Doom Scrolling Is Destroying Sleep

This is part two of a five-part series entitled "Cell Phones, Social Media, and the Quiet Depression Affecting Women". It's based on a series of discussions I've had with multiple women including my wife, some coworkers, and random servers at restaurants. The women's ages range from 20 - 53 years old. I'd love your feedback.

Doom Scrolling Is Destroying Sleep

Many women are ending their nights not with rest, reflection, or intimacy, but with doom scrolling.

One video becomes twenty. Twenty minutes becomes two hours. The body is exhausted, but the brain remains overstimulated.

Sleep suffers badly because phones keep the mind emotionally activated. Instead of winding down naturally, women absorb arguments, bad news, celebrity drama, relationship advice, beauty standards, and endless comparison right before bed.

The consequences are bigger than simply “being tired.”

Poor sleep increases anxiety.
It worsens depression.
It damages emotional regulation.
It lowers patience.
It weakens focus.
It intensifies insecurity.

A woman who is mentally drained from lack of sleep often becomes more emotionally reactive in relationships, more overwhelmed as a parent, and more vulnerable to depressive thinking.

And yet millions repeat the cycle nightly because the phone has become both the stress source and the escape from stress.

That’s addiction behavior, even if society refuses to call it that.

Part 1: Comparison Is Quietly Destroying Peace

Part 3: Relationships Are Slowly Being Eroded

"Thick" or "Fat"? #BodyTypes

There's always been a debate every since the justification for extra pounds was created.  Back in the day you were either skinny, average, or fat.  Fast forward to 2014 and there are all kinds of way to categorize body types, but the one that seems to be the most misinterpreted is "thick."

Being "thick" falls in between being average and being fat.  It's a word that started in the African-American communities to justify the curviness of the average black woman.  Black people didn't like being categorized by white Americans' standard so "thick" was created.  After all, we black men tend like a little more meat on the bone than white guys.  However, I do think that things are changing and Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez are the reasons why.  This lovely honey on the right here would have been considered "fat" by most people's standards back in the early-to-mid 90's, but today she's "thick" or "curvy."

But, where do you draw the line?  Where does "thick" become "fat"?

Like beauty, size is a matter of interpretation.  There is no universal standard.  It's all about what you prefer.  I prefer curves, so although the actual weight doesn't matter to me, I do pay attention to what's proportionate.  And I think that's the standard that a lot more people are following today.  Is there some resemblance to an hourglass shape?

You can find 100 guys and ask them to take a look at the photo to the right and it may result in 50 each saying "thick" or "fat" depending on their preference.  There's someone for everyone, so in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter.

However, I'll give you my definition of what makes someone "thick" and what makes them "fat."  Well, I can't say that it's my definition since I found the photo on the web, but I'll just say that I agree with it.  The photo below appears to be an accurate depiction of what I consider the difference between the two categorization of sizes.

The person on the left would fall into the "fat" category because a lot of her weight is above the waist line.  The "thick" lady gets that label because her weight is carried in her hips and thighs which to me is an attractive quality.

I'll post a few more photos below and you can comment and let me know which ones you consider "thick" and which ones you consider "fat."  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter.  If you're a woman and you feel comfortable and healthy, then do you.  If you're a guy then go for whatever floats your boat.  There's no wrong answer here.

Comment according to letters.  This is Person "A."

B

C

You may recognize person D.

E

Anyone of these in F considered fat?