r/nosurf • u/[deleted] • 9d ago

Anybody get a dumb phone and start sleeping like crazy?

I got my dumb phone on 8/15 and didn't really have a plan lol I'm unemployed just in a funk but I think I got worse with the dumb phone I was knocking out 14-16 hrs a day I feel very depressed Moreso than usual I do have bpd but I keep it under control. I know I have to get out and live my life and take up some hobbies but I fell apart after getting the dumb phone. I feel ashamed it's only been two weeks is part of the withdrawal exhaustion?

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48

u/forceghost187 9d ago

That sounds like a good thing. Your brain is finally getting a break and it is resting!

12

u/[deleted] 9d ago

I think you could be right when I came off a ten year addiction to xanax I was exhausted and extremely fatigued the first few months of my sobriety and I got better I just had to embrace the fatigue despite what haters opinions were

8

u/Tetsuuoo 8d ago

That's all it is. When I got off of xanax, all I did was sleep for 2-3 months, same with cocaine (but it was only a few weeks).

With your current situation, your body is literally in a dopamine withdrawal. No more novel, exciting and fun things with every single swipe, and it's now getting used to the lower levels of stimulation you're providing it.

There's some other factors as well, for instance you probably have quite a bit of sleep debt. Even if you were getting 8 hours a night before, if you were on your phone in bed until passing out every night you were likely getting pretty shit sleep most days.

You might also have underlying issues (boredom, depression, etc.) that were masked by constant phone usage before. Now you're allowing your mind to actually spend time thinking instead of consuming, you're way more aware of how you actually feel.

I've never been a phone addict, but I've been addicted to other similarly high-dopamine things in the past (videogames, gambling, etc.), and all you can do is tough it out. As long as you push past that point where you think you're strong enough to go back to your addiction (you won't be) without letting it ruin your life, you're going to start getting your energy back and eventually start feeling like humans are supposed to feel day to day.

14

u/mothy444 9d ago

I've been learning about internet/smart phone addiction, and yes exhaustion can definitely be a withdrawal symptom. I feel it too when I've been abstaining from my addiction for a few days.

9

u/[deleted] 9d ago

Ok, I'm going to stay the course I have some job interviews lined up this week and some fun activities that don't involve a phone. I just was being really hard on myself from sleeping alot but I'm going to be more compassionate with myself. Thank you

3

u/mothy444 9d ago

That sounds like a good plan! And congratulations on 2 weeks having the dumb phone. That's amazing! How do you stick to it, if I can ask? I'm still struggling with my internet usage/addiction, I find it hard to stay off of it for more than a few days. And I understand I'm also very hard on myself and I have complex PTSD. You're not alone.

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u/Ok_Ingenuity_9313 8d ago

There have been sleep studies where people are in a windowless room with nothing but books or magazines, no clock, nothing to indicate the time of day. They tend to sleep a lot at the front end, due to "sleep debt" (lack of sleep before the study began). Then things even out and they reach a normal sleep pattern.

8

u/aczaleska 8d ago

This is withdrawal. Be kind to yourself. Slowly add new activities. Embrace rest.

4

u/nautilius87 7d ago edited 7d ago

You fried your brain for years. Now it can finally get some rest. Be gentle with it. Spend a lot of time outside, preferably in nature..go to a park, take a book there. It will not be easy at first, but are healing.

3

u/MostLikelyDoomed 9d ago

Sleep is part of the withdrawal especially if you usually use your phone after 6pm and after 9pm

4

u/ouidevelop 8d ago

here is a story from someone else who said they wanted to sleep all the time from withdrawal: https://www.reddit.com/r/nosurf/comments/ertwz6/2_years_of_nosurf_my_timeline_and_experience/

That apparently lasted up until about week 3 for them.

2

u/[deleted] 8d ago

Ty so much I really like month 6 too where poster says stopped looking for validation that's very important I feel younger me especially when I ran a popular subreddit I created was seeking validation without even realizing it but people were keyboard warriors tough with the typing redrumers just bullying and I worked so hard for it to be a positive place glad that's behind me.

      My "friend " already cut me off because I'm lazy and want to sleep my life away not understanding this addiction cause it's his entire life with 0 desire to change just put me down but that's fine I dodged a bullet. I been on my smart phone today as you can see but I'm going to get off there is a big bad world out there I haven't seen in ages. Many blessings and be healthy everyone. Thank you to everyone who chimed in. Mad love and respect

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1

u/whipstickagopop 7d ago

What phone do you have

1

u/Embracedandbelong 9d ago

What phone did ya get?

3

u/[deleted] 9d ago

TCL flip Go