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Comment by uncletammy | Hacker News Reader

> Taking away facebook will not make them un-depressed.

Although I agree that Facebook isn't the problem here, taking it away might be a necessary first step.

The problem is that you can’t take it away. If it’s not fb it’s tiktok, or youtube, or instagram, or reddit, or HN, or emails, or rss feeds, or food, or video games, or …

All of those bar one can be done by physically separating yourself from technology, which is quite feasible in short periods. Downgrading to a dumb phone works ok too (until you need to work with some service that requires an app)

> fb ... tiktok, or youtube, or instagram, or reddit, or HN, or emails, or rss feeds, or food, or video games

Is the question: which of these is not like the rest?

Furthermore, you deny two things: firstly, that the influence of facebook is real, and secondly, that other forms of (social) media can have a different effect. E.g., RSS is totally unlike facebook. And let's ignore you mentioned food.

Food is definitely an obsession during my depressive episodes, especially if there is a suicidal component. I think constantly about food, I'm always hungry but at the same time everything disgusts me, I would like to not have to eat anymore: this ends up in a bulimic episode where I gorge everything in side, searching for something that fills that void and that taste just good, then I fast for 20-30 hours completely disgusted about what I've done.

The unfortunate thing is: we can't live without food. We can't switch it off. It doesn't disappear when we throw our mobile phone in the garbage can.

> completely disgusted about what I've done

Sorry to hear that. I sometimes eat out of boredom/anxiety too; it's almost unavoidable. Don't feel too bad. It helps me to simply not buy the things I like. You do have to do your shopping every day, though.

But remember: this internet stranger isn't disgusted by you.

I want to read the first-person essay about someone in the 2020s dealing with depression and developing a problematic avoidant-escapist relationship with emails. Does this person even exist? Maybe; if so, I am fascinated.

It used to be THE addiction that most books on work and productivity used to talk about. These days perhaps slack is in the top as well.

I’m not sure I understand how you differentiate these in terms of how they can be addictive and negative for your life in unreasonable amounts. For example, RSS used to be the worst for me personally. I was severely addicted to my feed.

No we’re not taking it away from you, we’re just … marshaling your daily tasks to make rooms for vital additions solely for your recovery. Now get up, get clothed, and stand over that X marked in your backyard. Good. I’ll count from 1800, 1799, 1798…

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