meaningful (which has been one thus far!) and have been much more intentional about what I watch. If I’m honest I have felt myself falling back into the social media thing, not too much, and only for art purposes, but it’s there a smidging and I wanted to be honest! I am also considering using it again to promote my baking (I am not a business, just do it for friends/family/work colleagues or if someone ‘asks’), but it feels so anxiety provoking to show up now and I just don’t like it? But then it’s that complex of that unfortunately being the main way people get word of mouth around. Ah! Sorry anyway for this essay. I hope you are well! I watched your creation over consumption YouTube just now whilst baking and did love it a lot. At the beginning when you said about those times just hanging around (pre social media) made me feel all fuzzy at the memory! Keep going you’re doing great!
Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing your thoughts. I too have been struggling with my YouTube use and I always feel like that platform begins the spiral of media consumption for me. Your post came a day after my own thoughts on this, and has 100% inspired me to go on this YouTube detox with you.
I have been using a flip phone on and off since August (I went back for a month in January, and for a single week a few weeks ago), and what I have noticed each time I went back to my smartphone is I spiral quickly into short form content, doom scrolling on pointless apps, and within a few days I become seriously depressed. I am someone who has never had mental health struggles, so this depression was very unusual and I credit it to the over stimulating my brain from my phone. I feel like my brain got a taste of normalcy being on my flip phone and could not handle the emotions and content it was being fed so quickly back on the smartphone. I feel that this time it will finally stick, especially with quitting YouTube.
My mother has said to me before (just like your comment you posted) "maybe you should have some self control" *meanwhile she is scrolling for hours on Facebook...... It is frustrating that so many people don't understand that these things are designed to be addictive and is no fault of our own.
Thank you for sharing your journey, it is motivating for me personally, and helps me continue knowing someone else is also experiencing how to live in today's world without the over stimulation.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Brooklyn. I was particularly interested to hear about the fact your mental health struggles have noticeably stemmed from screen time and social media. Good luck with your detox, let me know how it goes? ❤️
Yeah, I also have a problem with YouTube, but I've also blocked it largely. If there's some interesting youtube podcast I use an app called Matter that will bookmark the youtube video and it autogenerates the transcript, so that I'll read the content rather than watch it. Still though I can't tell you how many times I've rewatched the Deadpool and Wolverine trailer because, hello, comic book/film nerd. I'm literally writing a book about that and my late-diagnosis. But basically, I set a time limit, and Chrome auto-disconnects me from YouTube. I can't even use it on my phone. I don't even have email on my phone. Haven't for at least 4 years. Basically, I've scheduled my social media use to about 30 minutes a day, right around 3 pm, because usually, I'm about tapped around then, and then USUALLY I get up and go for a walk.
I've definitely tried denying how addicted I am to YouTube in the past but its inescapable now. It like any moment of silence has to filled with YouTube. What's worse is that I've been seduced by YouTube shorts too, which can also be catastrophic.
Thanks for sharing Charlie! I didn’t even realize that I’ve also quit youtube the past few months. I too had a sudden realization it was addicting and I deleted the app - and I genuinely haven’t thought of it at all since then! Just like with instagram & facebook. 🤷♀️ looks like it wasn’t actually adding any value either. I just doodle in my little notebook & watch funny reality tv and go for walkies. For some reason reality tv has the opposite effect on me to social media - I think it’s craziness is actually fun/funny to me so I’m very energized after 😂 🤷♀️ to be human is such a funny experience. Much love to you on your journey - you got this!! ♥️
Love this for you Abla!! It sounds like we have a very similar take on reality TV 😂 I just finished Selling Sunset and honestly had the best time loling at all the fake drama
Thank you SO much for sharing your story. This is such an important topic. You hit the nail on the head when you explain that tech companies need to take responsibility. Social media is designed to become addictive. It is made, deliberately, to suck us in. A great book is 'Stolen Focus' by Johann Hari and reading this opened my eyes to what is actually happening. Our brains have not evolved to handle the constant dopamine hit that we get from social media.
The only 'social media' I now have is Substack (does that count?? 🤣) and I do still use You Tube but only really for yoga! My life is so much calmer without the Facebook and the like. But, I expect I'm a lot older than you and many of your readers so maybe it is easier for me. I didn't grow up with any sort of social media. I can't begin to imagine how hard it is for generations who have grown up with social media / digital content as a normal part of life.
