I Quit Instagram But My Parasocial Relationships Still Live Rent-Free In My Head

I live with three ghosts: the specter of a mean girl from high school, an influencer with golden hair and great clothes, and a runner who clocks seven-minute miles. Three months ago, I deactivated all my social media accounts because I could no longer stomach the disgust I felt after spending hours a day checking in on online strangers instead of getting creative or spending time with my real-life loved ones. I never meant to get so stuck. All that time spent scrolling through their OOTDs, workouts, and house renovations...