How Do I Know If My Phone Is Unlocked? (The Answer That Could Save Your Mental Health)

Terri Kern
24 hours ago
8 min read

Unlocking your phone should free you from carriers. But when your attention is unlocked to endless doomscrolling, it becomes a neurological prison.

Here’s how to check—and heal.

How To Tell If My Phone Is Unlocked

The Literal Answer (But Not the One You Need)

Since I hijacked this very popular longtail keyword and I need all the help I can get waking up Americans so that we can figure out how to unite and heal - together.

I'll put the answer at the end - but please read through this because chances are you're engaged in the culture wars on social media. This will help you put your phone away and stop buying into the OUTRAGE FARMS.

OUTRAGE OUTBURSTS ARE NOT TRUTH!

For example, am I outraged that a United States Senator was thrown to the floor, cuffed, and stuffed by the Federal Government in the state he was elected to represent?

Fuck yes I am. I DON'T CARE WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE THIS HAPPENS ON - I AM NOT OK WITH THAT!

If you want to read more about my political anxiety I share it in the next few paragraphs.

Under normal circumstances it's unethical for me to share what I think or how I feel about politics. Up until 2016 politics ran in the background for me (which is where we want it to be .) These aren't normal circumstances and, as a mental health professional and a human being, I can no longer stay silent. Over the last several years I've kept track of the level of political anxiety with my patients. As of this writing, 7 out of 10 of my patients have a significant level of political anxiety - and so do I.

POLITICAL ANXIETY IS THE NUMBER ONE STRESSOR OF OVER 80% OF MY HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS.

This is real and it's happening and we all must face it together and figure out how to get to a place where we unite. We can't do this for much longer. Also, feel free to jump to the next section and skip over it if your'e not interested in my perspective - you won't hurt my feelings!

Full transparency: I'm a constitutional law following freak - which used to be labeled "conservative" prior to 2016, This suburban cisgender white female middle aged Christian gun enthusiast small business owning Ohio heterosexual hates the government on a good day, so government overreach makes me feel rage.

True conservatives want small government and for them to stay TF out of our day to day lives - unless there is a public crisis. Then I expect them to take over - they're the experts. I don't want to have to figure that shit out! I have ADHD!!!!

I feel political anxiety and outrage so frequently that if this was 1825 versus 2025 I'd be starting the Ohio Militia for Women. Ohio's government is the most corrupt state government in the country and it's a secret because it's rarely focused on or talked about in a sea of corrupt state governments.

That's not a political statement, that's a fact. Research it for yourself. I HATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE I GREW UP IN IS CORRUPT AF. And not just for the obvious -

Ohioans are paying back a huge bribe that landed Mike DeWine's political allies in prison - the Speaker of our House - or hanging at the end of a rope. I'M NOT OK WITH THAT ON ANY LEVEL.
The OHIO GOP women have pushed medical and health misinformation causing their constituents to be brainwashed and unnecessary health issues and death. I'M NOT OK WITH THAT ON ANY LEVEL.
Ohio's restrictive reproductive laws have increased the suicide rate of young mothers by HELLOOOOOO I'M NOT OK WITH THAT ON ANY LEVEL - THAT'S NOT PRO LIFE!!!! I'M ALL FOR THE LIFE OF EVERY MOTHER ON THIS PLANET! ESPECIALLY NEW ONES!

I LOVE MY STATE AND I'M HEARTBROKEN OVER HOW BROKEN IT IS. I care about the people here. ALL people. Not just ones that look like and think like me.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW OHIO'S RESTRICTIVE REPRODUCTIVE LAWS HAVE HARMED OHIO WOMEN BY EXPANDING HERE:

Yes, Ohio's restrictive reproductive laws directly exacerbate its maternal mortality crisis through multiple pathways, according to public health research and medical experts. Here's the breakdown:

1. Delayed/Life-Threatening Care for Pregnancy Complications

Abortion bans (like Ohio's 6-week "Heartbeat Bill," currently blocked but legally contested):
- Force providers to delay care until patients are critically ill (e.g., sepsis from incomplete miscarriage, preeclampsia worsening to eclampsia).
- Example: A Cleveland study found 35% of OB/GYNs witnessed preventable harm due to treatment delays caused by legal fears.