I also love the quote you shared on addiction by Domingo Cullen. I haven't seen that before but it makes perfect sense.
Keep up your amazing work. The world needs to hear your words 💚
Thank you for your encouragement Carolyn, I really appreciate it - I often feel as though I’m pissing people off with my takes on social media, but I guess there could be good reason for that!! I personally struggle with Substack too 😂
I don't find I have this issue with YouTube, but I wonder if it's because I am still using Instagram and tiktok, so I only use it when I'm looking up a tutorial, doing yoga, or watching certain creators when I want to knit or crochet with something in the background. It's not really compulsive for me in the way that the others are, but I could see how it could be if I eliminated the others. I'm still trying to decide if I can find a decent balance with social media before I try giving it up entirely, and I really appreciate you sharing your experience.
I truly wish you the best with figuring out what works for you. I wish I didn’t have to go cold turkey, but i personally just couldn’t find the right fit. I even struggle with Substack to be honest!
Thank you for your honesty! It’s refreshing. And I agree, quitting social media with audhd is hard! I’ve been addressing my audhd with neurofeedback and had my neurotransmitters tested. I’ve been taking supplements to address my lack and going to the doctor to address low dopamine and epinephrine. I haven’t been beating myself up about social media, but I’ve been making small goals. My focus is so bad that I can’t barely watch a movie without feeling the need to get up and move around. So right now my goal is to read a chapter of the Bible out loud with a friend every night, and to try to cook meals from scratch and to watch a movie to its entirety. I’ve experienced ptsd so I am gentle with myself, trying to do gentle stretches and go for walks every day in the sunshine, go to physical therapy every week for pain management. And of course I have to write my poetry that adds a rhyme and reason to my pain., Thank you for the inspiration! 💖
Aw thank you Kate ❤️ I actually meant I feel conflicted because it feels hypocritical to not be using YouTube myself but still be contributing to the raft of content on there. That said, I know there are some people who find calm and peace through my videos so I expect I'll keep putting them out there for as long as I enjoy making them :)
Your videos are very positive and help me to do a lot of self reflection. So personally (and selfishly!) I would miss you, but always good to know that your content will be here 😊🌼
Wow, this honestly felt like I was reading about my own life! I'd say I've been dealing with a YouTube addiction on and off since my mid-teens (I'm now in my late 20s), and I've never seen someone else put it into words. I've also been trying to find ways to reduce my usage of YouTube, and this article has given me so much to think about. Thankyou for this, Charlie!
I got really addicted to mobile gaming a few years ago. To the point I would wake up at 5am and immediately start playing. Before I knew I was ADHD, I tried all kinds of strategies to curb my usage. But in the end the only thing that worked was completely deleting the games from my phone. It took a little while to adjust but now I don't miss it at all. Sometimes you just have to go nuclear on the things you can't get under control 💕
I hear you loud & clear this came at the right time, I'm off "social media 8 months (Facebook, Instagram) were the 2 I was on as the wks & months past I felt my addiction veered elsewhere (youtube, reddit,Google, medium, substack, netflix😔) I made excuses that it's not as bad as" social media" but I felt nothing but anxiety & depression creeping in, I realised this wk it's not a social media addiction it's a (smart) phone addiction, I feel lost & like you I need to do something before I sink to the techno grasp over my life especially with my obsessive personality trait I need creative art again which I had a big passion for before the smart phone was not so smart 🙈 thank you Charlie your content on youtube has honestly been a balm to my soul if only I stopped there before the endless videos took over my mind, we've got to do what's best for us, as a mum I need to come fully away from my smart phone & figure stuff out "the hard way" aka the right way.... Before life gets away from us, bless you Charlie ❤️
“Techno grasp” - yes!! It’s a difficult one because I certainly understand why, especially for neurodivergent people, consuming content can be helpful (for example to deal with overwhelm and big emotions). If only it was as easy as tapping in for a certain amount of time and then being sure we can trust our brains to switch back to reality again right on time! I have faith you’ll figure this out for yourself Christine, it sounds like you’re asking yourself all the pertinent questions about how tech can serve but not consume ❤️
This is me too. I will really find anything on my phone to do as a way of dissociating from the present moment when it feels too much to handle.
