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Social Media Detox for Mental Wellness

A peak inside a Social Media Detox experiment on mental wellness from one of our Nourish Your Mind clients and SUNY New Paltz student.
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photo 1535303311164 664fc9ec6532Social media is not healthy, or at the very least the way I was using it was not.  I became fed up with the amount of time I used it, as well as how I used it. I decided to leave my phone in my room at college for Thanksgiving break. No phone for five days. As I’m writing this, I’ve returned to college and decided to delete the following apps: Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Tinder, Bumble and Hinge. Before deciding to go on a complete phone detox, my mental health was suffering. Even though I was surrounding myself with quality people I started to feel stuck. I wished to take their best qualities and implement them in my life, however I was holding back for some reason. I couldn’t identify exactly what was “holding me back”.

I began to realize I had trouble getting through class without checking my phone at some point. My class was only an hour and fifteen minutes long. I wouldn’t just check once for the time, it was usually social media, more specifically Snapchat and Instagram.

It felt so overwhelming to constantly check and see who viewed my story and how quickly, or how many likes my post gets. I deleted an Instagram post because it didn’t get enough likes in the first 30 minutes. That’s how much value I put into my social media presence.

I stumbled across a TED Talk about social media and its impact on mental health. I got chills how scarily accurate the impacts were in relation to what I was experiencing. The way social media is designed is to be addictive and it clearly worked on me.

If you think about it when you post something on social media it’s usually for two reasons, either to show off or for attention. Every like, share, and view is a hit of dopamine. In other words, we are quantifying what others like and attributing that to our own self worth. That is TERRIBLE. It reinforces the idea of approval from others. I struggled with this mightily, I was a people pleaser and I didn’t know why. This is why. Of course, by nature we like to fit in, but you cannot base your entire personality off what others think. In fact, just five days deep into my phone detox I started to speak my mind. I put myself first rather than just go with the status quo. For example, my housemates were being loud and playing music in the living room shortly before I had a video chat with my therapist. I, unlike myself, went out and told them “I need you all to be quiet I’m gonna talk with my therapist.” It felt empowering to actually make a stand for myself even if it’s something small. Putting yourself first even if it means going against what others want from you is just one of several key lessons this detox taught me.

Another critical issue I had with social media is the short wired attention span you develop. I, and many of my peers, would constantly open Snapchat then Instagram, then Twitter then back to Snapchat. Sometimes I would close Instagram and open it right after! Well, it seems harmless right? Nope. When you constantly switch your focus on a particular subject it can have long term effects on your ability to stay present and concentrate. Think about it, if you always need something new stimulating you, your mind will adjust and therefore your attention span will be much much lower. Personally, I had trouble watching a movie without having an urge to check my phone. In fact it was nearly impossible for me to sit through a full movie.

Overall, social media is bad news. Right now I have no interest in re downloading any of those apps. I still text people but that’s it as far as communication via my phone, which is what I’ve wanted for awhile. Social media, ironically enough, makes us feel more isolated, depressed, anxious, and stressed the more you use it. I would urge everyone reading this to at least try a detox of some sort, either a complete phone detox or social media itself. I would venture to bet you will feel better sooner and the longer the detox the more mentally clear you’ll get.

Special Guest Post from Nourish Your Mind Client:

Sean Hughes – SUNY New Paltz Student

Interested in trying your own social media detox but need an accountability partner? Contact us today! (845) 547-0479 / NourishYourMind.com/Appointment

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BIO

Cameryn (Cam) received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marist College. Prior to joining Nourish Your Mind, she worked in private practice, primarily serving children, teens, and their families. During this time, she developed a passion for helping clients navigate their unique challenges through the transformative power of play and expressive arts therapy. Cam believes that every individual deserves a safe, nurturing space where they can authentically express themselves. She is dedicated to empowering her clients by identifying and utilizing their inherent strengths to help them achieve their personal goals.

