It's late at night, you're in bed, and instead of sleeping, you're endlessly scrolling through negative news, alarming headlines, and social media posts about disasters. You know it makes you feel worse, but you can't stop. This is doomscrolling – a compulsive consumption of negative news, especially during times of crisis.
The Psychology Behind Doomscrolling
Our brains are wired to detect threats. In times of uncertainty, we instinctively seek information to prepare for potential dangers. However, the endless stream of online news often provides little actionable information, instead triggering a "fight or flight" response without a clear outlet. This creates a vicious cycle of anxiety and information seeking.
Scientific Sources:
- Sallam, M. (2020). "Doomscrolling in the Time of COVID-19: Why We Can't Look Away From Bad News." Psychology Today.
