Hello Reddit users for context I am 17 years old and have had screen time on my phone since I was 10 and im sick of it. Now my mother says its to protect me but I dont understand for what. I’ve gotten all good grades in school, im already planning for college and such and I graduated this year with High honors and will be attending as a senior the coming up school year. I think because it’s the summer and well they dont give me anything else to do I should be able to get more time. I’ve asked constantly and they have still refused. I just want a little me time to be on the phone with my best friends and watch our shows together the same that my mother does. I just want some freedom. I think it’s stupid to put screen time on my phone because I get it taken not only at night but during the day to. It locks after just 2 hours of texting or 4 hours of face time but still if im on a game or anything entertainment or social wise for 1 hour it shut off most of my apps that are in that category even if i still have more time on it.

Anyone have any tips? I really am desperate but I don’t wanna lose everything by factory reseting.

(yes ik yall gonna say “touch some grass” but they don’t even let me go out unless I have my phone with me and on but they wont even turn it on I mean like take the screen time off bcs I won’t get any texts or calls from them with my phone locked)

I am 17 years old and have been diagnosed with PTSD.

I grew up in a severely unsafe and abusive household involving domestic violence and long-term trauma exposure. There was serious physical violence between my parents, and I was repeatedly exposed to frightening and unsafe situations as a child.

My home environment included:

• Ongoing domestic violence
• Emotional abuse and instability from caregivers
• Situations where I felt responsible for protecting younger siblings
• Early exposure to adult trauma and emotional burden placed on me by caregivers
• Manipulation and coercion within the family system

I now have no contact with my parents and live in a safe environment. My siblings are also living separately, and I currently do not have contact with them, though I hope to reconnect in the future.

Current symptoms and impacts:

• PTSD diagnosis
• Strong emotional distress when discussing past trauma
• Feeling “overwhelmed” or physically flooded when memories surface
• Fear that good things will not last or will be taken away
• Tendency to shut down or withdraw from things I enjoy
• Hypervigilance and feeling responsible for others’ safety
• Difficulty imagining or trusting healthy relationships
• Mixed emotions toward caregivers (love, anger, grief, confusion)

Current status:

I am currently physically safe. I am trying to understand my trauma history, manage PTSD symptoms, and work toward emotional stability and recovery.