In her therapeutic approach, Cam integrates a holistic wellness model with strengths- and mindfulness-based methods. She employs a variety of evidence-based techniques, including DBT and Nondirective Play Therapy, and she recognizes the importance of tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of each individual and family.

When she’s not in the office, Cam enjoys reading, traveling, weight-lifting, and immersing herself in music and films. She also values spending quality time with friends, family, and her cats.

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor
  • Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling, Marist College
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, SUNY Geneseo
  • Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA)
  • Middletown Office
BIO

Brianna earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Siena College and her Master of Social Work degree from Adelphi University. Throughout her education and early career, she worked with at-risk adolescents experiencing trauma and maladaptive coping as both a clinician and crisis interventionist. She later spent several years in emergency services, specializing in trauma-informed care for adolescents and adults. Brianna has extensive experience working with individuals struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, self-esteem, and relationship challenges.

Brianna takes a strength-based, integrative approach to therapy, empowering clients to discover their own path toward healing and self-acceptance. She believes that while we cannot change the past, we can change our relationship with it. She is passionate about helping clients develop effective coping skills, reconnect with their inner resilience, and build lives that extend beyond surviving trauma.

Brianna believes healing is not only a journey of the mind, but a whole-body experience. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and thoughtfully incorporates mind-body practices into therapy to support nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and emotional awareness. She is also certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an evidence-based trauma treatment that helps clients process distressing experiences, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), offering a holistic approach for individuals seeking deeper healing from trauma, depression, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. By integrating traditional psychotherapy with somatic approaches and specialized trauma treatments, Brianna helps clients create lasting, meaningful change.

Above all, Brianna is dedicated to creating a safe, compassionate, and authentic therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to reconnect with their truest selves.

Brianna resides in Orange County with her two rescue huskies. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time in nature, painting, practicing yoga, and cooking while surrounded by music, friends, and family.

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of New York
  • Master’s of Social Work, Adelphi University
  • Master’s of Social Work, Adelphi University RYT-200
  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Certified, Journey Clinical
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy Trained, Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery
  • Middletown Office
BIO

Ashley received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY New Paltz. While attending her graduate program, Ashley worked as a supervisor at a Crisis Intervention Program and interned at an Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, gaining valuable skills in crisis management and group therapy. Before joining Nourish Counseling, she spent several years working in a long-term outpatient care clinic specializing in children, adolescents and their families. Ashley has expertise in partnering with those suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, family conflict, and personality disorders.

Ashley believes that each client is their own expert. She provides an integrative approach that focuses on both the thoughts and behaviors her clients may be struggling with in order to help them find balance and build resiliency. She works with clients in a person-centered and skill building approach to help determine and reach their own individual goals. Following a Dialectical Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, she encourages and supports clients to reach their full potential.

Ashley lives in Middletown, NY with her husband and a very loved dog. She enjoys family time, cooking, and trying new things whenever possible.

  • American Counseling Association
  • Middletown Office
BIO

Amanda is a Certified Clinicial Trauma Professional with a deep commitment to guiding clients through their healing and discovery. She believes that you are the expert of your own life, and she is dedicated to building a safe, collaborative space where you feel both validated and motivated for change. 

Amanda specializes in treating those with Complex Trauma, Grief and Loss, Anxiety and Depression, Chronic Illness, Infertility, Infant/Pregnancy Loss, Women’s Health and Neurodivergent Disorders. She works with individuals aged 5 and up. 

Amanda’s unique, holistic approach to psychothreapy is rooted in evidence-based practices and tailored to fit your specific clinical needs. She seamlessly integrates practices like mindfulness and meditation with powerful theraputic modalities, including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Internal Family Systems Therapy. 

After gaining experience in Baltimore – including intensive work in Residential Foster Care and as a Medical Social Worker – Amanda has been settled back in her home, the Hudson Valley. She enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her husband and two young daughters. She has journeyed with cleints for nearly 5 years at Nourish and is now ready to partner with you!

  • Cornwall Office
  • Middletown Office