HUNGER Games actress Jennifer Lawrence has confessed that she types ‘Jennifer Lawrence Ugly’ into Google to see the nasty things people are saying about her.

“I can’t think of a more wasteful use of my time than to worry about this. Why do I care what people think? But I do,” she says.

I can’t agree more. And it’s for precisely that reason – wasting valuable time (and preserving my sanity) – that I am trying my level best to avoid social media, except for work.

Pre and post-election I’ve been involved in countless online altercations. It was a relief when Jeremy Corbyn was elected as Labour leader – not because I support him – because it put an end to the haranguing and insulting by those whose views I didn’t share.

And it’s not just politics. Alternative medical treatments, NHS free exercise sessions, comments on news items, the evils of sugar - I get involved in them all because I simply can’t resist having my say.

It’s like a drug. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s my alcohol substitute. When I was downing a bottle of wine most nights, I didn’t care what people thought of my online statuses. My mental status was permanently set at “whateveeeeeer!”

Now every insult cuts like a knife. Yet I still go back for more, despite the fact that I’m often left upset and unable to sleep because people, who would never dream of criticising you to your face, are downright vicious online. And what’s worse, you don’t even know most of them.

Himself used to get very irritated when I was constantly checking my phone on a night out or not listening to what he was saying because I was fizzing about a nasty comment from some unknown cyber assassin. But even he’s at it now.

I realised this the other night when we were watching a film – a decent one – but when the adverts came on or the action subsided we were both checking Facebook. How very sad!

So, this week, I’ve tried to keep my social media interaction to a minimum. And if I’m being honest, it’s felt a little like being on a diet. Every time my finger has sought out the Facebook app, it’s been like reaching for a doughnut. I have to keep slapping it back – and my raw carrot equivalent has been to check my emails instead.

But the result – a bit like a sugar detox (don’t get me started on that one again) – is that I feel calmer and a little more in control. I think it’s the future – for me anyway.