162. Social Media Is Making Your OCD Worse — Here’s Why

🧠Can social media trigger your OCD without you even realizing it?

In this solo episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova explores how social media interacts with OCD, compulsions, and obsessive thoughts. She shares strategies for scrolling with intention, not on autopilot, and how to reclaim control over your digital habits.

Kristina opens up about:

• How a quick scroll can spark OCD spirals and leave you feeling anxious or empty

• The sneaky ways social media hijacks compulsions and triggers obsessions

• Why intention-focused use is more effective than avoidance

• Simple, actionable steps to reclaim control over your scrolling habits

Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers practical strategies, awareness tools, and encouragement to transform your social media use into a value-driven practice.

💪Listener Challenge: Before bed tonight, pause and screenshot your home screen. Circle the app you reach for first when you feel triggered and post it (or save privately). Then write: “I’m choosing intention — not autopilot.” Let’s show social media who’s really in charge.

📲 About Krista Reed (guest):

• OCD/BDD/BFRB Specialist in KS

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaruthreed/?hl=en

• Breathe Between Battles: A Daily Reflection Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL41QCR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&bestFormat=true

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00] – What happens when social media feels like a drug? [00:28] – Why can a “quick scroll” leave us anxious and empty? [02:02] – How do endless scrolling and notifications hijack our attention? [02:37] – Can heavy social media use harm our mental health? [04:04] – How does OCD interact with compulsions and comparison triggers online? [05:02] – Why does a quick glance spiral into self-critique and rumination? [07:16] – How are OCD symptoms evolving with technology? [08:09] – What’s the difference between intentional use and avoidance? [09:02] – How can we use social media with awareness and intention? [09:50] – How can small actions help reclaim control over our mind? [10:49] – Listener Challenge — you MUST try this [12:07] – How can community support help in taking back social media?

📚 Research Sources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Primack et al. (2017). Social media use across multiple platforms linked to higher depressive symptoms. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4853817/

• Keles et al. (2020). Social media associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and lower well-being. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7785056/

• Giraldo-Luque et al. (2023). Excessive social media use connected to stress, poor sleep, and emotional distress. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10129173/

• Lin et al. (2017). Using more social media platforms predicts higher anxiety/depression. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.1b16

• Hunt et al. (UPenn). Cutting social media to 30 min/day reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness. (summary) https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/cutting-back-social-media-reduces-anxiety-depression-loneliness

• Dalvi-Esfahani et al. (2022). Compulsive social media use positively correlated with OCD symptoms. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9407245/

• Garcia & Thibedeau (2018). OCD symptoms increasingly include digital compulsions. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6120640/

• Frontiers Review (2022). Problematic social media use linked to OCD, ADHD, anxiety. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1106004/full

✅ Free Resources & Links

• 🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Classes → www.shorturl.at/KcTxM
• 📖 OCD CBT Journal → www.shorturl.at/7pUxB
• 🌐 Website → www.korresults.com/
• ✍️ OCD Academy→ www.ocdacademy.thinkific.com/

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✅ About OCD Whisperer

Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

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