Why do intrusive thoughts get worse at night or while scrolling?
Intrusive thoughts and exhausting mental replays often flare up when scrolling social media for comfort or trying to unwind at night. This sudden spike in unwanted thoughts leaves people feeling drained and stops them from getting the rest they need.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1scrolling through cute pet subredditsDid this help you?
- 2working out to help with anxietyDid this help you?
- 3using Byron Katie’s 4 questions to challenge stressful thoughtsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I love this sub it’s my favorite to scroll through when those damn intrusive thoughts hit”source ↗
“Here I am, Sunday night and exhausted and want to sleep. Anyone else been in the teaching game for a while and had these intrusive replays happen??”source ↗
Where this came up
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