2. Forced Continuation of High-Risk Pregnancies

Nonviable or dangerous pregnancies (e.g., severe fetal anomalies, cancer diagnoses) must be carried to term:
- Increases risks of hemorrhage, stroke, or death (Texas data post-abortion ban showed a 29% spike in maternal morbidity).
Ohio's near-total abortion ban (if enacted) would disproportionately impact Black women, who face 3x higher pregnancy-related mortality.

3. "Chilling Effect" on Medical Practice

Criminalization threat (felony charges for providers) leads to:
- OB/GYN shortages: Clinicians leave restrictive states (Ohio has 36% maternity care deserts).
- Delayed miscarriage management: "Wait-and-see" approaches until mothers crash.

4. Reduced Access to Comprehensive Prenatal Care

Clinic closures (e.g., Planned Parenthood) limit:
- Contraception access → more unintended high-risk pregnancies.
- Prenatal screenings → missed chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes).

5. Mental Health Toll

Trauma from forced birth: Linked to higher rates of perinatal depression/PTSD.
Suicide is a leading cause of postpartum death in abortion-restricted states.

Supporting Evidence

Ohio Department of Health: 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable; lack of timely care was a top factor.
JAMA Study (2023): States with abortion bans have 62% higher maternal death rates.
March of Dimes: Ohio’s pre-existing maternity care deserts worsen under abortion restrictions.

Counterarguments (and Why They Fall Short)

Claim	Reality
"Pregnancy resource centers fill gaps"	Centers lack medical expertise; 97% don’t offer prenatal care (Ohio Health Dept.)
"Adoption is an alternative"	Does not reduce maternal health risks; pregnancy itself can be deadly
"Laws include life-of-mother exceptions"	Vague language delays care; 64% of OB/GYNs report confusion over legal thresholds

The Bottom Line

Restrictive laws create a climate of medical fear that:

Delays critical interventions → "Ohio mothers bleed while lawyers debate."
Drives away skilled providers → fewer clinics to manage complications.
Deepens racial inequities → Black women bear the highest burden.

Ohio's recent 12-month Medicaid postpartum extension helps, but cannot offset harm from forced high-risk pregnancies.

OK - so there is my outrage.

When I feel outrage I'm at a higher risk of saying things - in a hostile way; an outburst - that are my opinion of the people involved in this, further polarizing myself, versus THE TRUTH.

Yes, I sucked you into this but stay with me here - I want to help you calm your brain down!

I work hard to stay emotionally regulated in this political climate. I have severe ADHD and emotional regulation isn't naturally wired into my brain so it benefits me to be intentional about how I consume factual information about what's happening in my community and in my state.

Then, when I have bandwidth, I take a step back and look to see what's happening in our nation, and in the world. I feel my feelings, and I reset.

I started this blog to help other people who are also feeling how I feel. I know you're out there!!!

What is an "unlocked phone" in mental health?

Your phone is neurologically “unlocked” when doomscrolling hijacks your brain. Watch for these red flags:

✅ 1. You Can’t Physically Stop Scrolling

“I’ll just check one more post…” turns into 90 minutes of trauma-dumping into your nervous system. This isn’t weak willpower—it’s dopamine dysregulation. Your brain’s reward center gets addicted to threat detection (thanks, evolution!).”

✅ 2. You Feel “Stuck” in Digital Quicksand

Notice jaw tension, shallow breath, or tunnel vision? That’s amygdala hijack. Your body thinks each headline is a tiger attack. “Your phone isn’t just unlocked—it’s broadcasting emergency sirens 24/7.”

✅ 3. Reality Warps Around You

“Wait, did I eat lunch?” or “Why is it dark outside?” Time distortion and dissociation are classic trauma responses. When your brain drowns in cortisol, it shuts down prefrontal cortex functions like memory and presence.

Why This “Unlocked” State Breaks Your Brain

OK so I have to give full disclosure here.

