The Mental Health Janitors
We help you clean up the mess in your head. Aaron and Jess help navigate through the wonderful and sometimes scary world of therapy to educate you, empower you, and encourage you through your difficult times. Join Us Today!
The Mental Health Janitors
Episode 104- How Social Media Affects Mental Health: Dopamine, Anxiety, Scroll Trap Explained
Ever scrolled through Instagram and felt like you’re losing your own story to someone else’s highlight reel?
In this eye-opening episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Holly Quinonez — your go-to guides for mental resilience and mindset cleanup —break down the truth about mental health and social media.
From dopamine addiction and comparison anxiety to the crash of social media depression, they unpack exactly how platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook hijack your brain chemistry — and how you can take control.
We talk about:
- Dopamine hits from likes & comments and the serotonin crash that follows
- The comparison trap and why Instagram makes you feel “less than”
- Selena Gomez’s mental health journey and her decision to take social media breaks
- Myths about social media that keep you stuck in the scroll
- Janitor’s Tools — practical, science-backed tips for protecting your mental health online
- How to do a social media detox and reclaim your attention
- Creating a clean feed that actually nourishes your mind
If you’ve been feeling social media burnout, anxiety, or low self-esteem from scrolling — this episode will give you the tools, strategies, and mental toughness to protect your mind and start living your own story again.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
1:29 – The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
18:31 – Gamification and Dopamine in Social Media
18:46 – The Role of Dopamine in Social Media Addiction
19:02 – The Dark Side of Social Media
19:19 – The Addictive Nature of Social Media
26:14 – Strategies to Overcome Social Media Addiction
34:00 – Reframing Social Media Use
38:22 – The Impact of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships
42:00 – Challenges and Solutions for Social Media Users
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