Doom Scrolling is Ruining Your Life - Call Her Daddy Recap

Podcast: Call Her Daddy

Published: 2025-10-26

Duration: 1 hr 0 min

Summary

In this episode, Alex discusses the negative impacts of doom scrolling and constant overstimulation on mental health. She shares her personal struggles with anxiety and sleeplessness, revealing that avoiding quiet moments leads to increased stress and anxiety.

What Happened

Alex kicks off the episode with excitement about Call Her Daddy joining the Sirius XM family and expresses her love for the fall season. However, she quickly shifts gears to discuss a personal struggle that has been weighing on her: sleeplessness and anxiety. She shares how, despite her love for sleep, she finds herself tossing and turning at night. The moment she tries to relax, her mind races with worries, leading to a cycle of stress that prevents her from getting the rest she needs.

In a candid moment, Alex highlights how her therapist pointed out that needing constant stimulation is a stress response and a form of avoidance. She reflects on how she fills every second of her day with noise, leaving little room for her mind to process thoughts and feelings. This behavior, she learns, is a common issue and contributes to a state of overwhelm. She explains how this overstimulation leads to a false sense of relaxation, ultimately escalating anxiety levels, especially on Sundays when she attempts to reset for the week ahead but ends up feeling worse instead.

Key Insights

• Constant stimulation can exacerbate anxiety and prevent mental clarity.
• The 'freeze state' allows for temporary avoidance of stress but worsens it in the long run.
• Doom scrolling and multitasking lead to a misunderstanding of what rest truly means.
• Sundays can become counterproductive if filled with overstimulation instead of genuine relaxation.

Key Questions Answered

What causes doom scrolling?

Alex discusses how the need for constant stimulation is often a stress response. It serves as an avoidance mechanism where individuals fill their time with distractions rather than confronting their worries.

How does overstimulation affect sleep?

She shares her experience of tossing and turning at night, where her mind races with thoughts as soon as she tries to sleep. This cycle of anxiety leads to a lack of restful sleep, which she finds infuriating.

What are the signs of a freeze state?

Alex's therapist explains that being in a freeze state feels great in the short term but ultimately exacerbates stress. This state is characterized by constant distractions and avoidance of engaging with one's thoughts.

How can Sundays be more productive?

Alex notes that many people plan ideal Sundays for resetting but often end up overstimulating themselves instead of genuinely resting. This leads to anxiety and disappointment when Monday rolls around.

What are some tips for managing anxiety?

Her therapist emphasizes the importance of allowing quiet moments throughout the day to process thoughts, rather than waiting until bedtime, when anxiety can overwhelm individuals.