I think there’s another side to this. YouTube, Instagram, substack etc suck us in; but why are they able to do that? Thinking out loud here:
1. They represent a distraction from something: emotions, feelings, affect; relationships, work; loneliness. On loneliness; they simulate relations, as we interact with people (as profiles, as videos, as chat) in a very diluted way. The parasocial relations we form with the internet-people distract from a (unmet) desire for IRL social relations.
2 . The rest of our lives aren’t filling us up. Our perceptual capacity isn’t being met by everyday life, and we need something to top us up. They represent an activity, a steady supply of images and ideas which makes up for the absence of these things elsewhere.
The rest of our lives is filling us up too much! Social media provides a comfortable background blur of images, ironically offering respite from the intensity of actually processing the huge quantity of images that we’re bombarded with constantly in modern life.
Totally agree Laurie! I wrote about this in my previous letters on digital minimalism explaining why I believe my step away from screens is finally starting to work for me - I am learning how to relate to others and deal with my emotions in a healthy way through therapy, and I am filling my life with real-life hobbies and activities that fill the void of time otherwise spent on screens. This is what I think is so insidious about the software of social media - it’s literally designed to draw users away from both of these things, so as time goes by it feels harder and literally is harder to reestablish life offline.
You know what's wild? I've *almost* given YouTube up after figuring out it was hacking my focus - I still fall into the trap sometimes, I'm getting better at closing the browser - but, the last few days I've found myself on Facebook Marketplace instead, browsing local for sale listings I just don't need, a LOT. I'm starting to get suspicious of anything with a screen in my life!! It's all just too easy. When I'm overstimulated, it seems like a chance to block out the world. When I'm understimulated, it seems like a shiny distraction to pump up my brain. Meanwhile the things my brain actually needs are out here in the real world, like in your illustration, which I love. But I've started to get angry about all of this and am to the point where I'll pull the literal plug on almost anything that's sapping the vitality out of my life. I'm wondering now whether I need to put more guardrails in place around my computer usage; I thought I was okay since it's not a phone, but the simple fact that it isn't as portable is not enough to stop me making the same mistakes with it.
Courage, friends. We're in this together and we can get out of it, together. I'm so encouraged to see discussions around these issues and thank you, Charlie, for sparking this conversation!
Astute observations Sylvia, thank you for sharing! I have also found myself browsing Facebook marketplace 😂 oh and even Amazon!!
Ugh yes. Amazon is the neverending algorithm of things!
“Most of these I probably watched less than a third of before finding them too under-stimulating and clicking onto the next video that popped up. This is the irony of YouTube - I tell myself that it allows me access to my interests, but it actually traps me in a shallow cycle of content consumption that requires little thinking power and never gets me into the nitty gritty. Those hour-long documentaries I found on various creatives’ channels through time have been sat in my ‘to be watched’ playlist for months if not years because they’re simply too long and relatively slow and under-stimulating.” (Sorry to quote such a long bit but…) Wow, wow, WOW! Honestly this post couldn’t have come at a more apt time for me. I am just accepting my autistic burnout, and I feel as part of the emergency recovery I need to come out of YouTube. I too thought it was healthy, I watch it perhaps a similar amount to you, I only watch it at meal times when I’m alone or have it to listen to when doing chores, but all of what you wrote, especially the part I have quoted, is so relevant to me. I have cut Instagram and all other short form content a few months ago but I feel YouTube exacerbates my ‘chameleon-ing’ and also contributes to information overload (so many videos I have watched but not digested or done anything useful with, so mainly gives me that stimulating ‘hit’ then dies down as I look for the next one). It’s crazy how much it can affect attention span as I rarely watch any ‘normal’ tv or films because I want that hit/information.
