What is Doom Scrolling?

Hi everyone!

Ever find yourself scrolling endlessly through bad news, sad updates, or just feeling like every post is bringing down your mood? That’s what people call doom scrolling, and it’s more common than we might think! Studies show that constantly taking in negative news can add stress and anxiety to our lives, especially when it’s about things we can’t control. It can also affect our sleep, our outlook on life, and even how connected we feel to the people around us.

But why is it so hard to stop? Part of it is that our brains crave information, even if it’s not the best for us, and social media keeps serving it up like a never-ending buffet.

Have you ever caught yourself doom scrolling? What helps you break out of it and take a mental break?

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Hey @cottonsoul I always find myself doom scrolling! And the consequences can differ between extremes. Sometimes, I feel I deserve this time to just be mind empty and scroll to relax. Other times, I end up feeling extremely guilty and start to panic about all the time lost…

I am still facing this issue but one way I help myself out is to redirect myself with another activity. As a person who wants to be productive all the time, redirecting myself to another productive activity helps soothe my guilt and panic. However, I haven’t found strategies to avoid doom scrolling. Would like to see what others think?

Hi @Enie !

Thank you for sharing this! I really relate to what you’re saying. Doom scrolling can feel like such a double-edged sword—sometimes, it feels like a well-deserved escape, and other times, it ends up bringing up those feelings of guilt for “wasting time.” I appreciate your strategy of redirecting yourself to another activity, especially one that feels productive; it sounds like a great way to regain a sense of control and calm when the guilt starts to kick in :slight_smile:

Personally, I’ve found that setting a small intention before I pick up my phone helps. Sometimes it’s as simple as reminding myself of how long I actually want to spend scrolling, and even if I get carried away, having that moment of intention helps me feel more aware of my choice. It’d be great to hear from others too!

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