The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova

Episode 162: Social Media Is Making Your OCD Worse — Here’s Why
Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Kristina Orlova

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Kristina Orlova dives into how social media use uniquely impacts individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). While social platforms were created for connection and expression, their design can fuel obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors—making symptoms more severe for those with OCD. Kristina combines personal experience, scientific research, and practical advice to help listeners understand social media’s psychological effects and reclaim control over their digital habits.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media

• Social media started with good intentions—community and expression—but its evolution has had unintended mental health consequences, especially for sensitive or compulsive minds.
• Platforms are deliberately designed for endless scrolling and dopamine-driven reward loops, keeping users engaged (03:00).

Amplifying OCD Symptoms

• Social media is not neutral for those with OCD. It can hijack compulsions, trigger new obsessions, and exacerbate feelings of inadequacy or shame (01:49).
• “For people with OCD, social media isn't a neutral tool. It can hijack our compulsions, trigger obsessions, and feed cycles of not good enough.”
• Heavy users often experience increased anxiety, depression, stress, poor sleep, and lower self-esteem (04:12).
• Clinical observations show that digital behaviors—such as compulsive checking, refreshing, obsessing over posts—are now presenting as modern OCD symptoms (05:45).

How the Cycle Works

• Kristina illustrates a scenario:
  • Waking, grabbing the phone, and scrolling through others’ highlight reels can trigger thoughts like “Why don’t I do more?” or “Am I good enough?”
  • Each check or refresh mimics OCD compulsions (locking doors, confirming worth), leading to spirals of self-critique and rumination (07:15).
• Notable Quote:
  • “That's not casual scrolling, that's autopilot, where insecurity, fear, perfectionism, and compulsions—they’re the ones running the show.” (07:45)

Modern Research and Clinical Observations

• A 2023 review linked problematic social media use to higher risk of depression, anxiety, ADHD, stress, and increased OCD symptoms (08:40).
• As usage and platform counts grow, so does mood disturbance. Clinicians now recognize evolving OCD symptoms linked explicitly to digital interactions—e.g., obsessing over posts, deleting apps, or fearing digital visibility (09:28).
• Kristina warns: correlation isn't causation—social media doesn’t cause OCD, but magnifies difficulties for those already predisposed (10:09).

From Avoidance to Intention: Practical Tips

• Old advice (like deleting apps) constitutes avoidance and can feed the OCD cycle (10:30).
• Kristina advocates for intentional, mindful use:
  • Before opening social media, pause and ask:
    • What do I need (connection, support, distraction)?
    • Will scrolling meet that need or mask it?
    • How do I want to feel when I close the app?
  • Example: Instead of passive scrolling, send a private message to a friend or look for specific uplifting content (10:52).
• Notable Quote:
  • “If I don't choose how I use social media, social media will choose how it's going to use me. Every intentional scroll becomes a micro act of reclaiming your mind.” (12:08)

Community Challenge

• Kristina issues a practical challenge:
  • Tonight, screenshot your home screen, circle the app you reach for when triggered, and either share or reflect privately.
  • Tag Kristina or DM with “I'm choosing intention, not autopilot” to build accountability and community support (12:48).

Final Thoughts

• Reframing social media as a tool, not an escape—one that can serve your values if used with intention (13:27).
• Notable Quote:
  • “Scrolling doesn't have to be an escape. It can be a tool—a tool that you take charge of, a tool that serves your values and not your compulsions.” (13:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the personal experience of OCD and social media:
  • “For people with ocd, social media isn’t a neutral tool. It can really become a part of their symptom cycle itself.” (05:21)
• On the emotional impact of scrolling:
  • “Some people even report a sense of mental wearing down as if their emotional reserves are getting drained with every scroll, like a subtle erosion of your own self worth.” (05:03)
• On intention versus autopilot:
  • “If I don't choose how I use social media, social media will choose how it's going to use me.” (12:08)
• On collective empowerment:
  • “Because, you know, reclaiming our mind, it’s not a solo path, it’s definitely a movement. And I think that we all definitely need to help each other.” (13:54)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:59 — Introduction to episode theme: OCD and Social Media
• 03:00 — How social media’s design affects the brain (dopamine, feedback loops)
• 04:12 — Research highlights: social media, anxiety, depression, and sleep
• 05:45 — How OCD symptoms manifest through digital behaviors
• 07:15 — A personal scenario: the spiral from casual scrolling
• 08:40 — Summarizing 2023 research on social media and mental health
• 09:28 — New forms of digital OCD symptoms in clinical practice
• 10:30 — Avoidance versus intentional use—practical self-help tips
• 12:08 — Setting intention with social media use
• 12:48 — The home screen challenge and community-building
• 13:27 — Final encouragement to take control and support one another

Summary

Kristina Orlova unpacks how the addictive design of social media uniquely fuels OCD obsessions and compulsions, emphasizing that for many, platforms are a minefield—not a neutral space. By blending research, relatable scenarios, and actionable advice, she encourages listeners to shift from avoidance or autopilot to mindful, intentional use. With community support and practical rituals, people with OCD can reclaim agency over their digital lives and mental health.

For more resources and self-help tools, visit:
www.coraresults.com