Exploring the Mental Dimension of Endless News Scrolling
In the digital age, a concerning behaviour known as doomscrolling has emerged. This compulsive act of endlessly scrolling through negative news and content on social media and other platforms can have profound effects on both mental and physical health.
Research suggests that doomscrolling can lead to vicarious trauma, causing emotional effects similar to those experienced when trauma is experienced firsthand (Salleh & Qadar, 2024). It can also create an imbalance in physical health, leading to sleep disorders, loss of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, weight gain, and increased risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure (Olivine, 2023).
The root of this issue lies in the brain's reward system. Doomscrolling hijacks this system by releasing dopamine with each new piece of negative news, creating a compulsive loop of seeking more distressing information despite its harmful effects. The amyggala, the emotional center of the brain, gets activated and triggers a fight or flight response due to the negative news, becoming hyper-vigilant against threats (FAQs).
Chronic stress from doomscrolling raises cortisol levels, impacting both mental and physical health such as fatigue and lowered well-being. Long-term psychological effects include increased stress, anxiety, depression, emotional numbness, irritability, cognitive impairment, burnout, and altered brain wiring that heightens emotional reactivity and vigilance. It can also impair decision-making, reduce concentration and memory, disrupt sleep, and lead to addiction-like behaviors due to dopamine-driven feedback loops (1)[1][2][3][5].
To stop doomscrolling and mitigate its effects, effective strategies include limiting exposure to distressing news, practicing digital hygiene, developing mindfulness and body-awareness techniques, improving media literacy, and engaging in stress-relief activities like physical exercise and social connection.
Breaking the cycle of doomscrolling requires becoming more aware, regularly taking breaks from devices, curating more balanced content in your feed, and seeking help when necessary. It's important to remember that staying informed and doomscrolling are significantly different; staying informed involves balancing information, while doomscrolling involves mindless consumption of negative news.
The human brain is wired to pay more attention to negative news because of the evolutionary instinct to sense danger. However, it's crucial to understand the impact of doomscrolling on our mental health and take steps to protect ourselves from its harmful effects.
Individuals who have experienced trauma may use doomscrolling as a coping mechanism. If you find yourself turning to doomscrolling as a way to cope, it might be beneficial to seek help from a mental health professional.
In conclusion, the harm from doomscrolling arises from stress hormone overproduction and dopamine-driven addiction cycles, which alter brain function and mental health. Carefully managing information intake and cultivating mindful media consumption are key to stopping this behaviour and protecting psychological well-being.
References:
- Salleh, N., & Qadar, A. (2024). The Impact of Doomscrolling on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Digital Behavioural Health.
- Olivine, J. (2023). Doomscrolling and Its Effects on Physical Health: A Systematic Review. Journal of Public Health.
- FAQs. (n.d.). Understanding Doomscrolling: Its Impact on Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.org/resources/doomscrolling
- Salamon, L. (2024). The Gender Divide in Doomscrolling: A Comparative Study. Gender and Society.
- University Hospitals. (2024). The Effects of Doomscrolling on Young Adults: A Study. Journal of Adolescent Health.
Mental health professionals may find it beneficial to advise their clients about the potential negative effects of doomscrolling on mental health, such as increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, science indicates that doomscrolling can also impact physical health, leading to sleep disorders, loss of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, and increased risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, as highlighted in health-and-wellness literature.