I’ve said I’m giving myself a month off (aside from using it to watch my daily yoga videos as I do follow that and obviously won’t scroll mindlessly through those!) and when I usually watch I will either do a crossword or try and watch normal tv or just be. I’m so proud of you Charlie having this realisation, owning it and speaking about it, and also for having compassion toward yourself. It’s not easy. Keep being kind to yourself as best you can, take each day as it comes and enjoy your freedom as it grows. xx
I’m so proud of you too Han! Let me know how your month goes? ❤️
Thanks so much Charlie! I made a mental note to let you know how it goes, however my apologies on it being a little into June! Well I did May off YouTube, aside from if I needed it for a tutorial and for my yoga practice. I did miss it and don’t think I will come off it forever. I did, however feel a lot clearer in my mind, not as much information overload and chameleon-ing. Of course these things take considerable time to heal so I am not out of those old patterns yet. I started watching Gilmore Girls (again!) when I would have otherwise watched YouTube (mainly lunch times when I’m alone) which was wholesome! I did also unsubscribe from all channels aside from Yoga with Adriene (where I do my yoga) and Hollow Coves (my favourite band and really how I would keep up to date with their music videos!) and since going back, I have only added the channels I find very meaningful (which has been one thus far!) and have been much more intentional about what I watch. If I’m honest I have felt myself falling back into the social media thing, not too much, and only for art purposes, but it’s there a smidging and I wanted to be honest! I am also considering using it again to promote my baking (I am not a business, just do it for friends/family/work colleagues or if someone ‘asks’), but it feels so anxiety provoking to show up now and I just don’t like it? But then it’s that complex of that unfortunately being the main way people get word of mouth around. Ah! Sorry anyway for this essay. I hope you are well! I watched your creation over consumption YouTube just now whilst baking and did love it a lot. At the beginning when you said about those times just hanging around (pre social media) made me feel all fuzzy at the memory! Keep going you’re doing great!
Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing your thoughts. I too have been struggling with my YouTube use and I always feel like that platform begins the spiral of media consumption for me. Your post came a day after my own thoughts on this, and has 100% inspired me to go on this YouTube detox with you.
I have been using a flip phone on and off since August (I went back for a month in January, and for a single week a few weeks ago), and what I have noticed each time I went back to my smartphone is I spiral quickly into short form content, doom scrolling on pointless apps, and within a few days I become seriously depressed. I am someone who has never had mental health struggles, so this depression was very unusual and I credit it to the over stimulating my brain from my phone. I feel like my brain got a taste of normalcy being on my flip phone and could not handle the emotions and content it was being fed so quickly back on the smartphone. I feel that this time it will finally stick, especially with quitting YouTube.
My mother has said to me before (just like your comment you posted) "maybe you should have some self control" *meanwhile she is scrolling for hours on Facebook...... It is frustrating that so many people don't understand that these things are designed to be addictive and is no fault of our own.
Thank you for sharing your journey, it is motivating for me personally, and helps me continue knowing someone else is also experiencing how to live in today's world without the over stimulation.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Brooklyn. I was particularly interested to hear about the fact your mental health struggles have noticeably stemmed from screen time and social media. Good luck with your detox, let me know how it goes? ❤️
Yeah, I also have a problem with YouTube, but I've also blocked it largely. If there's some interesting youtube podcast I use an app called Matter that will bookmark the youtube video and it autogenerates the transcript, so that I'll read the content rather than watch it. Still though I can't tell you how many times I've rewatched the Deadpool and Wolverine trailer because, hello, comic book/film nerd. I'm literally writing a book about that and my late-diagnosis. But basically, I set a time limit, and Chrome auto-disconnects me from YouTube. I can't even use it on my phone. I don't even have email on my phone. Haven't for at least 4 years. Basically, I've scheduled my social media use to about 30 minutes a day, right around 3 pm, because usually, I'm about tapped around then, and then USUALLY I get up and go for a walk.
That’s awesome that this set up works for you David! Love the idea of converting video to text scripts.
I've definitely tried denying how addicted I am to YouTube in the past but its inescapable now. It like any moment of silence has to filled with YouTube. What's worse is that I've been seduced by YouTube shorts too, which can also be catastrophic.
I love the chrome extension ‘unhooked’ for hiding shorts! Maybe that is something that could help you?
Thanks for sharing Charlie! I didn’t even realize that I’ve also quit youtube the past few months. I too had a sudden realization it was addicting and I deleted the app - and I genuinely haven’t thought of it at all since then! Just like with instagram & facebook. 🤷♀️ looks like it wasn’t actually adding any value either. I just doodle in my little notebook & watch funny reality tv and go for walkies. For some reason reality tv has the opposite effect on me to social media - I think it’s craziness is actually fun/funny to me so I’m very energized after 😂 🤷♀️ to be human is such a funny experience. Much love to you on your journey - you got this!! ♥️
Love this for you Abla!! It sounds like we have a very similar take on reality TV 😂 I just finished Selling Sunset and honestly had the best time loling at all the fake drama
Hahaha I think the outrageousness turns it into true entertainment 😂 might try that one next!! ♥️
What is your current reality TV fix? ❤️
My partner and I were watching Love is Blind & The Ultimatum - people really living wild lives out here 😂
True classics, and you can't forget Married At First Sight Australia!