Although I feel like I'm 25 as of this writing I'm 60, so it's really easy for me to not engage with my phone in the same the way as other generations. Some of you were video babies and some of you are - if my toddler doesn't get my iPad stat we're having a meltdown kind of folks.

I do understand, however, how addicting scrolling can be. I liken it to reading Stephen King novels when I was in middle school - I would stay up all night because I couldn't put them down.

You know who else knows we doomscroll? - Our super polarized politicians, bot farms in Russia, Elon, Zuckerberg, Dorsey, all the other tech oligarchs who sold us out, and that asshole from high school who runs his mouth about a whole lot of nothing and everyone has his feed on pause.

Doomscrolling isn’t “information.” It’s neurological sabotage. Here is how:

Sympathetic Nervous System Overload: Forces fight-or-flight mode (racing heart, panic).
Dorsal Vagal Shutdown: Drains you into numbness or depression.
Moral Injury: Floods you with global suffering you can’t fix → toxic shame.

How to know if your phone is unlocked to harm? If checking the news leaves you with: Chest tightness Helpless rage 3 a.m. existential dread …your attention has been weaponized.

Why Do Others Want Us To Doomscroll?

How to “Lock” Your Phone (and Reclaim Your Mental Health)

🔒 Step 1: Run a “Carrier Check” on Your Nervous System

Ask: “Is my phone unlocked to trauma or agency?”

Audit your:

Notifications: Turn off ALL non-essential alerts (research shows 70% less anxiety in 7 days).

Algorithm: Unfollow accounts that trigger helplessness. Follow creators focusing on solutions (climate action, community mutual aid).

🔒 Step 2: Install a “Firewall” for Your Focus

App Blockers: Use Freedom or OneSec to lock social media during vulnerable hours (e.g., after 8 p.m.).

Somatic Interrupt: When urges hit, reset your vagus nerve:
- Hum loudly for 30 seconds (vibrations calm panic pathways).
- Splash cold water on your face (triggers mammalian dive reflex).
- Try this audio coach: Belly Breathing for Beginners: 4-minute Anxiety Relief

🔒 Step 3: Reboot Your “Operating System”

“How do I know if my phone is unlocked to peace? When usage feels intentional, not compulsive.” Intentional use = looking for family updates, your fav celebs, how-to intel, your alma mater, etc.

Schedule “News Checks”: 10 minutes, 2x/day—after grounding exercises, NOT before bed.
Replace Doom with Micro-Agency:
*“Scrolled for 5 min? Now spend 5 min on a nervous system reset:
- 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding (Name 5 things you see, 4 you feel…)
- Text a friend something hopeful.”*

When to Call for Backup

Sometimes an “unlocked” phone reveals deeper trauma. Seek therapy if you experience:

Body-based symptoms: Chronic insomnia, panic attacks, dissociation.
Relational damage: Snapping at loved ones, isolating.

“Trauma therapies like EMDR, IFS, or somatic work can ‘re-lock’ your nervous system against digital invasion.”

Your Digital First Aid Kit

📲 “Is My Phone Unlocked?” Checklist (Neurological signs + fixes)
🌿 Somatic Reset Cards (Vagal toning exercises)

“Your attention is your life’s currency. Lock it like your sanity depends on it—because it does.” Download the Digital First Aid Kit below. Even though it says, "Buy Now" - it's FREE! (I can't figure out how to change that lol)

Digital First Aid Kit

Buy Now

Lock Your Attention, Reclaim Your Sanity

An unlocked phone isn’t just a carrier setting—it’s a neurological backdoor for chaos.

When doomscrolling hijacks your vagus nerve, it traps you in fight-or-flight, leaving you exhausted, ashamed, and powerless. But you hold the key.

By recognizing the signs (time distortion, body tension, emotional hangovers) and using your ‘reset protocol’—somatic first aid, app firewalls, and curated attention—you signal safety to a terrified nervous system.

Your focus isn’t a flaw; it’s sacred ground.

Guard it fiercely.

Because in a world addicted to your panic, calm isn’t self-care—it’s rebellion.

As promised: