Does getting rid of social media really help?

I know most will probably say yes, but please read further. I’m here looking for advice as I really don’t know where to go to improve myself on this matter because everywhere seems to be a dead end.

I’m 17, going on 18, I was diagnosed with ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety a few years ago, suspected autism and CPTSD as well. That’s all I’ll share about me as a background.

I spent most of my important years for growth inside during covid, and it really amplified my Depression and Anxiety. More importantly, it got me addicted to the internet. Because of my ADHD and suspected Autism, I get really attached to certain media, whether it be games, books, or TV / Youtube shows. I started getting social media like Instagram, Tumblr, and Tiktok, but mainly Twitter, which was the start of a long spiral downwards.

Twitter is. Horrible. A disgusting hellhole of negativity even in “fandom” spaces. I was always seeing stupid drama, participating in it, and even becoming the focal point of drama, being “cancelled” and losing a lot of friends I had made. Which caused long-term trust issues with online friends.

“Just go outside and make friends with people there.” It isn’t that easy for me sadly. I have social extreme so extreme I get panic attacks calling people on the phone. Whenever I speak to people face to face I feel like I’m about to cry, and I get this sickening feeling in my chest.

Despite how much pain Twitter and Tiktok as apps mainly have caused me, it’s an addiction and even when I delete my accounts there I want to come back. I still have an instagram, tumblr, and bluesky I barely use. I get huge bursts of anxiety and a sick feeling when I remember I have these platforms. But why keep them then? You may ask. Well. I like sharing my stories and characters I create there. I have nowhere else to share them, even if Twitter and TikTok are gone. I use these less drama filled platforms to share these, but it still makes me anxious. Sharing these ideas to my friends are never enough, I like seeing strangers and people like my ideas, make fanart and such. It makes me happy. Sometimes my own friends don’t seem interested in what I share.

But I still can’t get that sickening feeling out of my chest. Even when I put a 5 minute limit on each app. Nothing seems to help. And then I worry if later down the line I’ll regret having these accounts. I fear though if I don’t have them, my mental health will get worse. I’m honestly just at a standstill and don’t know what to do. Delete them or keep them? Because timer system isn’t really working.

I just need some advice because I’ve never seen someone else experience this before.

I’m sorry it’s so long. I just want to improve myself. So, would completely deleting my accounts for these apps help?