Doomscrolling Is Ruining Your Mental Health
We live in a strange time. A time where the simple act of going outside can leave us feeling uneasy, and the news is full of tragedies happening every day. It’s hard to find a balance between staying informed and keeping our mental health in check.
What is Doomscrolling?
Doomscrolling, as defined by Wikipedia, is the act of spending an excessive amount of screen time devoted to the absorption of negative news.
How It Affects Your Mental Health
1. Addictive Behavior
Doomscrolling is an unsatisfying addiction that makes you feel safe or reassured when, in reality, it causes the opposite effect.
2. Disrupted Sleep
Your sleep may be disrupted and can lead to insomnia.
3. Anxiety
Doomscrolling can trigger anxiety and cause panic attacks.
4. Low Attentiveness
Ingesting bad news regularly can lead to brain fog, as well as disrupted focus and productivity.
5. Overeating
All the stress can cause high cortisol levels and overeating.
6. Depression
Doomscrolling is known to cause (or worsen) symptoms of depression.
How to Stop
Limiting
Limit the time you spend scrolling through negative news. If you have to, set a timer dedicated to news consumption. It’s important that you are not spending long stretches of time doomscrolling.
Self-Awareness
If you catch yourself doomscrolling, stop. Ask yourself what your goal is, and recognize how it is making you feel. Write a journal entry on the topic. It’s important to notice when these bad habits are taking place in order to bring them to a halt.
Take a Walk
A good walk can reduce stress and tension .
Meditation
Taking a few, quiet minutes to yourself has many positive benefits that can reverse all of the bad feelings associated with doomscrolling.
Uplifting News
In a study, one group was given news related to the pandemic, while the other was given news based on kindness. The group with pandemic-related news were reported to have lower moods than the group reading about kindness. It’s not all bad out there, and reading something good may improve your overall well-being.
Hobbies
If you are doomscrolling regularly during your downtime, perhaps it is time to find a hobby. This could include reading, podcasting, or starting a new creative project. Hobbies are proven to improve your mental health.
Talk to Someone
When doomscrolling is out of hand, perhaps it is time to tell a friend or family member. We are living in a world of worry that is constantly changing. If that is weighing down on you and you are experiencing many of the symptoms listed above, reach out. You deserve to live your life without excess worry.
If you are looking for more tips on improving your life and productivity, I have written many articles on the topic.
Thanks for reading.