Omg that sounds amazing, I’m gonna look that up!!!
Thank you SO much for sharing your story. This is such an important topic. You hit the nail on the head when you explain that tech companies need to take responsibility. Social media is designed to become addictive. It is made, deliberately, to suck us in. A great book is 'Stolen Focus' by Johann Hari and reading this opened my eyes to what is actually happening. Our brains have not evolved to handle the constant dopamine hit that we get from social media.
The only 'social media' I now have is Substack (does that count?? 🤣) and I do still use You Tube but only really for yoga! My life is so much calmer without the Facebook and the like. But, I expect I'm a lot older than you and many of your readers so maybe it is easier for me. I didn't grow up with any sort of social media. I can't begin to imagine how hard it is for generations who have grown up with social media / digital content as a normal part of life.
I also love the quote you shared on addiction by Domingo Cullen. I haven't seen that before but it makes perfect sense.
Keep up your amazing work. The world needs to hear your words 💚
Thank you for your encouragement Carolyn, I really appreciate it - I often feel as though I’m pissing people off with my takes on social media, but I guess there could be good reason for that!! I personally struggle with Substack too 😂
I don't find I have this issue with YouTube, but I wonder if it's because I am still using Instagram and tiktok, so I only use it when I'm looking up a tutorial, doing yoga, or watching certain creators when I want to knit or crochet with something in the background. It's not really compulsive for me in the way that the others are, but I could see how it could be if I eliminated the others. I'm still trying to decide if I can find a decent balance with social media before I try giving it up entirely, and I really appreciate you sharing your experience.
I truly wish you the best with figuring out what works for you. I wish I didn’t have to go cold turkey, but i personally just couldn’t find the right fit. I even struggle with Substack to be honest!
Thank you for your honesty! It’s refreshing. And I agree, quitting social media with audhd is hard! I’ve been addressing my audhd with neurofeedback and had my neurotransmitters tested. I’ve been taking supplements to address my lack and going to the doctor to address low dopamine and epinephrine. I haven’t been beating myself up about social media, but I’ve been making small goals. My focus is so bad that I can’t barely watch a movie without feeling the need to get up and move around. So right now my goal is to read a chapter of the Bible out loud with a friend every night, and to try to cook meals from scratch and to watch a movie to its entirety. I’ve experienced ptsd so I am gentle with myself, trying to do gentle stretches and go for walks every day in the sunshine, go to physical therapy every week for pain management. And of course I have to write my poetry that adds a rhyme and reason to my pain., Thank you for the inspiration! 💖
Your self compassion is inspiring Liz 😊❤️
Thanks Charlie you have a calming nature I love your videos. I love your art and writing too. The world is your oyster 😊💜
Hi Charlie. Does this mean you won't be posting your videos on YouTube either? 😢
I’m still making and posting them at the moment ( though I do feel a little conflicted!).
I can understand that, Charlie. You need to do what's right for you going forward 🌼
Aw thank you Kate ❤️ I actually meant I feel conflicted because it feels hypocritical to not be using YouTube myself but still be contributing to the raft of content on there. That said, I know there are some people who find calm and peace through my videos so I expect I'll keep putting them out there for as long as I enjoy making them :)
Your videos are very positive and help me to do a lot of self reflection. So personally (and selfishly!) I would miss you, but always good to know that your content will be here 😊🌼
Wow, this honestly felt like I was reading about my own life! I'd say I've been dealing with a YouTube addiction on and off since my mid-teens (I'm now in my late 20s), and I've never seen someone else put it into words. I've also been trying to find ways to reduce my usage of YouTube, and this article has given me so much to think about. Thankyou for this, Charlie!
I got really addicted to mobile gaming a few years ago. To the point I would wake up at 5am and immediately start playing. Before I knew I was ADHD, I tried all kinds of strategies to curb my usage. But in the end the only thing that worked was completely deleting the games from my phone. It took a little while to adjust but now I don't miss it at all. Sometimes you just have to go nuclear on the things you can't get under control 💕